Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party Chairman E.P Chet Greene has commented on the unravelling of the opposition United Progressive Party, suggesting the party’s lone winning candidate, Political Leader Jamale Pringle could be forced to resign his parliamentary seat within six months.

Speaking at the Antigua Trades and Labour Union’s 75th Labour Day celebrations on Monday, Greene singled out UPP MP for All Saints East and St Luke, Jamale Pringle, saying internal party pressure would mount following the ABLP’s sweeping April 30 general election victory.

“I am no Nostradamus, I am no Ezekiel, I am no Daniel — in other words, I am no prophet,” Greene said. “But I’m saying to you today that within six months, the people of All Saints East and St Luke will very well go back to a by-election because Pringle cannot stand that which has come inside the UPP.”

Greene argued that Pringle would face blame from within his own party for the UPP’s overall defeat, describing what he characterised as an inevitable internal confrontation.

“He will say I won my seat, you lost yours and they will say you make us lose,” Greene said. “And that conversation will very, very rapidly move downhill where Pringle will be forced to resign his seat in Parliament because he will be set upon by the majority of the party.”

The ABLP secured 15 of 17 seats in the April 30 polls, with Pringle holding the UPP’s only winning constituency.

Greene also referenced Lamin Newton, who narrowly lost his constituency, as a candidate he expects would succeed in a potential by-election, completing what he described as a clean sweep for the governing party.

Greene said that democracy requires an effective opposition, adding that the UPP had failed to function as one across multiple terms.

In the absence of a functioning opposition, Greene charged all 15 elected ABLP members with holding quarterly town hall meetings in their constituencies.

“That’s the balance we strike for democracy,” he said. “That’s how we engage our people to see what you want, how you feel about what we do, and build a stronger bond yet.”

Greene also used the occasion to welcome several newly elected members to the government, including Dr. Philmore Benjamin, who won the St. Mary’s North seat, Anthony Smith, Michael Freeland, Michael Joseph, Kiz Johnson, and Dwayne George.