Pringle says laws governing election bribery need to be changed and a UPP Administration will make amendments

Now that the St. Mary’s South by-election is over, and the
inducements and alleged bribery appear not to have had much of an
impact, Opposition Leader Jamale Pringle is calling for the election
laws to be amended to stamp out this type of corruption.
 
There had been widespread allegations of corruption leading up to
the poll on Tuesday, October 24, which prompted the United
Progressive Party (UPP) to offer a $10,000 reward for credible
evidence of such offences.

However, in Antigua and Barbuda, election bribery is difficult to
prosecute, since the person who accepts the bribe is as culpable as
the one offering it and will be charged, as well.

Pringle says the laws need to be changed in order to protect the
persons offered a bribe.

He notes that, in many cases, they are in poor economic
circumstances and in need of assistance; therefore, they are willing
to break the law in order to feed their families or to make ends meet.
 
Admittedly, he adds, some people do it out of sheer greed and
dishonesty.
 
However, Pringle says, the UPP will not sit back and allow this type
of culture to take hold on the political landscape.
 
He does not expect a Labour Party Government to muster the will to
amend the legislation to deal with this type of corruption – since it is
known to be engaged in such activities. But once the UPP assumes
the reins of government, he promises the legislation will be
amended to address the problem.
 
Pringle says he is appalled that, for a conviction to be effected, the
person who is being bribed must be prosecuted along with the
inducer.
 
With this provision, no one would ever be willing to come forward,
he says, and this type of activity will continue forever unless
amendment to the laws takes place.