Senator Jonathan Wehner speaking at swearing-in ceremony (photo by Robert Andre Emmanuel)
Newly appointed opposition senator Jonathan Wehner has pledged to take a bipartisan approach to his work in the Upper House, saying his contributions in Parliament will not be “just partisan in nature” but aimed at the advancement of Antigua and Barbuda.
Wehner, who was sworn in on Monday at Government House as one of three United Progressive Party (UPP) senators, made the comments in an interview moments after his appointment.
He said that while he intended to hold the Gaston Browne administration to account, he would also work co-operatively with government senators where there was common ground.
He said the new Senate cohort would have to find areas of agreement across the aisle, while still carrying out the constitutional role of an opposition.
The young senator also used the interview to push back against criticism on social media that the UPP does not advance young people within its ranks.
He pointed to his own trajectory in the party as a counter example.
That young man only got that opportunity cause of his father cause the last election before this one a bunch of young intelligent individuals who campaign and was out there for the upp got cast aside and old dinosaurs where put in senate positions
I don’t know that a party that has been beaten so badly, their comments should so early focus on that approach.
I don’t know when they going to get it. Young man you only came about because UPP is lost. They don’t know what else to do. If ABLP had not chosen young people as senators they would never have chosen you. Trust me they just copying as they do not know what to do. Imagine a party who 3 years ago nearly won an election, short of one seat. Three years after the lost everything. Won only a single seat. What a shame. They need to seriously look within and stop pointing fingers.
I look forward to his debates