Shawn Nicholas
General Secretary
United Progressive Party
February 22, 2024
Dear Madam:
Greetings. Trust that you are in the best of health and spirits.
It is with much sadness that I pen this advisory and even sadder that I am moved to a position to pen it.
About three years ago after much deliberation, and at the chilling exhortation of my eldest son, Tijani to be the change I wished to see, I answered the call to enter into electoral politics. I was excited to be part of the UPP’s slate heading into the upcoming General election. I understood it as a call for me to make a difference, and I accepted it with a strong resolve and welcomed the UPP as the platform/machinery for that to happen.
I quickly set about the business of the campaign: gathered my team, did a SWOT analysis, defined campaign ethos, and developed and articulated the campaign strategic plan. Team Athill went about its business strategically. Its approach, the community engagement community empowerment approach, behooved us to adopt a new campaign style, aimed at bringing the community together instead of dividing it. I can say without any fear of contradiction that we did manage to move the constituents beyond what was expected. The outcome of the election bore testimony to this.
The road though has not been an easy one. This is because I chose to engage in the political space differently and endeavoured to run a positive campaign. Over the course of the campaign, I heard that I had a different style, and it quickly became obvious that this so-called different style found no favour with the leadership of the party nor with the campaign management team. The party leadership
would be in a better position to elucidate its position and actions regarding this.
It is also apparent that this “style” continues to be an issue, and it will continue to be an issue because it reflects the essence of who I am, an epitome of my philosophy and theory of change, Further, this style appears to be antithetical to the UPP ethos. Consequently, the past three years of my association with the UPP and my involvement in the campaign have presented my most serious existential dilemma/challenge. It has caused me to question myself, politics, our political maturity, opposition ideology and mentality, partisan and tribal culture and so on…and I’ve seen how much of the game we play for politics undermines/ thwarts the forward movement of our beloved country. I know we can do better. We can be better. Antigua and Barbuda deserves better.
With that said, I write to advise that I resign my position as caretaker and my association with the United Progressive Party.
I continue to be a champion for the changes that we talk about for the development of Antigua and Barbuda and for St Paul.
I wish to thank all those who believed in me, encouraged me, prayed for me, and journeyed with me over those last three years. They’ve provided a sounding board for sharing perspectives, and they’ve provided shoulders to lean and cry on. Thanks for helping me to know that a new way is indeed possible and strengthening my resolve to pursue it.
I believe in the collective power of our people to transcend the uncertainties of now. I believe in St Paul and its expressed desire to be better. And I continue to celebrate their expressed declaration that they are “no ordinary constituency”.
Finally, I wish to thank the UPP for the opportunity to serve the way I did over the last three years. I wish however to highlight a few observations and urge the party to pay urgent attention to them if it is to stand out from among the pile of “all ah dem ah de same”
- Problematic leadership style and organizational culture: Leadership style and structure to reflect a more democratic and transformational approach
- Poor support to branches: The support given to capacity building, particularly at the branch level
- Divisive primaries: Revisit its position and practice viz a viz primaries as a way of choosing candidates. These tend to be divisive and disruptive.
- Opposition mentality: Rethink its role and function as opposition
- Lack of philosophical grounding: A well-defined and articulated political philosophy and change theory that aligns with what is in the best interest of Antigua and Barbuda
All the very best to you as you continue to fine-tune the party for and in the interest of Antigua and Barbuda.
Respectfully
Cleon Athill
Cleon Athill, Ph.D.
Cc: Clarissa Christopher
Chair, St Paul UPP Branch
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And despite all that you still gave Chet a run for his money on a UPP ticket, making him blame APUA for almost losing.
I have to wonder if you had won, if you would be chatting this nonsense, or if you would have done a Joanne Massia and resign from the party whip, and go sit by yourself in parliament.
The sadness of tone in your letter is loud as a thunderstorms disturb the silence in a dense forest…and I sensed your idea of change and hope to make a difference even in opposition was not realized. The way of life to oppose for opposing sake is decadent and jurassic in modern day politics and is never in the best interest of the populace you wish to represent. The game of attaining power at all cost and by any means necessary is not in your alignment of good policies.
I believe your heart and support is still with UPP…even though we may say things base on the trend political movement to the ABLP…I know your are beyond that and principles are well grounded. As you say…the thought by many that ” all ah dem ah de same” is not something you feel good to be associated with…and I can add..some will say that the UPP is the lesser of the two evils 😈…but I can envisioned you will say evil is evil, great or small.
I wish you well at your cross-road. Keep Antigua and Barbuda in mind as you forged ahead. I do hope the UPP appreciate your honest reflection.
Godspeed Dr. Athill….
Mr. Pringle cannot understand this letter. Man Cow will have to break it down for him into tiny kindergarten pieces over and over until he gets it.
Guessing i was not the only say such hmm
@ Pringle needs………
Boy AH YA DEY SO JEALOUS OF GISELLE AND THE $3,500,000.00 SHE CAUSED YALL TO GIVE AWAY TO HER FROM TAX PAYERS MONEY…….THAT A BUN AR YOU LIKIE ACID SO MUCH THAT YOU CAN’T GET OVER IT!!!! AND HER BRILLIANCE. JEALOUSY IS SUCH A HURTFUL THING.
Let me thank you Cleon for the time you spent and the change that you encourage.
Political parties must evolve and become the change they truly want to see, there is no getting away from this.
I endorse many of the points you articulated in your letter and I respect your right to resign as a care taker if you believe your thinking does not align with that of the party at this time.
I can also respect the party’s philosophy of putting people first, in many instances that may mean to go into the community and assist persons that are going through economic hardship.
This position had always been the fundamental philosophy of the UPP. I am not saying that you are oppose to this I am however saying that there would obviously be conflict as to how you see this philosophy be executed.
I personally want to wish you all the best as one the the persons who have encourage you to get into politics and have been there with you supporting you all the way. This resignation comes as a shock to me but I respect and understand your reasons.
All the best my Sister I love you always.
Winston Henry
@ Winston Henry
Is this ” FLED THE SCENE ” Winston Henry ? Only Persons like yourself will remain in UPP. You SCAMPISH Fellow. Please keep the MAN COW ADMINISTRATION within the UPP.
ABLP will guarantee another 50 years.
@ INGRAM / GASTON BROWNE
You guys wish Cleon Athill resigning means the end of UPP, lol, think again.
Cleon is an eccentric individual, i.e. different.
ONE THING I CAN ASSURE YOU OF IS THAT SHE WOULD NEVER SUPPORT RED/ABLP/ NOR U GASTON BROWNE…..TEK IT FROM ME….SHE WOULD RATHER DIE THAN TO PARTAKE OF YOUR CORRUPTION.
SHE DESPISES THE ABLP, SO WHEEL AND COME AGAIN.
UPP has one problem. D Gisele Isaac and crew. They are elitist and has moved the party away from the grassroot people.
So right
@ Melchesidec
Boy AH YA DEY SO JEALOUS OF GISELLE AND THE $3,500,000.00 SHE CAUSED YALL TO GIVE AWAY TO HER FROM TAX PAYERS MONEY…….THAT A BUN AR YOU LIKIE ACID SO MUCH THAT YOU CAN’T GET OVER IT!!!! AND HER BRILLIANCE. JEALOUSY IS SUCH A HURTFUL THING.
That is the problem with the ALP and their supporters. They are too grassroots from their leader down. They have dragged the consciousness of the people down to the ground as is evident by the people on their radio station and who phone in. In today’s society, no uneducated grassroots person should be leading any country. It is time Antiguans look up and not down. We see where grassroot leadership has brought the country.
Oh bwoi, the Prime Minister and his ministerial team are going to milk this for all its worth – I can’t say that if UPP were in the same position, that they wouldn’t do the same said thing.
Sadly, this resignation of Dr Athill is going to be used as another deflectionary tactic from the WOES of the economy by the ABLP, their supporters and “financial” backers for days and weeks – and probably months – to come, watch and observe!
GOOD LUCK, FILL YOUR BOOTS, YOU ALL NEED A BREAK …
BRIXTONIAN, you are soft like pop. You have egg on your face. UPP is disintegrating. The party is FINISHED. NO senate seat for poor BRIXTONIAN. Find a job.
HOW YOU MEAN!!! @ FERN, HOW YOU MEAN…😁
Gaston should immediately appoint her speaker of the house.
WOW WOW …Everyone who left UPP said the same thing. UPP Everyone cannot be wrong. When will you learn. The party is being destroyed. Wake up.
@ Grim
Oh how you wish!!!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Get going Athill… y can’t u just leave in grace? In 1 breath u enjoy your time and opportunity at upp now u want to end off by bashing the party and create confusion. You clearly dont have any loyalty and thats y you will never win a seat… This is why Alp is smarter in this regard. They don’t put their dirty laundry out there… time for upp to drain the swamp!!
Dr. Cleon is a woman of integrity. I had been hearing of the rumblings during the campaign as she was following the “norms” of the party. If you noticed, St. Paul’s is the only constituency where a Business Pull-Up was not executed.
She did rather well for a first-timer but wasn’t offered a senatorial seat.
That made it apparent that she was in the clique of the party.
I wish her well in her future endeavors.
Sometimes a body needs purging for it to begin to function optimally!
Simple lady, prove yourself right, and everyone else is wrong.
#Run_Independent!
The Nation needs INDEPENDENT whose viewpoints, serve the People and not political parties,
Jumbee_Picknee aka Ras Smood
De’ole Dutty Peg🦶🏿Garrat Bastard
Vere C. Edwards
Since the chairwoman came into the UPP the party has been leaking its top membership like a broken pipe. Former candidates and leader alike.
She never committed to the UPP until Joanne Massiah turned her down for Bruce Goodwin. And her march through the party has seen a lot of good people fall by the wayside. Makes you wonder whether she was sent to fulfill this mission.
Check and see all the once candidates and even some former prominent members, where they are now. Even the former political leader has leak out.
It’s a pity about Dr Athill. She is a victim of the either my way or the highway policy. Kiss the ring or get ostracized. Either join the cookie cutter gang or you are gone.
Nobody expects her to go and join ALP, but this is a loss for the UPP.
Until the UPP lances this boil in its head, it will continue to have serious directional problems.
@ Come on , UPP. Get a grip
You guys wish Cleon Athill resigning means the end of UPP, lol, think again.
Cleon is an eccentric individual, i.e. different.
ONE THING I CAN ASSURE YOU OF IS THAT SHE WOULD NEVER SUPPORT RED/ABLP/ NOR U GASTON BROWNE…..TEK IT FROM ME….SHE WOULD RATHER DIE THAN TO PARTAKE OF YOUR CORRUPTION.
SHE DESPISES THE ABLP, SO WHEEL AND COME AGAIN.
U GASTON BROWNE AND ABLP HATES STRONG WOMEN, BUT U CANNOT KEEP DOWN CLEON NOR GISELLE AS U R NO MATCH FOR THEM.
THAT $3,500,000.00 SHE CAUSED YOU AND MICHAEL BROWN TO PAY OUT IS STILL BURNING YOU SO MUCH ……
EVERYONE CAN SEE STRAIGHT THROUG U, U SPITEFUL DEGENERATE
The reasons for her resignation was clearly stated: ideological differences. Why are the Labourites and Gastonites trying to bend this into what it’s not? They say, UPP is hemorrhaging; UPP is falling apart, all kinds of dunceness. As long as the likes of Gaston Browne, Molwyn Joseph and the flip-floppers, political prostitutes and mercenaries are populating ALP, politics here will remain dirty, full of badmindedness, mudslinging and the rest. Cleon Athill thought she could play it clean and damn near pull off an upset, but there is nothing clean about ALP. From the inception they have been dirty, played dirty, tief elections, involved the nation in all kinds of scandals of horrific proportions.
We will not be distracted. At least the patriotic, rational, reading public.
… And now @ Watching, Gaston Browne and his mischievous cabal are trying to move towards a ONE party state in Antigua, by continually denigrating the current rise of the UPP.
Didn’t the Prime Minister spend time in China 🇨🇳 recently – now that’s some coincidence 🤔
DANGEROUS TIMES FOR OUR DEMOCRACY!
We should rename the ABLP the NASTY party.
Finally my former school counselor wake up to reality. Have personally had similar experiences when it comes to the UPP. I will keep stating you can’t build anything real based on hate. The sad reality for the UPP is they can no longer hide the stench. Sadly there are some, due to bitterness, who are willing to apply perfume over the stench
I now listen to hear those fellas in the Knight brutalize her on the radio. Because that’s what UPP does!!! Nyam it’s own children. Meanwhile the world boss over there singing ” come just as I am without one plea and that thy blood was shed for me”… Gaston is a waaaaay smarter Politician.. not the best of persons but politically he is smarter…
@ Spar Par
REST ASSURED AND I CAN GUARANTEE YOU THIS MUCH: CLEON WILL NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER EVER BE A RED/GASTONITE/ABLP SUPPORTER.
SHE DESPISES YOUR CORRUPT PRACTICES AND DECEPTION, SO DO NOT REJOICE OVER HER RESIGNATION…..AS SHE SAID ITS FOR IDEALOGICAL REASONS……SO CELEBRATE A NOTHINGNESS BECAUSE SHE WILL NOT BE A TURNCOAT AND JOIN THE ABLP, NOT EVEN IF YOU PAY HER $3,500,000.00.
SHE HAS A SOUL THAT CANNOT BE BOUGHT LIKE LAMIN, YOUNG, JOANNE, COLIN, DONNA ET AL.
@ooo There is saying, never say never. Get ready to eat your words
@ tenmen
like the words of the ”foolish virgins”? You are always so untimely
MY, MY …MY! Look at at how the ABLP acolytes, sycophants and Gastonites have come out of hibernation on this particular topic – mi haffi laugh again!
Self-enrichment doesn’t bother them; nepotism they herald this from their rooftops; the missing Africans, Haitians and Indians, you never heard a pip-squeak; a lack of transparency over NAMCO, YIDA and CIP, again utter silence; and taxes and the hikes in cost of living is rising faster than Gaston Browne trying to run from this country when dancing abroad.
And all their supporters are grumbling about is a resignation from a former UPP member?
Desperation, Desperation and more Desperation!
I can’t wait until you all go back into hibernation again – won’t be long now 😉
BRIXTONIAN, THE BEST OF THE BEST!
Dave you know I respect you but stop giving fales info, the candidate indicated that she did not want the pull up in the community, cleon had her event and the party showed up and supported her event the way she wanted it.
Cleon never said in her letter that she was leaving the party the lady said that she was resigning as the care taker for the constituency and as the potential representative of the Party. Even if Cleon wanted to resign so what, it is her right, the UPP is not a cult and persons are free to join and resign whenever they so choose.
I am so amaze that UPP “have all this problem” that people leaving but we don’t seems to know or see all what the Labour party is doing to this country.
The self enrichment for the PM and his children, the give away of the people’s land.
Who step down as a representative is the biggest issues in Antigua? Cleon has her rigjt to decide what is best for her personally. Let me ask this question Dave, What is best for this country, the ALP and their policy?
Have you read the new economic zone agreement DAVE? Have you seen the abuse or heard of the nepotism by the PM,s administration selling governemnt property to his son and taking government money to fixed up the property, to rent back to the government.
Dr. Athil is our biggest issue in Antigua today? Where were you Dave when the same Dr. Athil was being victimize by the ALP? Did you speak out and say it was wrong? Where were you Dave when she was placed in a corner at the stadium to work?
You had nothing to say then, but you can talk now bro.. let your voice be heard, say it loud, speak out and speak up for national truth not party, country Dave, speak up for country and tell Gaston stop giving away the lands because your children and grandchildren would need a piece.
Dont just speak when you think it is politically advantageous or when u believe you have a point politically against the UPP, they not in power, they not making any policy that is going to affect our lives today. They are in opposition. The ALP is in power so channel your energy in holding them accountable DAVE, because frankly my friend this one is not going to get the ALP any brownie points.
Seriously!!! that is what is affecting Antigua, Cleon deciding to step out of politics? Ask cleon Dave if she will join the ALP? You ask her and then let me know what she say. Still have love and respect for you but leave this one alone, this country have enough problems, that ought to be our fight NOT UPP..
Much respect
Winston
@ Winston Henry
Well said Winston. Shut them all up including the halitosis Ray.
Where were they when ABLP victimized Cleon and put her in a small room with no windows to work at the stadium? Where were u guys? Where was ABS? But now yall halitosis brothers and sisters running your breath as if someone resigning from the UPP is ”Jesus Coming”- you guys are nothing but pure hypocrites!!!
What she got from ALP she richly deserve because was a 100% b**** to people when she was the head of youth affairs. She barked and yelled and both the staff and persons doing business there and treated people like them a dog and she is the hbic. She think she shit could have made patty. She think she better than everybody else. Such a pretentious b****. Good riddance to she.
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