2023 St. Mary's South by-election
October 24, 2023 (2023-10-24)
 
Candidate Kelvin Simon Dwayne George Andrew Antonio
Party UPP ABLP DNA
Popular vote 1,065 891 8
Percentage 54.23% 45.37% 0.41%

On October 24, 2023, a by-election was conducted in the Antiguan seat of St. Mary's South in response to the resignation of Kelvin Simon, the sitting UPP member of parliament, due to challenges to his candidacy. It was Antigua and Barbuda's second election since Prime Minister Gaston Browne emerged victorious in the country's general election in 2023 with a narrow win.

The election was won by the UPP.[1] This was the first by-election held outside of Barbuda since independence in 1981.[2]

Background

After the Labour Party contested the results of the 2023 Antiguan general election in St. Mary's South, Kevin Simon MP resigned from the seat to trigger a by-election. This was due to concerns of Simon being unduly nominated.[3] On 27 July 2023, the Labour Party candidate, Samantha Marshall, withdrew from the by-election, and future[4] senator Dwayne George was chosen as her replacement instead.[5] It was expected that the by-election would generate significant interest across the Caribbean region.[6]

The election date was announced on 30 September 2023 in Urlings, the date being 24 October 2023.[7][8] The writ of by-election was given by Governor-General Rodney Williams on 2 October 2023.[9]

Candidates

Candidate name Political party Candidate village Reference
Andrew Antonio DNA Bolans [10]
Dwayne George ABLP Bolans [11]
Kelvin Simon UPP Bolans [12]

Polling divisions

[13]

Polling division Primary villages
"A" Bolans (incl. Jolly Harbour)
"B" Crabs Hill and Johnsons Point
"C" Urlings

Results

CandidatePartyVotes%
Kelvin SimonUPP1,06554.23
Dwayne GeorgeABLP89145.37
Andrew AntonioDNA80.41
Total1,964100.00
Valid votes1,96499.75
Invalid/blank votes50.25
Total votes1,969100.00
Registered voters/turnout2,71772.47
Majority1748.86
UPP hold
Source: Loop News[14]

References

  1. ↑ http://www.abec.gov.ag/sms/
  2. ↑ https://antiguaobserver.com/shugy-wins-his-double-or-nothing-by-election-gamble/
  3. ↑ jordan (2023-06-07). "MP Kelvin 'Shugy' Simon Resigns to Take St. Mary's South Seat Back to the People's Court". Antigua News Room. Retrieved 2023-08-29.
  4. ↑ jordan (2023-08-04). "Newly Sworn-In Senator Dwayne George Vows to Serve the People of St. Mary's South Constituency". Antigua News Room. Retrieved 2023-08-29.
  5. ↑ "Samantha Marshall Withdraws as Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party Candidate for St. Mary's South". Antigua News Room. 2023-07-27. Retrieved 2023-08-29.
  6. ↑ jordan (2023-08-17). "Wickham Forecasts Regional Interest in St. Mary's South By-Election". Antigua News Room. Retrieved 2023-08-29.
  7. ↑ jordan (2023-10-01). "St Mary's South By-Election Set for October 24". Antigua News Room. Retrieved 2023-10-01.
  8. ↑ "Notice of by-election" (PDF).
  9. ↑ "Writ of by-election" (PDF).
  10. ↑ "Statement of Persons Nominated (Andrew Antonio)" (PDF).
  11. ↑ "Statement of Persons Nominated (Dwayne George)" (PDF).
  12. ↑ "Statement of Persons Nominated (Kelvin Simon)" (PDF).
  13. ↑ "St. Mary's South Polling Stations".
  14. ↑ "Antigua: Kelvin 'Shugy' Simon wins St Mary's South By-Election". Loop News. 25 October 2023. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
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