DeFreitas asks where is the promised Writ of Election, while Watts says the situation is ‘absolutely unusual and weird’

Two United Progressive Party (UPP) Candidates are inquiring about the Writ of Election, which was to be issued on Tuesday, December 20, according to Prime Minister Gaston Browne, when he announced the date of the General Elections last Monday night.

However, there has been no evidence of the proclamation – from the Office of the Governor-General nor via the official Gazette – so far.

Accordingly, Franz deFreitas, the UPP Candidate for St. John’s City South, is asking why it is taking so long for the Writ to be issued, and he advises residents to keep a close eye on this development.

In the meantime, since the Writ of Election has not yet been issued, deFreitas is advising persons who have not registered to do so.

Algernon “Serpent” Watts, the Party’s candidate for the St. George constituency, describes the situation as “absolutely unusual and weird;” but he sees it as a sign of the times.

Watts says the Prime Minister was forced to announce the election date because the longer he tries to drag out the polls, the harder things are going to become.

Once Parliament has been formally dissolved – which took place last Friday, December 16, according to Browne – the Writ of Election should be issued.

According to Wikipedia, “A writ of election is a writ issued ordering the holding of an election.”  

In  countries of the Commonwealth – of which Antigua and Barbuda is a member – writs are the usual mechanism by which general elections are called; they are issued by the head of state or that person’s representative.

Meanwhile, during the launch of the Antigua Labour Party’s campaign on December 19, PM Browne also announced December 28 as Nomination Day.