Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer

Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer
Minister of Foreign Affairs
MP for St. John's Rural West

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Phone: 460-5502

St. John's Rural West

“The United Progressive Party will continue to work for the full realisation of that profound ideal in our party’s motto, “People First,” which will translate into specific and meaningful benefits for all Antiguans and Barbudans and residents.”
- The Honourable W. Baldwin Spencer, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda

Political Leader of the United Progressive Party (UPP) and Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Winston Baldwin Spencer was born in Antigua on the 8th day of October 1948. He is a proud product of the Grays-Green community and a graduate of the Greenbay Primary School and the Princess Margaret Secondary School.

Spencer’s academic qualifications reflect a rigorous course of study that is cosmopolitan in scope. He received a diploma in Social Leadership from the Coady International Institute in Canada and Diplomas in Labour and Economic Studies and Labour and Industrial Relation Systems from Oxford’s Ruskin College and Norway’s Oslo University, respectively. W. Baldwin Spencer has spent over quarter of a century in labour negotiations, serving in the highest positions in the Trade Union Movement and politics. Most notable are:

• 1st Vice President of the Antigua and Barbuda Workers Union (ABWU)
• Assistant General Secretary of the Antigua and Barbuda Workers Union
• President of the Caribbean Maritime and Aviation Council
• Leader of the Opposition in the House of Representatives

Mr. Spencer entered the Parliament of Antigua and Barbuda in 1989 in a successful bid to represent the people of the St. Johns Rural West Constituency. He has been and continues to be a vigorous advocate on behalf of his constituents for over two decades. Over the course of his career in Public Service, Mr. Spencer has established himself as an integral part of Antigua’s social fabric. His involvement includes:

• The Antigua Football Association
• The Antigua Cricket Association
• The Antigua Steelband Association
• The Halcyon Steel Orchestra (Manager)
• Executive Member of the Past Pupils and Teachers Association of the Greenbay Government School
• Ex-Officio Member and Advisor of the King George V Restoration Society
• Immediate Past President of the Empire Football Club

On the international stage, Prime Minister Spencer served as the Chairperson of the Group of 77 and China at the United Nations in 2008. In May 2008, he also assumed the Chairmanship of The Council for Foreign and Community Relations within CARICOM (COFCOR), and the Chairman of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) from July 2008.

In August 2008, Prime Minister Spencer received the Commander of the National Order of Cote d’Ivoire, which is the highest honour of this African nation, in recognition of his sterling leadership of the Group of 77 and China at the ministerial level. PM Spencer was also made an honourary Hereditary Chief by Cote d’Ivoire in June, and was given the title of Nanan Koussai II.

In September 2008, Prime Minister Spencer became the first leader to receive the Millennium Development Goals Achievement Award in recognition of his outstanding leadership and dedicated efforts in achieving the MDG’s and advancing the cause of development.

A devout believer in God, Prime Minister Spencer is also Chief Pathfinder in the Northern Hemisphere of the Seventh Day Adventist Church. He is happily married and is the father of two beloved children.

Getting the Job Done for St. John's Rural West

PM Spencer achieved the following in his constituency:

• Renovated the road network in the Grays Green and Five Islands;
• Modern overhaul of the Grays Farm Clinic to a near poly-clinic with a pharmacy and ambulatory service;
• Construction of Community Health Clinic library facilityin Five Islands;
• Fenced both the Greenbay and Five Islands Primary Schools;
• Fenced the King George V Grounds and the Perth Playground in Greenbay;
• Major sponsor of the annual Easter Classic;
• Successfully worked for the delivery of pipe-borne water and electrical lines to areas of the constituency where there were none;
• Significantly improved the sanitary conditions in the area and provided proper garbage disposal equipment;
• Substantial structural renovation of the Greenbay Primary School with the assistance of the British Government;
• Installation of hundreds of streetlights at numerous sites throughout the constituency;
• The provision of monthly food packages through a successful Elder Care Programme;
• An annual island-wide sightseeing tour for the elderly;
• Creation of an Alcoholics and Narcotics Anonymous Programme;
• Established School Meals Programmes at both the Greenbay and Five Islands Primary Schools;
• Installed Computer Access Centres at the Greenbay Primary School, the Five Islands School and the UPP Rural West Constituency Branch Office;
• Assisted in delivering University scholarships for several constituents;
• Assisted in providing well-paying jobs for hundreds of constituents.