Prime Minister Gaston Browne is urging supporters of the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) not to become complacent ahead of the upcoming General Election, warning that failure to register to vote could cost the party support at the polls.

Speaking on his weekly radio programme, The Browne and Browne Show on the Pointe Broadcasting Network, Browne called on supporters to ensure their voter registration is in order.

“I want to encourage all electors who have not had their cards validated to do so within the next two weeks,” he said, noting that current printing capacity is limited but expected to increase once additional equipment becomes operational.

He warned that waiting until the last minute could lead to voters being unable to participate.

“If everyone waits until the final day to get their cards validated, they could be inadvertently disenfranchised. We do not want anyone to be disenfranchised, especially our supporters.”

Browne also cautioned against underestimating the opposition United Progressive Party (UPP), despite reports of internal divisions.

“Yes, we have caught the UPP divided and unprepared… but at the same time we ought not take them for granted,” he said, adding that overconfidence among supporters could prove costly.

He pointed to the 2023 General Election, when some supporters failed to vote, believing victory was assured.

“We had a similar situation leading up to the 2023 election. A number of our supporters did not vote. And when they recognised that their nonchalant behaviour could have caused us to lose, the following Friday after the election—if you saw the amount of people who we had not seen in years who showed up literally in shock. They did not participate, they did not campaign, they did not come to our rallies, and I think they felt that we had it in the bag. I am saying that to say that [the election] is not won until it is won and that our people must be vigilant, they must be prepared, and the preparation requires the validation,” Browne said.

The ABLP is scheduled to launch its election campaign on April 7 at its headquarters, The People’s Place, on Nugent Avenue in St John’s.

Browne is expected to dissolve Parliament on April 1, paving the way for early elections in Antigua and Barbuda.

Under the election rules, at least 21 days’ notice is required before a general election, meaning the earliest possible date for a vote would be April 22.

He has indicated that a decision will be made on whether to request the issuance of the writ of election on April 1 or shortly after, with the possibility of extending the campaign period to allow for a more competitive contest.

Browne noted that the most he is willing to give the opposition is an extra week.

In the 2023 election, the ABLP won 9 of the 17 seats in the House of Representatives, while the UPP secured 6 seats.

The Barbuda People’s Movement retained its single seat, and former ABLP MP Asot Michael was elected as an independent candidate.

The ABLP won back Michael’s St Peter seat following a by-election on January 14, 2025, after his murder in November 2024.