Chamber:
	House of Representatives
Dates of elections / renewal (from/to):
	9 March 1999
Purpose of elections:
	Elections were held for all the seats in the House of Representatives on the normal expiry of the members' term of office.
Background and outcome of elections:
	In the 1999 general elections, the main opposition to the long-ruling Antigua Labour Party (ALP) came once again from the United Progressive Party (UPP) led by Mr. Baldwin Spencer. During the campaign, the UPP accused the Government of corruption, economic mismanagement and nepotism. ALP Prime Minister Lester Bird countered by touting the nation's strong economy based on tourism and off-shore financial services, and promised a programme of development projects aiming for better health and education facilities as well as higher employment figures. Altogether 42 candidates (including six independents) contested 17 seats in the House of Representatives, with the ALP running in all constituencies. On polling day, Labour increased its parliamentary total by one seat to 12 and was thus assured of a sixth consecutive term in power. Mr. Lester Bird - who had succeeded his father Vere Bird as head of government in 1994 - continued as Prime Minister. A new Cabinet was sworn in on 12 March.

STATISTICS

Round no 1 (9 March 1999): Elections results
Number of registered electors	52 385
Voters	33 318 (64 %)
Blank or invalid ballot papers	227
Valid votes	33 091

Round no 1: Distribution of votes
Political Group	Candidates	Votes	%
Antigua Labour Party (ALP)	17	17 417	52.63
United Progressive Party (UPP)	16	14 817	44.78
Barbuda People's Movement (BPM)	n.a.	418	1.26

Round no 1: Distribution of seats
Political Group	Total
Antigua Labour Party (ALP)	12
United Progressive Party (UPP)	4
Barbuda People's Movement (BPM)	1

Distribution of seats according to sex:
Men:	18
Women:	1
Percent of women:	5.26