Cabinet agrees to complete voter re-registration, although no date has been set; UPP feels justified

The Cabinet has agreed that a complete re-registration of voters –
and not a “renewal” of their cards – will take place, and the United
Progressive Party (UPP) confirms its satisfaction with this decision.
However, a date for the exercise has not yet been decided.

Most voter registration cards are set to expire shortly, in March
2024, and a complete re-registration was anticipated, as was the
case 10 years ago.

However, the Gaston Browne Administration had considered having
a renewal drive to extend the life of the cards, instead.
The matter reportedly was discussed in the Cabinet meeting of
Wednesday, January 31, to which five officials from the Antigua and
Barbuda Electoral Commission (ABEC), including Supervisor of
Elections Ian Hughes, were invited.

Obviously, the delegation did not include a chairperson of the body,
since one is yet to be appointed following the recent death of John
Jarvis.

According to this week’s Notes, Cabinet members acknowledged
that the expiration of the 10-year old cards is fast approaching. And,
following intense discussions, it was agreed that re-registration
would be preferable since it will ensure the integrity of the voters’
list.

A precise date for the start of the process has not been announced.
Meanwhile, UPP officials say they are pleased with the decision to
stage a complete voter re-registration exercise.

Based on a declaration by Prime Minister Browne following the
January 2023 General Election, the Opposition party has been
convinced that the last polls were held on a corrupted list.

Browne admitted that City West voters had been transferred to
other constituencies to improve his colleagues’ chances of winning
their seats, thus confirming the UPP’s suspicions in a number of
voting districts.

And, ironically, before the Election, Browne’s party had expressed
concern about the integrity of the St. Peter list, owing to the huge
number of transfers into that constituency.

Now, says Leon Chaku Symister, the UPP spokesperson on legal
matters, the corresponding question that needs to be settled is the
National Census, as this should inform both the Boundaries
Commission and, ultimately, the re-registration exercise.
The census is now three years overdue.