Lovell says UPP holding convention before general elections would be ‘very foolish’

Former United Progressive Party political leader Harold Lovell said that holding a party convention ahead of the anticipated general election would be “very foolish,” dismissing the idea as requiring no serious deliberation.

Lovell, now the UPP’s candidate for All Saints West, made the remarks during an interview on Observer Radio’s Connecting with Dave Lester Payne on Tuesday.

He said the party’s constitutionally due convention, which he noted would ordinarily be scheduled for April 2026, could not be entertained given the proximity of a general election expected by the end of that month.

“Even to think of a convention at this time would be very foolish,” Lovell said. “That goes without saying. That would be politically very unwise if we were to do that, and therefore the status quo has to prevail. These are just basic common sense decisions that require no serious deliberation and discussion.”

Lovell also confirmed there would be no challenge to the leadership of UPP Political Leader Jamale Pringle, saying he had “no difficulty” with the current arrangement and called on all party members and those in leadership positions to “buckle down” ahead of the vote.

“The Honourable Jamale Pringle, he was elected at the convention. He’s the leader of the opposition. He’s the leader of the party. And we all have a duty now to rally and to move forward,” Lovell said.

UPP Chair Gisele Isaac had been widely expected to step down at the convention, a transition that would now be deferred until after the election.

Isaac has been a central figure in the party’s internal tensions, with several high-profile members who resigned since the 2024 convention citing her role in the party’s difficulties.

With no convention, her position would likely remain unchanged heading into the campaign.

Lovell claims that areas of internal tension had been “magnified and exaggerated,” attributing them to the inherent difficulties of opposition politics.

“When you’re in opposition, you have several factors to deal with that you don’t have when you are in government,” he said, pointing to what he claimed was the governing party’s advantage in using “the power of the purse” to manage internal disagreements.

The statement by Lovell stands in direct contrast with the posture of the governing ABLP, which has already announced its April 12 convention with Prime Minister Gaston Browne has described the gathering as a strategic way to place his party “in a state of readiness” to move quickly once elections are called.

The ABLP’s central executive has already given its acclamation to all senior positions, with Browne set to be ratified as party leader unopposed.

The convention is also expected to formally confirm Dr Philmore Benjamin as the ABLP’s candidate for St Mary’s North and Kendra Beazer for Barbuda, completing the party’s full slate.

Lovell, who returned to frontline politics after stepping away following the 2023 general election, said he walked away from a three-year contract at the University of Toronto to contest the All Saints West seat.

He said he had completed one year of the contract and asked the university to excuse him for the current academic year due to electoral uncertainty, acknowledging there was no guarantee the position would be available upon his return.

“These are some of the sacrifices you make,” Lovell said, adding that he brought “a level of experience” to the campaign having held several portfolios in government and previously served as political leader. “I’m in it to win it,” he said.

General elections are constitutionally due by March 2028 but are widely anticipated within weeks, with the Prime Minister telling the public that elections would be held within the next 90 days, putting both the government and opposition on alert.