Lewis Breaks Silence: “I Never Refused Deputy Leadership Position”

“A lot has happened that I won’t speak about”

The recent developments within the United Progressive Party have certainly been dramatic.

Richard Lewis’s denial of being offered the position of deputy leader and Jamal Pringle’s ongoing deliberation on his second pick has added an element of suspense to the party’s internal affairs.

Lewis, who competed for the UPP leadership but lost to Pringle, said he has not received an official offer to serve as the opposition party’s deputy leader.

Pringle can select two deputy leaders to support him and has already chosen Sherfield Bowen as his first pick.

Pringle mentioned to Antigua.news yesterday that he is still deliberating on whom he will appoint as his second deputy.

Despite media reports claiming otherwise, Lewis has vehemently denied being offered the position and rejecting it.

“The night of the convention, the political leader called me. The convention was not yet over. He said he wanted to talk with me about a deputy political leader appointment. At the time, certain things transpired at the convention that created some problems, so I said to him that I was prepared to have the conversation but I was sorting some things out,” Lewis said

Lewis said the following day, he called Pringle to clarify himself further. “I called him so I could clarify with him that I am prepared to sit and talk about the position. I called the Monday and that was the end of that”

Lewis said a general council meeting was scheduled with no clue that the matter was on the agenda.

“If the political leader had realized he wanted to put that on the agenda and had not heard from me, he could have picked up the phone and called me, and we would have the conversation. At no point was I offered the position, and I refused. I was waiting to have the conversation”, he said

Lewis said he is still prepared to have the conversation because there are two deputy positions.

“I have said that I am prepared to do what I have to do in the interest of the UPP and the interest of Antiguans and Barbudans”, he said

Lewis remains adamant that a divided UPP cannot defeat the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party.

“Once the position was offered, I would have accepted. So, I don’t know where this is coming from. We don’t need to fight with each other. The fight is never within. It is outside. We need to come together,” he said

It will be interesting to see how this situation unfolds in the coming days.