The Barbuda People’s Movement (BPM) has once again solidified its dominance in the Barbuda Council elections, securing all five available seats in Wednesday’s biennial vote
Supporters of the Barbuda Peoples Movement (BPM) were from the start sure of their victory, while supporters of the Antigua Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) felt like voting could go either way. However, as the final results were tallied late into the night, celebrations erupted at the Holy Trinity School, where the BPM candidates emerged victorious.
Out of the 1,328 registered voters, it is estimated that over 700 people participated in the elections—reflecting an ongoing trend of voter apathy in Barbuda. Traditionally, voter turnout has hovered around 50 percent, with approximately 800 ballots cast in previous elections.
Polling stations opened at 7 a.m., with elderly residents being among the first to vote. However, there were signs of indifference among the electorate, as some residents scrambled to replace their voter ID cards late in the afternoon.
Vote counting began at approximately 6:40 p.m. and lasted over four hours. The first ballot box (A-C) initially suggested a competitive race, with ABLP candidates receiving early votes, but BPM quickly gained momentum as more boxes were counted. Independent candidate Jermaine Desouza, running under the Saving Grace Party, received mixed support across the ballots.
The 2024 Barbuda Council elections featured a total of 12 candidates—five each from BPM and ABLP, along with two independent candidates. The full candidate slate included:
BPM: Melanie Beazer, Nadia George, Jackie Frank, Wayde Burton, and Nico Antonio.
ABLP: Bernard Christian, Bonneitha John-Desouza, Mackeisha Desouza, Orlando Morris, and former government minister Arthur Nibbs.
Independents: Hasketh Daniel and Jermaine Desouza (Saving Grace Party).
