ABLP leader Gaston Browne

Gaston Browne was returned unopposed as leader of the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party on Sunday, using his address at the party’s convention to frame the next general election as a decisive choice about the country’s future.

Speaking at the party’s headquarters, known as The People’s Place, Browne told supporters that “the choice before this nation is clear… between certainty and confusion, between progress and paralysis, between tested leadership and the untested ambition of the ignorant.”

He urged voters not to “risk putting the governance of this country into incompetent hands,” warning that the election would determine whether Antigua and Barbuda continues on its current path or reverses course.

Browne, who now heads into the election season at the helm of the ruling party, said the contest would be “primarily about the future of the country,” adding that “this is not the time for unnecessary risk-taking… to experiment with failed and incompetent leadership.”

The ABLP leader also took aim at his political opponents, accusing them of being unprepared to govern and motivated by self-interest. “They are not ready… they are looking for personal opportunities to enrich themselves,” he said.

At the same time, Browne pointed to what he described as a transition within his own party, highlighting younger members being prepared for leadership roles. “We have competent leaders, young, bright leaders… to ensure future leadership,” he said, adding that training was already underway to ensure continuity.

He outlined a broader vision for the country, describing Antigua and Barbuda as being transformed into a “lifestyle superpower,” with policies aimed at wealth creation and expanding access to opportunities.

Among the achievements cited were tax concessions for homeowners and businesses, investments in education, and the expansion of tertiary opportunities, including plans for a law degree programme at the University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus.

Browne also stressed the importance of national security to economic growth, telling supporters that “you cannot grow an economy in an unsafe environment,” while describing the country as “one of the safest places in the world.”

In closing, he called on party members to actively defend the government’s record in the campaign ahead. “You are ambassadors… you must defend the track record of this great institution,” he said, urging supporters to “carry the message of hope… good performance and good governance.”