Prime Minister Gaston Browne used the launch of the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party's 2026 general election manifesto to deliver a direct appeal to voters, framing the April 30 poll as a choice between proven leadership and uncertainty. According to Antigua News Room, Browne used the occasion to anchor his campaign message in both urgency and global context.
Addressing supporters, Browne warned that international instability is already affecting daily life in Antigua and Barbuda. "My friends, we all feel it at the store," he said. "The wars and chaos around the world mean higher prices and an uncertain future."
He positioned the election as a defining moment, calling on voters to weigh leadership readiness against a shifting global backdrop. "On election day, you must ask yourselves: Which leader and team is strong enough, steady enough to see our country through?"
Browne's remarks leaned heavily on his party's central campaign theme of a national "renaissance," presenting his administration's record as evidence of forward momentum. "The world is entering a new era. And so is Antigua and Barbuda," he said, adding that his government offers "a renaissance in changing times."
The Prime Minister cited a range of economic and social measures as proof of that progress, highlighting initiatives designed to increase disposable income and ease financial pressure on households. "We repealed the personal income tax, increased the minimum wage, increased public sector wages, increased social security and occupational pensions to put more money into your pockets," Browne told the audience.
He also pointed to expanded social support programmes, including food assistance and relief on essential goods. "We expanded the food voucher program, expanded a zero-rated ABST on essential foods and rolled out affordable broadband," he said.
Beyond social policy, Browne outlined ongoing development projects as part of the government's broader growth strategy. "We are literally building new hotels," he said, while also referencing investments in water infrastructure and roads. "We expanded the reverse osmosis plants to provide more water," he added, noting that roadworks "are taking place in every single constituency."
The speech returned repeatedly to a central message of continuity. Browne cautioned voters against changing direction during a period of global uncertainty, portraying his administration as a steady, experienced hand. "On election day, do not take a risk on a leader and a team that's just not ready," he said.
He closed with a direct call for support. "Let's keep Antigua and Barbuda in strong and safe hands," Browne said.
The manifesto launch forms part of a broader campaign push by the ABLP, with party officials highlighting economic performance, infrastructure expansion and social programmes as the central pillars of their re-election bid.
