Prime Minister Gaston Browne has confirmed that the official date for Antigua and Barbuda's next general election will be announced on Tuesday night, as campaign activity intensifies and political tensions rise across the twin-island nation.
According to Antigua.news, Browne made the revelation over the weekend during an appearance on the Browne and Browne radio programme, telling listeners the nation "will not have to wait much longer" for clarity on when voters will head to the polls.
The announcement is expected to coincide with the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party's (ABLP) political launch on Tuesday night at Nugent Avenue, where Browne is anticipated to formally disclose the election date.
The Prime Minister also cited internal polling data suggesting the ABLP holds a commanding lead among voters. He referenced a Don Anderson poll, which he said was commissioned by the opposition United Progressive Party (UPP), claiming it shows the ABLP with core support exceeding 40 percent — driven largely by voter confidence in the party's leadership, policies, and record in government.
By contrast, Browne placed UPP support at approximately 20 percent, characterising much of that backing as rooted in party loyalty rather than performance or policy confidence. The remainder of the electorate, he said, remains undecided.
Browne also pointed to a separate poll, reportedly conducted by Peter Wickham of Caribbean Development Research Services, which he said places him well ahead of opposition figures as voters' preferred choice for Prime Minister. According to the figures he shared, Browne commands support from roughly 70 percent of respondents, compared to 10 percent for Opposition Leader Jamale Pringle and 8 percent for political newcomer Harold Lovell.
Drawing on the polling data, Browne argued that the opposition remains divided and has yet to persuade voters it is prepared to govern.
The Prime Minister framed the upcoming election as a clear choice between a government he described as delivering results and an opposition still finding its footing. The formal declaration of the election date is expected to mark the beginning of what promises to be a closely watched and hotly contested campaign season.
