The United Progressive Party (UPP) has postponed its biennial convention to select a new leader until after the announcement of the St Mary’s South by-election results, as stated by Jamale Pringle, the party’s acting leader.

The UPP recently held a press conference with its candidate, Kelvin Simon, a former MP who resigned from his post in early June.

Pringle has stated that their primary focus right now is to get Simon elected to the House of Representatives and that more details about the convention will be provided after October 24th, which is the by-election date.

Simon stepped down as MP to avoid a lengthy election petition over the legality of his December 2022 nomination, as he was a public servant with the Ministry of Education.

Dwayne George, a one-time close ally of the UPP, who campaigned for Simon before the January 18 general elections, is now running for the seat on the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party ticket.

Pringle was appointed acting UPP leader after Harold Lovell resigned from the position. Lovell stepped down a day after the general election after losing his bid for the St John’s City East constituency against MP Melford Nicholas by six votes.

Pearl Quinn-Williams and St John’s Rural West MP Richard Lewis will be vying for the position of UPP Political Leader against Pringle. However, it is unclear whether other party members will join the race once the convention is announced.