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Mr. Speaker,
I thank you for the opportunity to tell my story. Let me start by appealing to my fellow Antiguans and Barbudans: someone with a different political view is not your enemy.
To my supporters in the United Progressive Party (UPP), the supporters of the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party are not your enemies.
Mr. Speaker, I ask myself, how did we get here? How did we become like this as a country? Country must always come before partisan politics. We have to learn to work together for the development of our nation.
As a young child, I grew up seeing my grandmother love and help people, and you know what, Mr. Speaker? She never asked which political party they supported.
She helped persons who supported red and persons who supported blue because, in her mind, people and her country always came first.
The United Progressive Party that I joined four years ago is not the same United Progressive Party that exists today. I mean no disrespect to the supporters, as there are many good people who support the party.
However, I must tell a bit of my story because what is out there is a lie and does not reflect who I am. If you don’t know a man’s story, you shouldn’t tell it.
I know my resignation from the United Progressive Party will hurt some people, and I sincerely apologize for that. But does that justify destroying me?
Does it justify assassinating my character? It doesn’t. The same hardworking, honest, genuine, and compassionate Anthony Smith Jr. who served your party is the same Anthony Smith Jr. who no longer wants to work with the party. The lies and character assassination do not define me.
Integrity, honesty, and trustworthiness are hallmarks I have built myself upon, and my only “sin” in the UPP was to challenge for the Chairmanship and to support the Member from Rural West, the Hon. Richard Lewis, for the leadership of the party.
Politics must never become about self, but must always be in the best interest of the collective.
Even with strong support from key members within the party, my father, and financial donors urging me to run for leadership, I believed that the people wanted Hon. Richard Lewis to lead the opposition party in our country. By doing what was best for the country, I committed the biggest “sin” against the leadership of this party.
I state for the record today that the wicked plans to end my political career and deprive the constituency and my constituents of All Saints West have failed miserably.
They placed me in this honorable house to represent their best interests and the country’s best interests, and that is what I will continue to do.
Mr. Speaker, I entered politics because of my love for people and my country. I feel as though my love for people might even be stronger than that of the member from St. John’s City South.
Mr. Speaker, you know the AG has a saying: it’s about the love. And, Mr. Speaker, the love of people and country is why I am here. The lies of people driven by hate cannot define me.
I also want to say on record here, thanks for the outpouring of love I have been receiving from my constituents and from across our twin island state.
I have been overwhelmed with messages and calls from people expressing their love and support for me. It means the world to me. I want the people of All Saints West and the people of Antigua and Barbuda to know that I did this for them.
I want to say to the Executive and the leadership of the United Progressive Party, that if you want to control and dictate to members of this House, you should go and put your hat in the ring.
Go and put your hat in and run for elective politics, because I represent the people of All Saint’s West Mr. Speaker.
The Prime Minister told me very early on, “You have great talent, young Smith.” He said, “No offense to your party, but they will chew you up and spit you out.” I told him I would fix it, and he said, “Wait and see.” And, Mr. Speaker, I waited and I saw.
In my heart, I know I did what was best for the people I serve. But as I stated in my letter, I will no longer fall under the party whip and will instead serve as an Independent Member of the House.
This transition will allow me to act according to my conscience and make decisions that are in the best interest of the people of All Saints West and the people of Antigua and Barbuda, whom I am wholeheartedly committed to serving.
This is not “Character Assassination,” it is “Character Suicide!” You will be forever branded a “Benedict Arnold!” Your words are as good as the wind — they’re fleeting! Your commitment is as fickle as the weather, ” here today, gone tomorrow!” You are nothing without integrity and honesty! You lied time and time again to your constituents, your Party members, and the public at large!
Saying you are disingenuous, is putting it mildly! And then you talk of being “genuine, caring and honest? Sir, and I use that term lightly, I suggest you avail yourself of a dictionary to discern the meaning of those words! You did what you did for personal advancement and enrichment! The people you claim to care about, will not benefit in any way! They voted for you in OPPOSITION OF THE PARTY YOU HAVE NOW THROWN IN YOUR LOT WITH! Time and fortune, will not be kind to you! They seldom are to TRAITORS!
This man is a symptom of what’s wrong with our society today! This deal was not struck in a day, or a week, but more likely months in the making! He is so devoid of virtue and conscience, that he would betray the trust of his constituents, who, in good faith, elected him to serve their interests! He will find that in the years to come, the damage he has done to his character, and credibility, will far outweigh any gains from this appointment! A good name once lost, can never be retrieved