Gail Pero-Weston, the independent candidate for St. George, says her decision to contest the upcoming general election outside of her newly formed political movement was driven by what she described as a "rushed" election timeline. According to Antigua News Room, the timing of the April 30 poll left her party unable to properly participate.
Pero-Weston was instrumental in founding the Antigua Barbuda National Congress (ABNC), but the group made a deliberate decision not to field candidates after assessing when the election was called.
"We took a decision that, given the timing of the elections and our launch, that it would be rushed," she said during a 'Know Your Candidates' interview.
Instead, she opted to run as an independent in St. George, maintaining that the move allows her to continue advocating for accountability and governance reform without waiting for the party to fully develop.
"I felt the need to continue to advocate… give a voice to persons who continue to advocate for accountability in governance," she said.
Pero-Weston also suggested that the election timing favored the ruling party, pointing out that the authority to call elections rests solely with the Prime Minister and can directly affect the readiness of emerging political groups.
"We're in a situation where that decision… resides with the Prime Minister and he, for whatever reason, saw an advantage to his party," she said.
The ABNC, which she helped bring into existence, has positioned itself around themes of accountability, transparency and fiscal discipline, but will not appear on the ballot this election cycle. Pero-Weston argued that contesting under the party banner would have required rushing candidate selection and organizational groundwork — something she said would not serve voters well.
"The decision to select government is not something that should be rushed at all," she said.
Her independent candidacy, she added, is intended to begin building broader public support for political change while laying the groundwork for the ABNC's future participation in elections.
Despite acknowledging the challenges of running without the backing of a major party structure, Pero-Weston said she remains committed to engaging voters directly.
"Whether I show alone or with a crowd… I will continue to pound the streets and tell them you need to vote differently," she said.
Pero-Weston is contesting the St. George constituency against candidates from the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party and the United Progressive Party.
