Member of Parliament for St. John’s Rural West, Richard Lewis, is urging voters to assess candidates on their individual performance rather than relying solely on party affiliation as the country heads toward a general election.
Speaking on Observer AM this week, Lewis framed Antigua and Barbuda’s electoral system as one that places ultimate responsibility on individual representatives, not just political parties.
“There are 17 different elections. That’s our system. And each person has to present his or herself to the electorate in that constituency,” Lewis said.
He acknowledged the importance of party unity but maintained that electoral decisions are ultimately made at the constituency level.
“Yes, we support each other as a team. We unite going to the electorate, but at the end of the day, everything is localized,” he said.
Lewis used his own constituency to illustrate the point, encouraging voters in St. John’s Rural West to judge him based on his personal track record rather than broader perceptions of the United Progressive Party (UPP).
“I am confident that I have represented my people well. I have done the work. I come to them running on my record, a very proud record,” he said.
The MP pointed to his performance over the past three years as the basis for his re-election bid, adding that his approach has been consistent since before entering office.
“I begin to work from day one. And I’m consistent in what it is that I do,” Lewis said.
His remarks come at a time when both major political parties are facing scrutiny from voters, with some expressing dissatisfaction with the overall political landscape ahead of elections expected within months.
Lewis argued that in such an environment, individual accountability becomes even more important.
“I go to them with my record, a performance-based representation. That is what I go to the people to,” he said.
He also emphasized that representation should be rooted in direct engagement with constituents rather than party messaging alone.
“The people know that I’m going to be there. I will continue to work for them,” Lewis added.
The comments signal a campaign strategy that places heavy emphasis on constituency-level performance, as political parties prepare for what is expected to be a closely watched general election.