By Special contributor
ST JOHN’S, Antigua – Antigua and Barbuda is “stepping into a new era, a renaissance shaped by focused development, innovation, and opportunity for all’ cites Melford W. Nicholas at the launch of RENAISSANCE, “The 2026 manifesto sets out a path grounded in delivery and national progress.”
Nicholas, the St John’s City East candidate, also noted that the “launch reflects a renewed commitment to strengthening Antigua and Barbuda through clear direction, disciplined leadership, and practical solutions for the future.”
‘Stepping into a new era, a renaissance shaped by focused development, innovation, and opportunity for all,’ RENAISSANCE highlights – Leadership that Delivered – Investing in People – Building for Prosperity – Modern Infrastructure for a Modern Nation – Safe, Stable and Respected – Small Nation, Global Voice – Foreign Policy and Diplomacy – Building the Next Great Chapter of Antigua and Barbuda – A Broad National Movement for the Renaissance and The Collective Pledge to the People of Antigua and Barbuda.
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- Read the ABLP Manifesto 2026 Online.
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Forward with Renaissance
“ This manifesto is presented to the people of Antigua and Barbuda at a serious and consequential moment in our national life.
The Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) comes before the country with a record that is tested, proven and clear. In government, we have led with steadiness, strength and sound judgment through some of the most difficult conditions any administration has had to face.
We guided the nation through the devastation of the COVID-19 pandemic with firmness, balance and foresight. We protected lives while preserving livelihoods and national stability.
Not a single public servant was dismissed, and salaries and wages continued to be paid in full each month, helping families to endure one of the most uncertain periods in modern times.
We were also among the first countries in the Caribbean to reopen our airport and wider economy, allowing tourism to recover sooner and restoring work and income to thousands whose livelihoods depend upon that sector.
We also responded to hurricanes and other extreme weather events with resilience and determination. Through these crises, we protected lives, preserved livelihoods, maintained social stability, and restored growth while countries larger and richer than ours struggled to do the same.
[Today], Antigua and Barbuda stands among the strongest performing economies in the Caribbean.
- Employment is at the highest level in our history.
- Unemployment has fallen to very low levels.
- Economic growth has been strong and sustained.
- Incomes have risen.
- Confidence in the economy has strengthened.
- Savings in our banks have increased, enterprise has flourished, and opportunity has expanded.
These are not matters of slogan or exaggeration. They are measurable signs of a country that has been responsibly led and carefully managed. Nor were these gains accidental. They were achieved through experienced leadership, disciplined planning, prudent management and a clear understanding that government must always act in the interest of the whole people. It is precisely because we understand the value of stability and sound judgment that we have sought a renewed mandate from the people at this time.
The world around us has become more dangerous, more uncertain and more unstable. Two major wars have shaken the global order: the war in Europe between Russia and Ukraine, and the grave conflict in the Middle East involving Israel, the United States and Iran. These conflicts have already had serious consequences for countries everywhere, especially small states such as ours.
- They have raised the prices of oil and gas, increasing the cost of living across the world.
- They have disrupted shipping, increased storage and insurance costs, contributed to shortages, and pushed up the prices of goods and services.
- They have affected both air and sea tourism, which are vital to Antigua and Barbuda’s economy.
In these circumstances, no prudent government can pretend that the storms beyond our shores will leave us untouched.
The ABLP has proved time and again that it has the courage, capacity and competence to steer the country successfully through adversity.
We have shown that we possess the experience, judgment and knowledge to navigate the nation and the economy through turbulent times and bring the ship of state safely to stability and prosperity. And we have done this while cushioning our people from the harshest impacts of externally created circumstances.
We know what the answer of the United Progressive Party was when it faced economic difficulty during its disastrous period as the government. When it left office in 2014, it left behind a country burdened by debt, arrears and disorder. Debt had risen above 100 percent of gross domestic product, and when un-booked debt was included, it was at least 110 percent. The government was borrowing more than XCD 250 million a year simply to function. APUA was burdened by heavy debts to critical suppliers, including more than XCD 80 million to WIOC for fuel and more than XCD 22 million to Sembcorp for water production. Antigua and Barbuda was facing a grave crisis.
That was the condition in which the nation was left, and that was the crisis the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party had to repair.
The UPP’s instinct was to pawn the nation to the harsh conditionalities of the International Monetary Fund. It dismissed public servants, increased the national debt heavily, contracted the economy, damaged business confidence, reduced opportunity, cut expenditure on social services, imposed income tax and raised other taxes, and drove unemployment upward. That was its default position then, and there is no reason to believe its instincts would be any different now.
In these troubling global times, the future of Antigua and Barbuda cannot be left to chance. Our people deserve a tried and tested government, one that has proven it can strongly represent the nation’s interests in the international community, stand up for every Antiguan and Barbudan, and implement policies, programmes and projects in the national interest without the distraction of those whose record is one of failure in government and disruption in opposition.
That is the context in which we seek an early election and place this compact before the people of our beloved country.
This manifesto sets out the National Renaissance: a new era of dignity and prosperity. It is not a catalogue of promises. It is a programme for the next phase of national advancement.
It speaks to stronger communities, wider opportunity, improved infrastructure, better housing, safer neighbourhoods, modern education, stronger public services, national security, and a more resilient economy. It is grounded in the Party’s record in government, but it is directed firmly to the future.
The Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party places this manifesto before the people with humility, confidence and determination.
Humility, because public trust must be earned and renewed. Confidence, because our record demonstrates what experienced and disciplined government can achieve. Determination, because we believe deeply that the next stage of Antigua and Barbuda’s development must be shaped by seriousness of purpose, practical action and a steadfast commitment to the welfare of all our people.
“We therefore commend this manifesto to the nation as a serious document for a serious time, and as the foundation for the next great chapter in the life of Antigua and Barbuda.“
