According to Antigua News Room, young Antiguans are being called upon to exercise their voting power by choosing candidates based on individual merit rather than party affiliation — a shift that could fundamentally reshape the country's political landscape.
The opinion piece argues that youth across the world are increasingly disillusioned with political leadership they view as self-serving and chaotic. In Antigua and Barbuda, that frustration is seen as a potential catalyst for change, provided young voters can be mobilised to register and show up at the polls.
The argument is straightforward: political parties, once granted power by the electorate, frequently neglect the very voters who put them there. The remedy, the piece contends, is for citizens — and young voters in particular — to look past party labels and cast their ballots for the better individual on the ballot.
"Forget the Party which forgets you once you have given them power, but vote for the better man on the ballot," the piece states. "People power is the gift for one day in what is supposed to be a five-year term, now shrunk to three."
As reported by Antigua News Room, youth represent the largest single voting category in the country. If rallied to register and vote along individual rather than party lines, their collective voice could compel political parties to be more accountable to ordinary Antiguans.
The piece also raises concerns about what it describes as a systemic disregard for educated young Antiguans. It cites the case of a young person who earned scholarships, studied abroad, gained international exposure, and returned home eager to contribute — only to be stifled by what the author characterises as corrupt management within government-placed structures.
The author contends that this pattern of discouraging ambitious young nationals is compounded by a broader tendency to overlook born Antiguans in favour of outside appointees, which is said to suppress the aspirations of the country's youth.
The piece closes with a direct appeal: when young people become energised about building their country, they must be embraced and encouraged — not undermined by those who fear accountability. The call to action is unambiguous — youth must vote for the person, not the party.
