Dear Editor,
Please allow me space in your online news portal.
Mr. Knight on Observer Radio played a recording of a staunch ABLP supporter who basically said “if ABLP put a dog to run in my constituency, ah dog me ah vote fah.” We laughed, as to us it sounded so dumb and all we could do is laugh. As responsible citizens we don’t want to vote for a dog. We want persons who can lead their team, who are qualified for the position, take responsibility for their action or inaction, can lead by example, and who we can proudly say is my MP, or this is my PM. Our vote must mean something.
I genuinely want to vote for the UPP. I proudly voted for the UPP under the leadership of Harold Lovell last election with the expectation that if UPP won, Harold Lovell would have been Prime Minister. The UPP leadership race is now over and I have some fears and concerns with the possibility of MP Pringle as our country’s leader.
Financially MP Pringle is wrapped up in the government payroll with his different salaries starting with his 1.4 million picking up dead dogs over 7 years up to 2020, (https://antiguanewsroom.com/pm-wants-investigation-into-govt-contracts-with-opposition-leader) (https://antiguaobserver.com/jamale-pringle-nothing-foul-about-dead-dog-contract/) we know he still has the dead dog collection contract, his MP salary, Leader of the Opposition salary – Is he being paid to head the Public Accounts committee which we hear little about? His private business rents tables and chairs to government for various functions. In fact, when UPP party members and supporters were outside picketing SIDS conference, we learnt on the media it was MP Pringle’s rental tables and chairs in the conference. If MP Pringle became Prime Minister, will this be allowed to continue and should it be even happening now? How can he then stop others from doing same if he becomes our leader? Can he tell us how many cheques he is getting from the treasury and other government agencies annually? I know Mr. Knight has spoken about this many times and it is high time it is answered. Did these payments /contracts start before he became MP for All Saints East and St. Luke or after? We don’t want a future PM going into office thinking this is OK, and we also don’t want Prime Minister Gaston Browne revealing information that the public should have already known about.
The UPP leadership race is over and, in all honesty, based on the last 6-7 years of seeing MP Pringle in parliament, hearing him on radio interviews, on social media, I still see him lacking basic vocabulary, limited knowledge on parliamentary proceedings, governance etc. I know and a lot of people know (though they may not want to say) that at this time Mr. Pringle is simply not ready. What is the party doing to prepare him and what is MP Pringle doing to prepare himself? The election can be called in a few months. Is there enough time? The letter signed by almost all the UPP MP’s and caretakers also confirmed his colleagues lack of confidence in him. They work with him, and would obviously know more than us. I trust their judgment. I also trust my own eyes, and ears, and I like many others are left in the unfortunate position of voting for someone who based on what we see is not yet capable (not saying he will not be in the future) simply to get Gaston Browne out of office. Our other option is to not vote. Bear in mind many of us voted for UPP last election with Harold Lovell as PM if the party won. The situation has now changed.
The UPP has now put myself and others between a rock and a hard place. Do I just vote for the UPP to simply get rid of PM Browne? Then what? It’s 3 AM and who do you want answering the phone comes to mind… I say extra prayers when Mr. Pringle speaks in parliament or does an interview. I often feel embarrassed. It’s been 7 years and MP Pringle still hasn’t stepped up. Each session in parliament shows it. We must speak the truth. If the party executive, close friends and family don’t, then it will have to come the hard way- from strangers. The party must take some blame. When people care about you, they tell you the truth and offer to help. They could have told him the truth, and provided the resources he needs. The position of leader of a country must be taken seriously. This role also takes the PM job outside of Antigua to represent our country on numerous occasions. Is MP Pringle mentally prepared for that? Where is his bio? An election can be called tomorrow and I feel as if UPP has put us in a take it or leave it situation, whilst they are cussing each other out on the radio every day and every night. Most lacking the skill of simply listening and trying to understand what their fellow party members are saying. For a party that came so close to winning the last election this is shameful and it starts from the top.
This is nothing personal against MP Pringle. I don’t know him. I can only go by his performance. Based on that performance he will be judged and the future of all the UPP candidates will depend on him. I want him to succeed in life and feel confident he is genuinely a good person.
The next election will be difficult in terms of choices. I know there are plenty like me and I know people get angry when you question their political party leadership choice. Of course, I will be crucified for expressing my concerns but my way of thinking is always country first. So be it.
Thank you.
Hya Richards
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If Gorton is ready then Pringle is more than ready
Yes he is more than the one we have now
Yes he is more ready than the one we have now
Mr. Pringle make more money with Labour Party in government so better for him to stay in opposition
Put Gizzel at the top . You all blind, you all nuh see a that it’s coming to ?
A putting Mr Messiah at the union as leader of the UPP.
Let see how he and my PM , would battle it out.
You lost me when you went into pocket watching.
He’s a businessman and most people work for government on this island of 108 square miles.
If he is still getting work with government while in Opposition, maybe he feels like he just found a genuine gap in the market.
There are so many things about Pringle to criticize but you’re watching his coinage.
Make him stay da.. so Hon Gaston Brown continue to do the marvelous job he is doing in Antigua and Barbuda.TapDaug are we say if is not Gaston A Who.
@Cordell. Do you really beleive that Pringle would be a better PM than Gaston Browne?
Would you send Pringle to represent Antigua and Barbuda at the UN or any world organizstion and be proud of his delivery?
Me rather Pringle than a thief
This article is deeply troubling,
Mr. Pringle was a teacher and I was told a very good one. He was entrusted to teach the nation’s youth was he good enough then?.
He started a business, not inherited one a thriving business, was he good enough to start and operate that business?
Thrown in the lions den to become the leader of the opposition good enough now?
Now the leader of the opposition not good enough? Why! not intelligent now ? Our leader is intelligent are we satisfied with his leadership?
After reading all the comments, I have come to the opinion that many don’t really know what you want. Many of you simply “hate” the current leader of our country, the Hon. Gaston Browne for a plethora of reasons, many of which are unjustified.
The one thing you can say about him is that he’s willing to take risks, because he believes these decisions can benefit Antigua and Barbuda in the short term to long term.
If you can honestly say that he has not been a good leader, you’re lying only to yourself.
I can tell you that he’s well respected at the United Nations and by His Majesty, King Charles for his assertiveness and forthright style of leadership. He has no fear when speaking to other leaders worldwide.
I listen to the Hon. Jamale Pringle on all of his public airings and have determined that he’s a decent young man with genuine intentions. I know nothing of his financial status and don’t either care to know. He is a businessman and I applaud any person who chooses to enter the entrepreneurial world as I have done so at the age of 21 until today.
It’s not as seamless as people perceive.
Be that as it may, we have come to an inflection point where the leadership of our country is at stake. So we really feel that this overwhelmingly elected person has the capacity to be in charge of the affairs of our country?
At this point, it has been alleged that he’s being puppeteered by the wonderful chairlady in every political move that he makes. If true, it shows a weakness that is undeniable. Great leaders do not have to be coached. It’s an innate gift that one posesses from childhood.
He answered a question in his interview with Twin Island Media, by suggesting that he’s pursuing tertiary education. That will be helpful in his personal growth and development, but it still would rise to the level of leadership of our country.
The integral members who have since defected or resigned could not have done so v without just cause as they are not frivolous people.
So if many of you choose to use blinders to defend the actions or inactions of the leadership, then you’re not serving the cause of your party well.
The future of the party is in jeopardy.
As the saying goes,
“So close, yet so far away”
Thr
The
Have you ever heard of the current Prime Minister being puppeteered by anyone?
After reading all the comments, I have come to the opinion that many don’t really know what you want. Many of you simply “hate” the current leader of our country, the Hon. Gaston Browne for a plethora of reasons, many of which are unjustified.
The one thing you can say about him is that he’s willing to take risks, because he believes these decisions can benefit Antigua and Barbuda in the short term to long term.
If you can honestly say that he has not been a good leader, you’re lying only to yourself.
I can tell you that he’s well respected at the United Nations and by His Majesty, King Charles for his assertiveness and forthright style of leadership. He has no fear when speaking to other leaders worldwide.
I listen to the Hon. Jamale Pringle on all of his public airings and have determined that he’s a decent young man with genuine intentions. I know nothing of his financial status and don’t either care to know. He is a businessman and I applaud any person who chooses to enter the entrepreneurial world as I have done so at the age of 21 until today.
It’s not as seamless as people perceive.
Be that as it may, we have come to an inflection point where the leadership of our country is at stake. So we really feel that this overwhelmingly elected person has the capacity to be in charge of the affairs of our country?
At this point, it has been alleged that he’s being puppeteered by the wonderful chairlady in every political move that he makes. If true, it shows a weakness that is undeniable. Great leaders do not have to be coached. It’s an innate gift that one posesses from childhood.
Have you ever heard of the current Prime Minister being puppeteered by anyone?
Hon. Pringle answered a question in his interview with Twin Island Media, by suggesting that he’s pursuing tertiary education. That will be helpful in his personal growth and development, but it still would rise to the level of leadership of our country.
The integral members who have since defected or resigned could not have done so v without just cause as they are not frivolous people.
So if many of you choose to use blinders to defend the actions or inactions of the leadership, then you’re not serving the cause of your party well.
The future of the party is in jeopardy.
As the saying goes,
“So close, yet so far away”
Which one on the otherside could have delivered an international grade speech done by Gaston the unstoppable Browne I would say none except for Harold the pressman Lovell he is a smooth speaker loves his suits but he could have pulled it off close to our PM and we must gave him that but those in the line uo could have never ever come close so leadership does matters so go and search until you guys find another Harold or a Gaston tumble up and search good there is a very young man there has so much potential fire in his belly got some rough edges should be ready five years after becoming a lawyer and you guys in careful we are going to thief he because he has some capacity or give him the leadership that young Winner!
I have certainly heard of the current leader being involved in corrupt practices. We all know if the Cove Head/ West Indies Oil land swap, the sordid land deal at Long Bay that involved his son. How about kidnapping? Ask Chuski. What sane leader would borrow at 7% to pay off a 1% loan? That’s either lunacy or just being pure dunce; I think it’s a combination of both.
I have to simply shake my head at the person who penned this article as wellwell as Dave Rae.
Before criticizing Hon Pringle for a legitimate contract issued to him…. You should look at Gaston Browne and his farm growing produce to sell back to Antiguans and Barbudans.
Also get your facts straight, other than constituency allowance and utilities, MP Pringle doesn’t get cra nah nah as leader of the opposition or leader of the UPP.
If this is the narrative that you guys are selling…trust me it will spoil before being bought.
Antiguans and Barbudans see right through what you guys are doing… ABLP, your days in office are numbered.
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