New leader of the Antigua Labour Party Gaston Browne addresses the delegates during the ALP’s biennial convention at the Multi-purpose Cultural Centre at Perry Bay yesterday. (Photo by Eustace Samuel/OBSERVER Media)
ST JOHN’S, Antigua – Pumping a fist in the air and wearing a victory smile, that’s how newly elected political leader of the Antigua Labour Party (ALP) Gaston Browne celebrated his win over contender and former leader Lester Bird at the end of the organisation’s convention yesterday.
And Browne used his victory speech to announce April 24, 2014, as the day he ties the knot with fiancée Maria Bird, Lester Bird’s niece.
Scores of supporters screamed and rushed to Browne’s side to congratulate him on his historic win, while others angrily walked off the compound at the Multi-purpose Cultural Centre at Perry Bay cursing and alleging the process had been “rigged.”
But Browne remained inside and continue to celebrate by indulging in a victory dance to Vegas’ song I am blessed.
Immediately afterwards, he told OBSERVER Media exclusively, “It is with great humility that I accept this historic position to lead the ALP. I recognise the ALP has had two great leaders – Lester Bird and his late great father Sir Vere Cornwall Bird – and I’m happy to be the third leader of this rich party.”
It is the first time in its 66 years the Antigua Labour Party has elected a leader, who is not a member of the Bird family.
Browne thanked God, and his supporters as he also congratulated Bird (in absentia) who failed in his bid to add another two years to the 19 he had already served as ALP’s political leader.
“I want to thank Lester Bird for a spirited and tense competition … I stand by my commitment to ensure his legacy is protected. We are going to make him leader emeritous of the ALP,” Browne said.
At the time he was surrounded on stage by colleagues Steadroy “Cutie” Benjamin, Eustace “Teco” Lake, Maureen Payne-Hyman, Asot Michael, Dean Jonas, Charles “Max” Fernandes and several other prominent members of the ALP.
Going into the party’s election at the biennial convention, many ALP supporters said the race was going to be a very close one between Bird and Browne, and that the other two contenders – party stalwarts Molwyn Joseph and Robin Yearwood – didn’t stand a chance.
Between 2:40 pm and 2:45 pm, both Joseph and Yearwood bowed out of the race, leaving Bird and Browne to square off.
A total of 400 delegates voted yesterday and Browne captured approximately 55 per cent of the votes by the time nine of 10 ballot boxes were counted.
Meanwhile, for the first time in the ALP’s history, a woman has been appointed party chairman with Gail Christian edging out contender Steadroy “Cutie” Benjamin.
(More in today’s Daily OBSERVER)
cee cee is on point here, I don’t thinkj Gaston is going to show up in at the white house receiving line with a wife who looks like his daughter. Seventy to fifty is fine, not forty to twenty. You people in antigua need to grow up.
Like or Dislike:
2 
4
I’m still trying to get over the anticipated marriage. If elected Prime Minister, what will the world think when he travel with the first lady. Can’t imagine what the President of the United States would be thinking when he says…”and this is my wife.”
Like or Dislike:
5 
2
Re:Captain Kangaroo, You must have not been listening for years to what Gaston Browne has presented to Parliament on transforming Antigua and Barbuda into the “Economic Powerhouse” of the OECS. He has been giving the Upp ideas year after year in Palrliament, just because of politics and incompetence, Antigua and Barbuda in the state it’s in. Gaston Browne will take this country forward for sure.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
8 
4
Congratulations to Mr. Gaston Browne for winning the leadership of the ALP.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
7 
1
How many of the ‘old guard’ will retire before he next general electon??
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
8 
0
All the old guuards should now retire.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
8 
1
I feel some sense of relief that the country now has at least a possible alternative to the UPP. The last 8 -9 years have been disappointing for so many. Unless I am greatly mistaken the UPP promised that they would balance the financial deficit simply by closing off all the leakage in government finances. There were not supposed to be any new taxes required to run the country. Instead we now have ABST as well as PIT, the treasury is still bankrupt and the people are suffering. Now I want to hear Browne’s plan for remedying the woes of Antigua.
Hot debate. What do you think?
8 
7