Antigua & Barbuda - Head of Government

The Hon Winston Baldwin Spencer, Leader of the United Progressive Party, was re-elected to a second term in office as Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda following victory at the 12 March 2009 general election. Mr Spencer began his first term in office in March 2004. He is concurrently Minister of Labour. Before becoming prime minister, Mr Spencer served in the House of Representatives for more than 15 years as Leader of the Opposition.

Mr Spencer was Chairperson of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) from 2008 to 2009. He has also served as Chair of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States and also sat as Co-Chairperson of the Summit Meeting between the European Union, Latin America and the Caribbean in Mexico in 2004. He chaired one of four Round Tables of Heads of State and Government at the World Summit 2005, at the United Nations General Assembly.

Mr Spencer, Chair of the Group of 77 developing countries at the UN in September 2008, was honoured with the 2008 Millennium Development Goals Achievement Award for his commitment and contributions to promoting and strengthening partnerships between the United Nations and the private sector in achieving global anti-poverty goals.

Mr Spencer began his political career in 1989 when he was elected to parliament as a United National Democratic Party representative of St John’s Rural West constituency.

Mr Spencer has a diploma in social leadership from the Coady International Institute, Canada; in labour and economic studies from Ruskin College, Oxford University; and in labour and industrial relations from Oslo University, Norway.

Mr Spencer was born on 8 October 1948.