The Antigua and Barbuda Authorities and the primary opposition United Progressive Occasion (UPP) had been buying and selling allegations forward of Monday’s Nomination Day for the essential St Mary’s South constituency byelection.
Kelvin ‘Shugy’ Simon, who stepped down in a bid to thwart efforts by the ruling Antigua and Barbuda Labour Occasion (ABLP) to problem his victory on the basic election, will once more be the UPP’s candidate, whereas economist Dwayne George, a former UPP member, is the ABLP’s candidate.
There are anticipated to be a number of different candidates, however political observers say the competition will probably be a struggle between the candidates of the 2 foremost events Prime Minister Gaston Browne had led the ABLP to a nail-biting victory within the January 18 basic elections, profitable 9 of the 17 seats for a 3rd consecutive time period in workplace.
In a press release, the Workplace of the Prime Minister mentioned it had “found that operatives inside the Opposition have change into so determined…that they’ve gone about making a faux profile” of the prime minister and “utilizing foul language and an uncommon picture to vilify, slander and libel the Prime Minister”.
The assertion mentioned that the opposition has created the “faux profile within the hopes of persuading youthful electors, the people who find themselves most certainly to devour the on-line trashy materials which the particular web site gives, to scale back their religion within the very profitable nine-year tenure of Prime Minister Browne.
“These operatives are hoping to swing youthful voters away from the rising assist received over by the ABLP candidate for St. Mary’s South, by diminishing the excessive normal that has characterised the Prime Minister’s attraction,” the assertion mentioned, including that “the faux profile has been reported to the suitable web site and it’s anticipated that it’s going to shortly be taken down”.
However in a press release, the UPP mentioned that it “views with contempt the newest effort of Prime Minister Gaston Browne to achieve the assist of the individuals of Antigua and Barbuda: by claiming to be the cyber sufferer of Opposition operatives”.
The celebration mentioned that it has “no must resort to such low ways to shame the Prime Minister, when, singlehandedly, in his current unhinged rants and unprecedented solipsism…he introduced his place and the workplace into disrepute.
“The Prime Minister could be higher suggested to look inside his personal camp, the place there may be a lot dissatisfaction amongst his comrades, for the true perpetrator behind this faux profile.
In any other case, he has the assets of the police at his disposal to research this alleged offence,” the opposition celebration mentioned.
It mentioned it has “completely no must descend into the gutter politics of PM Browne,” including “relatively, it’s “glad with, and pleased with, the marketing campaign” run by the candidate and the celebration “and we’re assured that the voters within the upcoming byelection-will make the suitable alternative based mostly on efficiency and character”.
