Prime Minister Lester Bird conceded defeat Wednesday in general elections marked by corruption charges, ending a family dynasty that has dominated Antigua and Barbuda for more than half a century...
News Source: canada.com
The Eastern Caribbean island's new leader, labour activist Baldwin Spencer, danced a traditional jig to a calypso beat and promised to punish "crimes against the people." "We have them now. Yes! Yes! Yes," excited islanders chanted in the streets, repeating an opposition campaign slogan.
Bird's early concession came as electoral officials had declared only four of 17 Parliament seats. But his Antigua Labour Party had won only one and was trailing badly in other constituencies.
Spencer's United Progressive Party "has won the elections overwhelmingly," said Bird, who looked likely to lose his own seat.
But he refused to admit the defeat was caused by scandals that in recent years have centred on allegations of bribery, misuse of funds in the national health insurance plan and a 13-year-old girl's charges that he and his brother used her for sex and to procure cocaine.
Bird, 66, denied the last charges and organized an inquiry that said there was no evidence.
"I think that the people have decided that it was a time for change. Elections were not contested on issues but on the basis of a time for change," he said.
Full Story: Heavy voter turnout
