By Kieron Murdoch | Opinion Contributor

As Senator Shawn Nicholas takes her leave from the Senate, we cannot help but feel somewhat disappointed that one of the more poised, level headed, and persuasive figures within the United Progressive Party (UPP) never managed to make it into the House of Representatives. While some may disagree, we would argue that the party and the nation are worse off for it.

Nicholas was made a government Senator in 2013, just over a year before the UPP were ousted by the Labour administration of Prime Minister Gaston Browne. She was reappointed to the Senate by former Prime Minister Spencer, turned Opposition Leader in 2014, and also returned by Opposition Leader Jamale Pringle in 2018, and again 2024.

Nicholas has certainly been one of the more distinguishable voices on the opposition side, both inside and outside Parliament. Whether by choice or because it was out of character, she was seldom heard meddling in the more caustic and rabid side of politics – the loud rhetoric, the attacks, the name calling, and the disrespect.

She brought a certain decorum and maturity to the stage, or to the mic, or to the bench when she addressed an audience or the nation. And we do not think it unfair to say that decorum, maturity, and a tendency not to be bombasting is something severely lacking in Antiguan and Barbudan politics. And it is something that would reshape our politics were it to become the norm.

The obvious questions now, especially against the backdrop of the turmoil that recently impacted the party, is whether Nicholas’ departure from the Senate is merely a timely changing of the Senate guard, or an indication of a loss of confidence in her by the Political Leader who is surely firming up his position. Alternatively, it may be fair to ask whether her departure is an indication of her loss of confidence in the Leader.

The other question that arises is whether Nicholas ever again intends to vie for a spot on the UPP ticket and contest another election. She ran against Sir Robin Yearwood in 2014 and again in 2018, unsuccessfully both times. She aimed to run in St. Phillip’s South ahead of 2023, but was beaten in a primary by Sherfield Bowen, who went on to win back the seat from Labour’s Lennox Weston in the subsequent election.

Only until the last election, when the margin of victory got much slimmer, running against Sir Robin seemed to be a hopeless endeavour. He has been in that seat for nearly 50 years. Her political fortunes might have been better had she somewhere else to run. But politics is competitive, and seldom does a party simply gift a promising member an easy seat.

A potential candidate has to win out against all contenders whether by fair competition in a primary election, or by the results of an opinion poll, or by wooing the members of a branch and the party executive and leadership into their court. The contests within any party for the opportunity to run in a seat are always tense, and sometimes bitter. Parties sometimes manoeuvre candidates into position, or they let all contenders battle it out.

In 2018, Nicholas would probably have been better off running in St. Phillip’s South against Lennox, where Chester Hughes ran and lost. It was also odd that the retiring incumbent, the UPP’s Wilmoth Daniel, did not campaign there exclusively on behalf of his replacement. Instead he wasted time and money in St. John’s City West being a sacrificial lamb.

Prior to the 2023 election, as mentioned, Bowen would later prevail over Nicholas in becoming the next party candidate St. Phillip’s South. The obvious reservation with Bowen’s candidacy was his reputational baggage. But in 2023, he proved his political worth by winning the seat. Ultimately, regardless of what we think, the fate of each politician lies chiefly in their own hands.

While it would be ideal for parties and their leadership to support those who clearly demonstrate potential, it is ultimately incumbent upon each politician to manoeuvre themselves into favourable positions, to secure the support of their colleagues, to gain traction with the party’s broad membership, and to win party and national elections – provided that the rules are fair.

Unfortunate though it may be that Nicholas has not yet made it into the Lower House, her story up until now is a stark reminder of how dynamic and imperfect politics often is. Those who have something to offer are never guaranteed the opportunity to represent the people and those who clearly have far less to offer, are never guaranteed to fail.

About the writer:

Kieron Murdoch is an opinion contributor at antigua.news. He worked as a journalist and later as a radio presenter in Antigua and Barbuda for eight years, covering politics and governance especially. If you have an opinion on the issues raised in this editorial and you would like to submit a response by email to be considered for publication, please email staff@antigua.news.