Barbudans have for the first time in their history been forced to travel by fishing boat, ferry and charter plane to neighbouring Antigua to vote in their elections – a move many on the hurricane-ravaged island see as a ploy to discourage them from voting.

Gaston Browne, the prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda, called a snap election last month – 18 months ahead of time.

All of Barbuda’s 1,600 residents were evacuated to Antigua when Hurricane Irma smashed into the Caribbean nation six months ago. Many have remained on Antigua, and so the electoral commission decided that voting could only be held on the larger island.