The United Progressive Party (UPP) opened its general election campaign on Sunday night, bringing its slate of candidates before three pastors for prayer, setting a deliberate spiritual tone as the party seeks to unseat the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) at the April 30 polls.

The rally, dubbed “Ignite” and held in the St. John’s Rural West constituency, saw candidates prayed over by pastors who called for divine guidance, wisdom and protection as they prepare for the campaign trail.

One pastor prayed that each candidate would receive “wisdom beyond their age” and “strength to endure the race that is set before them.”

Pastor prays over UPP candidates at campaign launch (photo by Robert Andre Emmanuel)

UPP Political Leader Jamale Pringle used the event to unveil a five-pillar policy platform centred on food costs, roads, vehicle duties, water and healthcare, framing the party’s campaign as a direct answer to what he described as 12 years of declining living standards under the ABLP administration.

UPP political leader Jamale Pringle addresses crowd at campaign launch (photo by Robert Andre Emmanuel)

The rally also served as a formal introduction of UPP candidates across constituencies.

Sitting MP and Rural West candidate Richard Lewis delivered an address defending his constituency record and launching sharp criticism of his ABLP opponent, whom he referred to repeatedly as “Johnny Come Lately.”

Richard Lewis addresses crowd at UPP campaign launch (photo by Robert Andre Emmanuel)

Musical performances came from gospel artists including Dawnell Simon Carty, the 2016 Emerge Gospel Competition winner; Kelly Richardson and Just Soul from the Gray’s Green community;; Dawn John Lewis; Culture D; Naycha KID; and headlining evangelist Bridget Blucher from St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

The prayers offered throughout the night called on God to “break every stronghold of the enemy” and praying that “the wind of change will begin to blow across the nation of Antigua and Barbuda.”

Another prayed directly over the polling stations, asking God to “bind those demons around those polling booths” and to “push back every person who came in to be used of the devil against our birthright.”

Crowd at UPP campaign launch (photo by Robert Andre Emmanuel)

The unity between Pringle and Lewis was itself a focus of the evening, with one pastor reading from Psalm 133 on the theme of brotherly unity and urging the two leaders to maintain their cohesion beyond the public stage.

“Unity is perfected in secret,” the pastor said. “When it comes to the front, you don’t even have to say much. It will be felt. It will be seen.”

Pastor prays over UPP candidates at campaign launch (photo by Robert Andre Emmanuel)

The party has announced that its campaign will continue with events in the St. John’s City East constituency and the village of Freemansville in the coming days.