March 23-24 to see celebration of Spencer’s legacy as third prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda

The legacy of Dr. Winston Baldwin Spencer is being celebrated on
March 23 and 24 in recognition of the 20th  anniversary of his
election as Antigua and Barbuda’s third prime minister.
 
The celebration of Spencer’s “Sunshine legacy,” according to a
statement from the Rural West Branch, will see several activities
being held, including a Special Prayers and Praise event at the
Greenbay Moravian Church on Sunday, March 24.
 
This event will form part of the morning-worship service at the
church in celebration of the day Spencer was sworn in as prime
minister, after having won the General Election on March 23, 2004.
 
However, on Saturday, the actual anniversary of the election, a
community social will be held at Pensioners Beach to commemorate
the Party’s
victory.

Spencer served for two terms, with his Party losing office in 2014,
and he retired from active politics in 2018.
 
On March 8, 1989 Spencer was elected the Member of Parliament
for St. John’s Rural West and served six terms in the Lower House.
 
In recognition of this legacy, the Rural West Constituency Branch
will present the former prime minister with a Lifetime Achievement
Award for his outstanding leadership and his commitment to
community development and uplifting lives.
 
MP Richard Lewis, the current representative and a protégé of Dr.
Spencer, will present the award. 
 
Lewis describes the former prime minister as a man of integrity,
authenticity, and compassion, and says “Mr. Spencer’s dedication to
the people of St. John’s Rural West will forever remain etched in the
fabric of our community.”
 
Spencer was instrumental in securing the Knuckle Block Community
Centre, which was gifted by the Government and people of the
People’s Republic of China to the Grays-Green community – but
which they are yet to enjoy, since it was taken over to house the St.
John’s Magistrates Court four years ago.
 
He is also to be credited for the construction of what was to have
been the modern, state-of-the-art Five Islands Secondary School; but
that complex, too, was taken over by the Browne Administration
and repurposed into the Five Islands campus of The University of
the West Indies.

The new terminal of the Sir V.C. Bird International Airport was 90-
percent built during Spencer’s tenure as prime minister, among

other notable achievements that included the completion of the
Mount St. John Medical Centre and the National Public Library, as
well as several critical social programmes and vastly expanded
scholarship offerings.
 
Throughout the celebration events, tributes will be paid to Spencer
by community leaders and Party officials.
 
Supporters are encouraged to wear vintage T-shirts and other attire
from the Spencer era and are encouraged to share memorabilia or
photos as part of the nostalgia.
 
Both weekend events are open to the public.