Spencer, Baldwin

▪ prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda

in full  Winston Baldwin Spencer 

born Oct. 8, 1948, Green Bay, St. John's, Antigua

      Antiguan trade unionist and politician who became prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda in 2004. Spencer's election marked the end of a dynasty in Antiguan politics; since the country's independence in 1981, the office of prime minister had been held by a member of the Bird family, first Vern Bird (1981–94), founder of the Antigua Labour Party (ALP), and then his son Lester Bird (1994–2004).

      After a childhood spent in Green Bay, Antigua, Spencer studied social leadership and community development at St. Francis Xavier University in Canada, labour relations and economics at the University of Oxford in England, and labour and industrial relations systems at Oslo University in Norway. His early career was devoted to labour relations. From 1973 he served as a leader of the Antigua and Barbuda Workers Union, and he was subsequently president of the Caribbean Maritime and Aviation Council.

      In 1989 Spencer was elected to the Antiguan House of Representatives as a member of the United Progressive Party (UPP), eventually rising to the position of opposition leader. In parliamentary elections in March 2004, Spencer led the UPP to a decisive victory over the ALP government of Prime Minister Lester Bird, which had been plagued by allegations of corruption and nepotism. In 2005 Spencer overturned one of his predecessor's key policies by restoring the personal income tax on individuals earning at least $3,000 (East Caribbean; about $1,110 [U.S.]) a month.

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