With just weeks remaining before voters head to the polls, Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) candidate Lamin Newton is building his bid for All Saints East and St Luke on a foundation of personal roots, completed groundwork and a wide-ranging platform covering infrastructure, housing, healthcare and agriculture.
According to Antigua News Room, Newton made his case during an appearance on ABS Television's "Know Your Candidates" programme, presenting himself as both a product of the constituency and a candidate already delivering tangible results.
"This is a very dear part of my life," Newton said. "I was born and raised in All Saints… I feel that sense of responsibility that I have to play my part."
Infrastructure dominated Newton's platform throughout the interview. He described decades of neglect, arguing that roads and flooding have plagued communities stretching from All Saints through the southern corridor to Old Road.
"That constituency has been neglected for far too long — 20 plus years that no sort of infrastructure work has been done," he said.
Newton pointed to recent drainage redesigns and road improvements in the Follies community as evidence of his approach. He said the area, once severely affected by flooding that left residents stranded during heavy rains, has seen meaningful improvement.
"I gave them my commitment… and today, Follies no longer has the issue of flooding," he said.
He described the work not as campaign-season activity but as the beginning of a broader, phased plan, with flood-prone areas addressed first before attention turns to secondary roads. He also defended the use of concrete roads in vulnerable areas, arguing they provide greater long-term resilience than asphalt.
Newton outlined a clear set of priorities for his first 100 days in office. Continued road improvements top the list, followed by completing upgrades to the John Hughes clinic within three months and improving conditions at the Sweets facility, including the installation of air conditioning for patients and staff.
Sporting and recreational spaces form the third pillar of his early agenda, with Newton pledging to rehabilitate neglected facilities for both youth and elderly residents.
"People need recreation… people need to be able to have that recreational time," he said, adding that he envisions outdoor spaces where older residents can gather comfortably.
On housing, Newton revealed plans for a 50-acre parcel of government-owned land to be subdivided and sold at subsidised rates, managed through the Central Housing and Planning Authority.
"A plot of land… will be sold for $18,000 because we decided that we have to make it affordable," he said.
The development would prioritise constituency residents while remaining open to others. Newton said the government would also provide supporting infrastructure, including roads, electricity and water connections.
Healthcare emerged as another central commitment, particularly for elderly residents who, Newton said, raised the issue repeatedly during canvassing. He promised a new clinic in Old Road within his first year in office, alongside upgrades to existing facilities in Sweets and John Hughes.
"Old Road will receive a brand new clinic," he said, calling it a "solemn promise."
Newton added that funding would draw on a combination of public resources and private donors, with preliminary designs already completed. He also pledged to secure a dedicated ambulance for the All Saints area, citing commitments from overseas donors.
On water supply, Newton acknowledged persistent complaints but argued the underlying production capacity is no longer the problem. He attributed ongoing disruptions to the replacement of ageing pipes — some more than a century old — and urged residents to expect improvement as national upgrades continue.
Education also featured prominently in Newton's platform. He said he currently funds scholarships for 40 students annually from Irene B. Williams School and All Saints Secondary School, covering additional tutoring to support preparation for CSEC examinations. He linked the initiative to declining mathematics performance and the need for more personalised academic support.
"I find that education is the one thing that opens doors," he said.
Newton also positioned the constituency as vital to national food security, pointing to the farming belt across the area and fishing activity in Old Road. He called for land clearing assistance, dam and pond construction, fertiliser support for farmers, and stronger safety regulations for fishermen, referencing recent incidents involving missing seafarers.
Newton faces a competitive race against Jamale Pringle, who won the seat at the last general election. Asked how he plans to reverse that result, Newton pointed to grassroots engagement.
"It's all about building relationships with the people… you have to go and knock on every door," he said.
He was emphatic that his campaign rests on delivery rather than rhetoric.
"We're not here just to talk… we are here to deliver," he said. "These aren't just election promises. These are promises that we will deliver."
