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ST JOHN’S, Antigua, Mar 21 2006 – Two opposition parties have called for term limits for prime ministers in Antigua and Barbuda.
In addition, the main opposition United Progressive Party (UPP) and the small Antigua Barbuda True Labour Party say they also want a fixed date for general elections as well as for that day to be declared a public holiday.
“Election Day should be made a public holiday to allow timely and unimpeded participation of all eligible voters. Term Limits for the Prime Minister to be set at a maximum of two consecutive terms,” the two parties said in a joint statement following a meeting here.
They said they are also calling for changing the law allowing the prime minister “selecting the day of elections to a fixed day at the end of the five-year year term.
“Both political organisations have agreed to seek common ground on various issues in order to urgently secure good governance, economic opportunity and a better quality of life for all citizens and residents of Antigua and Barbuda,” the statement said.
It said that the officials from the two parties met to discuss areas of strategic cooperation, with the aim of making the Gaston Browne-led administration more accountable to the population.
The statement said that the Browne administration, which came to office in 2014, “continues to totally fail citizens and residents of Antigua & Barbuda, particularly with regard to the following areas of bad governance and self-inflicted economic hardship.
“High gasoline, diesel, cooking gas and electricity prices, despite a sharp 70 per cent decline in the price of crude oil and the failure to provide a clean and regular water supply almost two years after promising a 14 day solution on taking office on June 13th 2014,” were among the matters raised by the parties.
