Prime Minister Gaston Browne has confirmed that Agriculture Minister Anthony Smith will contest the next general election on the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) ticket, signalling the formal completion of a political transition long in the making.
According to Antigua News Room, Browne stated that Smith has not yet formally applied for ABLP membership, but is expected to do so in the near future.
Smith currently holds the status of an independent Member of Parliament, having departed the United Progressive Party (UPP) in July 2024. Despite that designation, his alignment with the ruling party has grown increasingly visible. Since leaving the UPP, Smith has served in Cabinet, taken part in ABLP activities, and consistently supported government positions on the floor of Parliament.
Browne's confirmation removes any remaining ambiguity about Smith's political direction, effectively cementing a shift that observers had widely anticipated since his departure from the opposition ranks.
