UPP Faces Turbulence by Serpent’s Exit — Wickham Warns of Destabilizing Effect

Regional Pollster Peter Wickham says the departure of Algernon Serpent Watts from the St. George Constituency would shake the United Progressive Party (UPP) at a sensitive time.

Watts, a first-term MP who won the seat convincingly in the 2023 by-election, has reportedly been weighing his political future. His name was not on the list of candidates announced by UPP Leader Jamale Pringle for the next general elections.

In fact, the leader said the party is currently seeking a replacement.

Watts had said earlier that he would not contest the next general elections, constitutionally due in 2028. He cited health reasons, but there have been inside rumblings within the UPP, and Watts has not exactly been quiet about his “feelings” toward Pringle.

Wickham told Antigua.news that “If he does leave, it destabilizes the constituency,” Wickham said.

He said, however, while Watts may have won that seat for the UPP “comfortably, he may not necessarily be a strong candidate. “Changing a sitting candidate always has a destabilizing effect.”

He added that the UPP is “not exactly in a good position to start with,” and losing a charismatic incumbent could further weaken the party heading into a general election cycle.

Wickham said any decision by the MP to step away would have to be based on “very compelling reasons,” given his strong electoral base.