The Antigua elections are over, but we are now in the aftermath. It is easy to get passionate during election capaigns, but it is harder to calm down after the results have been issued, especially if you didn’t find the result to be favourable.

In Barbados, after a heated election battle, Prime Minister David Thompson has made the call several times for ALL Barbadians to pull together for the benefit of the country, regardless of political affiliation.

Caribbean 360 reports a similar situation in Antigua, where Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer has called on Antiguans and Barbudans to put aside their differences and political partisanship in the interest of the country.

“My most fervent prayer today is that the anger and the spite that poisons our land shall be washed away by a people, and a nation united in prayer,” Spencer said.

With the present global economic crisis, it is important for nations to pull together, in order to weather the storm. however, Opposition parties tend to disagree. Admittedly, it is not in the best political interest of Opposition parties if people pull together and forget about politics. There will always be a fear that if the people focus on solving their mutual challenges together, more people will become warm to the Government. In Antigua, it will be difficult for the people to fully heed the PM’s call when the Opposition continues to fight even after the election.

Caribbean 360 also reports: ALP challenges election losses and objects to OAS assessment.

The votes have all been counted in Antigua and Barbuda’s 2009 polls, but the election appears to be far from over for the losing Antigua Labour Party (ALP) which is not only challenging the outcome in three constituencies, but taking issue with assessments made by the Organisation of American States (OAS) election observer mission.

ALP leader Lester Bird has indicated that his party will mount a court challenge to the results in St John’s Rural West, St John’s City East, and Barbuda, charging that the election was “tainted”.

Only time will tell the total outcome, but we hope and pray that Antigua will make it through this process without violence or unrest, and that the country will be able to brave the present economic challenges.

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