Leader of the Opposition, Jamale Pringle and several members of the opposition offered a tribute to Sir Robin Yearwood on the occasion of his 50th anniversary as representative for St Philip’s North, while warning the government that the opposition will be putting its full support behind Senator Alex Browne for the upcoming by-election.

The opposition leader opened his tribute by framing the occasion through the lens of his own political journey, noting that he was not yet born when Sir Robin first took his oath of office in 1976 and when he was elected in 2018 as the sole United Progressive Party (UPP) representative on the opposition benches, he said it was Sir Robin who offered him informal guidance through an unfamiliar institution.

“Young and green to the politics, it was Sir Robin’s advice from time to time when we meet outside in the hallway that would have helped to guide me as the only member sitting on this side from the United Progressive Party with no experience in Parliament,” he said.

He described the guidance as a form of tutelage, recalling that Sir Robin would advise him on conduct while also reminding him to “bring the mangoes”.

The opposition leader remarked on the significance of Sir Robin’s five decades in the House, acknowledging him as “very experienced” and “skilled in his craft,” and extended thanks not only to Sir Robin himself but to his family for allowing him to dedicate 50 years to public life.

He also stated that being in politics alone was “a major task” and that enduring it for half a century demanded acknowledgement regardless of political allegiance.

However, the tribute was not without its political moment as the opposition leader argued that “to be honest, we can say a lot more could have been done” for St Philip’s North and its constituents.

Noting that Sir Robin could “retire in peace,” Pringle stated that “In St. Philip’s North, Alex [Browne] is next.”

See part of his remarks here:

Meanwhile, MP for Barbuda, Trevor Walker, also addressed the occasion, stating that 50 years of unbroken service reflected “stamina, commitment, and an ability to remain connected to the constituents across many generations.

As a fellow multi-decade parliamentarian with more than 24 years in the House, MP Walker described the occasion as being not about partisanship, noting that “There are families today whose grandparents voted for him, whose parents voted for him, and who themselves have known no other representative in that seat. That kind of continuity is significant, and for that I tip my hat to you, Sir Robin.”

Walker acknowledged that while disagreements existed, maintained that longevity in office commanded respect independent of political positions.