THE parliamentary opposition Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) has alerted the secretariats of both the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the wider Organisation of American States (OAS) to what it views as a serious threat to constitutional, democratic governance in that twin-island Eastern Caribbean country.

This dramatic initiative came on Tuesday against increasing indications that the governing United Progressive Party (UPP) of Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer, may be moving for a snap general election in the face of losing high-profile court cases both at home and before the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal.
What triggered the complaint to the OAS and CARICOM by Opposition Leader, Gaston Brown, was his party’s anger over what it has referenced as “another unlawful move” by the ruling UPP in Parliament last Friday (June 14).
That occurrence involved a controversial move by the UPP’s parliamentarian, Harold Lovell, to successfully secure, with a one-vote majority, to unlawfully add to the ‘Order Paper’ the first reading of a draft law that was not included in what was officially circulated before the sitting commenced.
The intention by the government, as claimed by the opposition in its letters to the OAS and CARICOM, is to have the draft legislation debated and approved by the parliament this coming Friday (tomorrow).
At the core of the opposition’s expressed fears is that the UPP administration “is setting the stage to make lawful many unlawful acts” undertaken by the Prime Minister, starting two years ago and which were deemed to be illegal by the courts.
Primarily, the fears revolve around the government’s misuse of powers to undermine the independence and integrity of the Antigua and Barbuda Electoral Commission, including, as confirmed in a ruling by the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal, the unlawful removal of the Commission’s chairman, Sir Gerald Watt.
In the reasoning of the opposition, the government is currently in the process of setting the scene for submission in parliament a second draft report from the Electoral Commission, having felt compelled to withdraw the first draft based on an earlier court ruling.
As explained by the opposition, the government was moving to make a mockery of decisions by the courts in relation to political interference in the functioning of the Electoral and Boundaries Commission.
The ultimate goal of the government, according to the opposition, is to continue with its politics of gerrymandering of electoral constituencies that makes a farce of free and fair elections and, by extension, undermine constitutional and democratic governance.
At the last general election, Prime Minister Spencer’s UPP succeeded in securing its current five-year second term by just a majority of one, winning eight to the ABLP’ seven seats.
Now under the new leadership of Gaston Brown who replaced the veteran Lester Bird at the party’s convention last year, the opposition’s growing confidence of regaining state power is encountering mounting political roadblocks by a government that considers itself deserving of a third successive term.
Prime Minister Spencer’s administration remains quite on the offensive against the opposition Labour Party, taking full advantage of state-controlled media as well as wielding its influence over privately-owned radio and print media.