What’s next for the UPP?

It’s the day after the St. Peter by-election and while celebrations and preparations are underway for the Antigua Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) as Rawdon Turner emerged victorious, the question now lingers, what is the next step or way forward for the country’s main opposition party.

While many pundits did not expect the United Progressive Party (UPP) to win this seat, as history shows the St. Peter constituency to be a stronghold of the ABLP, many criticisms were shared over the UPP’s lack of preparation.

Turner won overwhelmingly, winning all 11 boxes with 1,674 votes in the constituency against the United Progressive Party’s (UPP) George Wehner who had 570.

In 2023, a different face represented the UPP in that constituency, Parham native and former national footballer turned politician Tevaughn ‘Peter Reds’ Harriette. Fast forward, just two years later, and Wehner threw his hat in the ring at the last minute in what many consider an uphill climb.

Another interesting fact is that whilst the ABLP candidate almost doubled his 2023 vote count, Wehner fell short of the total votes secured by Hariette, by 31 votes.

The internal struggles of the UPP have been no secret as many top officials have resigned while the ABLP has strengthened its political footprint since the last election.

The UPP has been seen to have become even weaker and with three years to go until the next general elections is due, many are wondering if the main opposition will be able to put up a significant fight.

Political pundits have been sharing ideas and suggestions on key areas, they believe the party must look at, for them to become a viable threat to the ruling Gaston Browne-led administration.

Former UPP General Secretary and MP BertrandJoseph while speaking on state media during the by-election coverage spoke candidly on where he thinks the party can go from here.

“They have to show that they are united if they are going to be posing a serious challenge to the ABLP and if I were in the organization working at the highest of the organization, I would take the results coming from Parham very seriously as an indication that the ABLP is not just united but be seen to be united. Perception is reality. So even if the UPP is united and there is a perception it is not, you are still going to have problems. That is something that the UPP must pay very close attention to going forward,” Joseph said.

He mentioned that the appointment of caretakers and grooming them over a period so that they build strong relationships with the community is imperative.

The UPP has yet to announce its full list of candidates.

Having a blend of youth and experience, Joseph added, is also key.

Socio-economic and political analyst Carlon Knight also gave his input.

“I think you need to understand who you are facing in terms of your opponents and Prime Minister Gaston Browne. He certainly has demonstrated himself to be a master practitioner and strategist, and you have to question whether or not your current strategy is going to be effective against this opponent and whether the person leading your political organization currently is the right person to take that fight to the prime minister and to the ABLP.

“Whatever you decide to do in terms of resolving your internal issues it should come as quickly as possible because you do not want to be continuing to be seemingly divided going into a closer general election. I think there was a change in the winds post-convention. Leading up to the convention, there seemed to be wind in your sails and now you seem to be fighting against the wind and if that is the case, you need to analyze carefully and change what needs to change back, if I can put it that way. Such that you are more competitive again…if the party wants to be competitive in the next election they have to resolve critically important issues.

“One of which is the leadership of the party and who they think is best to Gaston. You have to begin to look like a government in waiting and I don’t think things like boycotting a national budget debate makes you look like a government in waiting,” Knight said.

There has not been an official letter of congratulations from the UPP but it is more than likely expected that they will share an officialresponse.

Whener did congratulate Turner at the Parham Primary School after the votes were tallied.