Gail Pero – By Deslyn A Joseph
Gail Pero Contest George
Attorney-at-Law and former educator Gail Pero has officially entered the race for the St. George’s Constituency.
Contesting under the “Eagle” symbol, Pero’s campaign is rooted in a call for “clean leadership” and a focus on the essential services she claims have been neglected by major political contenders.
In a political landscape dominated by the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) and the United Progressive Party (UPP), Pero said her decision to run independently was born out of a necessity to represent those who have lost faith in the status quo.
“The issues in St. George are pretty much the same as those found across various constituencies: poor infrastructure, accessible healthcare, and the delivery of water,” Pero stated. She said that her candidacy is driven by a need to provide a voice for citizens who no longer believe major parties are willing or able to govern in the interest of the people.
On the campaign trail, Pero said she has encountered a significant degree of voter apathy, a sentiment she believes has intensified since the 2023 elections. According to the candidate, many residents now view the electoral process as a pointless exercise. Her mission, she said, is to prove that honorable leadership can still exist in the halls of government.
Should she be successful at the polls on April 30, Pero has identified the restoration of integrity within government ministries and statutory bodies as her primary objective. She argues that leadership must be exercised with a fundamental understanding of accountability to the electorate.
“I believe we should perform that function honorably,” Pero remarked. “Beyond that, I would give priority to the delivery of healthcare services. Healthcare should be a matter of having it when you need it and not when you can afford it.”
Beyond the social safety net, Pero is also championing a stronger approach to national security. She links the safety of the citizenry directly to the health of the economy, suggesting that neither can thrive without the other. Her platform calls for the enactment of fair laws paired with more effective law enforcement to ensure that every Antiguan and Barbudan feels a sense of real protection.
As she moves toward election day, Pero’s “Eagle” campaign stands as a challenge to the established political order in St. George, offering a platform built on legal reform, public accountability, and the restoration of voter trust.
