Reports of gov’t workers campaigning in Rural East prove that UPP has gained momentum in ALP’s garrison, Sean Bird says

Amidst allegations that government employees have been sent on vacation in order to campaign for the Labour Party, some persons are saying the Browne Administration has sunk to a new low.

Reportedly, most of this activity has been taking place in the constituency of St. John’s Rural East, where Maria Bird Browne, the Prime Minister’s wife, is the incumbent.

Several people have taken to social media to complain about Bird Browne’s absence from the constituency, and pundits say this move is intended to boost her chances for re-election.

Sean Bird, the United Progressive Party (UPP) Candidate for Rural East, says he has received confirmation of the allegations.

Bird says that maneuvers like this prove the UPP has gained tremendous ground and momentum in what some call a “garrison” Labour Party constituency.

Accordingly, the Rural East seat represents the shifting tide taking place in Antigua and Barbuda.

According to Bird, this move by the incumbent smacks of “treating,” a practice that goes against the country’s election laws.

However, he acknowledges that proving the offence would be difficult.  While persons are willing to admit something behind closed doors, he says, they are hesitant to go public with the information, fearing political victimization.

Meanwhile, Bird says that he and his team continue to pay keen attention to other happenings, such as the transfer of voters into the constituency.

Transfers appear to be on the uptick in other constituencies, as well. But with a new paradigm shift in the electoral process, Bird says that persons seeking to pad the voters list may be in for a rude awakening come Election Day.