Corruption claims at centre of Antigua elections

Voters stood in long lines to choose a new parliament as corruption charges and scandals linked to sex and drugs threatened to topple the family dynasty that has governed Antigua and Barbuda for nearly three decades.

Prime minister Lester Bird predicted victory yesterday in the closely-contested elections, saying after casting his ballot, “I feel very, very confident.”

His Antigua Labour Party headed into the vote with nine of 17 seats in the House of Representatives, seeking a seventh straight term. But polls suggested it could be the party’s first loss since it assumed power in 1976.

“I want to see a change of government because I think the country is fed up,” said voter John Jacobs, a 62-year-old airline worker, referring to the allegations of corruption.

Voters formed long lines, some waiting for hours and clutching umbrellas in the rain. Those in line when polls closed were allowed to cast ballots.

Electoral officials estimated turnout at between 75 and 80% – the last elections in 1999 drew little more than 60%.

An opposition win would mark the first time since 1981 for the Caribbean country not to have a Bird as prime minister. Lester Bird, now 66, took office in 1994, replacing his father Vere Bird Sr, who died in 1999. The elder Bird served as premier under British rule from 1976 until independence in 1981, when he became the nation’s first prime minister.

After casting his ballot, opposition leader Baldwin Spencer predicted his United Progressive Party would win 11 seats. “I am feeling extremely elated and excited,” he said.

Bird’s party has campaigned on claims of economic progress, trumpeting 4% growth during its five-year term in the twin-island nation of 70,000 people. About 10% are jobless in an economy based largely on sagging tourism.

The opposition pledged greater unemployment benefits and support for school uniforms and lunches. Bird, meanwhile, promised to cut corporate tax from 40% to 25%.

But accusations of corruption returned over the weekend as hundreds massed outside Bird’s office, where workers removed boxes of what Bird called personal items. Protesters accused him of trying to hide incriminating documents – an accusation he called “absolutely crazy”.

The government has repeatedly weathered scandals. In 2002, an inquiry into fraud in the national health insurance programme implicated 12 officials, including two former ministers, all of whom were removed. Seven have been charged.

The same year, scandal broke out when a teenage girl accused Bird of raping her and claimed she did drug deals for him and his brother. Bird denied it, and an inquiry dismissed the claim, citing a lack of evidence.

In June, three MPs quit Bird’s party in protest at a decision not to hold a vote of confidence or debate corruption allegations.

More than 43,000 people were eligible to vote, and observers were on hand from the Caribbean Community and London-based Commonwealth Secretariat. Forty candidates were competing.

The Electoral Commission said foreign-born residents and citizens made up some 25% of the voters rolls.