The plethora of general elections held in the Caribbean Community (Caricom) last year is continuing in 2026 with two polls set to take place by the middle of May, even as strong indications about two more — possibly in St. Kitts and Dominica — are beginning to surface.
On Thursday of this week, voters in the federation of Antigua and Barbuda will decide whether to give the governing labor party (ABLP) a third consecutive term or determine whether they will take a break and choose the Unite Progressive Party (UPP) instead.
The ABLP of Prime Minister Gaston Browne has been in power since 2014, with Browne repeating victories in 2018 and in 2023. The next elections were not due until early 2028. There were 12 general elections in the 15-nation bloc and its associate members last year. This time around, Browne and the ABLP appeared to have pounced on a snap poll to capitalize on internal infighting in the UPP just as Prime Minister Mia Mottley did to the main opposition but splintered Democratic Labor Party (DLP) in early February, sweeping all 30 parliamentary seats for the third consecutive time.
At stake in Antigua’s elections are a series of key issues, including alleged corruption in official circles, the state of the economy, and the implications of a move by the Trump administration at the close of last year to suspend some visa travel rights to locals and those in neighboring Dominica.
Critics say the federation and the cabinet was being punished by the State Department because of questions about the sanctity of the controversial sale of passports scheme (CIP) that allows foreigners to invest as little as $100,000 for a local passport and citizenship. The U.S. and other western nations have railed against this economic construct, arguing that applicants with dubious backgrounds have capitalized on this opportunity to obtain local passports and travel to dozens of countries that allow Antiguans to travel visa-free.
Sensing that such an issue can resonate with voters, UPP Leader Jamale Pringle has promised to work with the U.S. to restore visa privileges, while UPP candidates have identified Browne as one of dozens of hemispheric politicians who have transgressed against U.S. rules and will soon lose their visas. The allegation on the campaign trail has forced authorities to issue an official statement. The ABLP has 10 of the 17 house seats.
“The foreign ministry regards the circulation of this claim as political mischief, intended to mislead the public and to create unnecessary concern during the current election period. The government of Antigua and Barbuda and the government of the U.S. continue to maintain a constructive and collaborative working relationship, including on matters related to visas and consular affairs, as well as on broader issues of mutual interest,” the statement noted.
Meanwhile, as campaigning steps up in the federation, voters in the Bahamas are also being asked to choose a government on May 12 and pick representatives in the 41-member chamber. As usual, voters are being asked to elect or re-elect more than 50 multimillionaires from the governing Progressive Labor Party (PLP) or the Free National Movement (FNM).
Leading the pack of the wealthy is former Los Angeles Lakers champion and movie actor Rick Fox. Fox is of Canadian-Bahamian citizenship, is campaigning with the FNM, and has declared a whopping $470 million in assets, an annual income of nearly $5 million, and liabilities of around $124,388.83, according to his filing. This is in addition to $14.5 million in monies outstanding or accounts receivables and $11 million in real estate holdings.
In all, 54 multimillionaires of the 130 politicians have offered themselves to be candidates in the parliament. Based on previous elections in recent decades, this type of wealth is not a new development in the sprawling archipelago off Florida; most recent polls have seen an average of 40 or so contesting. A point to note is that the Bahamian dollar is on par with the $US at 1-1.
However, even as voters have an idea of whom they are voting for and how wealthy their parliamentary representatives might be, FNM Leader Michael Pintard is urging Prime Minister Phillip Davis to take a look at significant increases in wealth levels among his political flock since the PLP came to power in the 2021 general elections.
“I would recommend that the PM takes a look at some of his colleagues whose wealth is twice as much now,” Pintard told a recent news conference as chatter has increased about how some of those who declared wealth spikes must have reached that level. The opposition leader said that today, his own net worth is $3.9 million, up by a million from 2021, with assets amounting to $4 million.
Pintard has accused Davis and his administration of five years of lackluster leadership that should end in mid-May.
The CARICOM umbrella grouping has sent an observer team to the archipelago, in the midst of opposition concerns about the accuracy of the voter rolls and fears of cheating by the PLP.