Political strategist, Dr Oswald Thomas, is advocating for a significant increase in the number of parliamentary seats in Antigua and Barbuda — from 17 to 25 — arguing that the current structure no longer reflects the country’s modern governance needs.
The reason, he stated, is that several constituencies have grown too large for effective representation by a single parliamentarian, since over the years some, for example St Peter, have increased from 800 to approximately 5,000 voters.
“Our population has grown tremendously. Housing stock has quadrupled,” Thomas said yesterday on the Observer AM show.
“Can one person effectively represent the geographical location of certain constituencies with such a large population base? Can the populace have equal access to their representative?” he queried.
In addition to St Peter, Dr Thomas identified several other constituencies that could be divided, to include St John’s Rural West, St John’s Rural East, and St George.
He also proposed creating an additional constituency in Barbuda, to better serve its growing population and development plans.
Drawing comparisons with Bermuda, the political strategist noted that despite being smaller than Barbuda with just 21 square miles and a population of nearly 64,000, Bermuda maintains 36 parliamentary seats, in contrast to the combined 170 square-mile nation of Antigua and Barbuda which has a population of approximately 100,000.
The political commentator argued that smaller constituencies would make political participation more accessible to qualified candidates who may lack substantial financial resources.
“The aspiring politician from a single mother — well educated, connected to their community but does not have the backing or resources to deal with a 5,000 electoral map — can now jump into that fray,” he explained.
The recently constituted Constituencies Boundaries Commission, he said, should evaluate these recommendations while considering population distribution and housing developments.
With the last census conducted in 2011 and another due this year, Dr Thomas emphasized that expanding constituencies was “not just a numerical adjustment” but rather “a necessary step toward more effective leadership, greater accountability, and a more engaged citizenry”.
