St. John's: March 24th,
2004....... Antigua
and Barbuda has a new Prime Minister.
He is 56
year-old Trade Unionist, Baldwin Spencer, leader of the United
Progressive Party (UPP) who defeated former Prime Minister
Lester Bird and the Antigua Labour Party (ALP) in what is being
described as a historic 12-4 defeat in general elections
held on Tuesday, March 23rd.
Mr. Spencer, dressed
in a black suit, before scores of UPP supporters, took the
three Oaths of Office to become Antigua and Barbuda's third
Prime Minister. Along with being Prime Minister, Mr. Spencer
will also be responsible for Barbuda Affairs, Information,
Labour, Ecclesiastical Affairs, National Security and Public
Administration.
Spencer who also
appointed four new Ministers following his swearing in, said his
Administration had to move swiftly to "set the tone of what
this new government is all about."
The new Prime
Minister hit the ground running as he pointed out that his
UPP Administration will set about immediately to put in place
the legislative framework for the establishment of the National
Economic and Social Council".
"It is going to
be an important instrument in driving economic and social
activity in the country in which the stakeholders in
Antigua and Barbuda, the private sector, the non-governmental
organizations and the churches will be able to play a pivotal
role, not merely to be able to come up with recommendations
from time to time....," he said.
In addition he
indicated that his administration will be moving swiftly to pass
Integrity and Anti-corruption Legislation, something that has
been on the cards for the past twenty odd years.
