Prime Minister Browne and the UPP: A Contradiction of Criticism and Recruitment
by Hon. Kelvin Simon
Prime Minister Gaston Browne’s leadership is marred by a troubling pattern of disparaging others. His frequent criticism of the United Progressive Party (UPP) candidates for their perceived lack of education, experience, and maturity raises important questions—not just about his political strategy, but also about his leadership style.
For all the strengths Browne brings to the table, there appears to be an underlying insecurity that manifests in his need to demean others to elevate himself. This approach undermines his credibility and diminishes his stature as a leader. True leadership requires humility, foresight, and the ability to inspire people by connecting with their aspirations and shared values. Instead of tearing others down, Browne should strive to be a motivational leader, empowering citizens to reach their fullest potential.
There’s a clear irony in Browne’s attacks. Every time he criticizes a UPP member for not having tertiary education, he inadvertently insults thousands of Antiguans and Barbudans who are in the same position. Before the UWI campus was established in Antigua, many citizens relied on on-the-job training to contribute meaningfully to the nation. Members of his own party have thrived as civil servants without university degrees. Even Browne himself, when he first entered politics, did not hold a degree. If he could rise to prominence through determination and training, others deserve the same respect and opportunity. Leadership should be about uplifting others, not looking down on them.
Moreover, Browne’s actions reveal a contradictory strategy. While publicly dismissing UPP members, he has recruited more of them into his team than any other leader in Antigua and Barbuda’s history. This suggests that, despite his harsh words, he recognizes the talent within the opposition ranks. It also raises questions about the depth of capability within his own Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) if he must repeatedly turn to his political adversaries to bolster his team.
Adding to the complexity, Browne’s overconfidence continues to alienate voters. Before the last election, he boldly predicted a “clean sweep” at the polls, only to scrape by with the narrowest victory in the country’s history. He is now making the same prediction for the next election, but such arrogance risks backfiring. Political landscapes are unpredictable, and voters may reject hubris in favor of leaders who demonstrate humility and vision.
Browne must also be mindful of his own vulnerabilities. There are skeletons in his closet that others could weaponize to ridicule him, but that would not advance the political discourse Antigua and Barbuda deserves. Instead, Browne should adjust his rhetoric to reflect the hopes and aspirations of his people. The electorate is looking for a leader who inspires, not one who divides.
If Browne is to leave a lasting legacy, he must embrace a leadership style that is less combative and more constructive. Antigua and Barbuda need leaders who build bridges, foster unity, and guide the nation toward a brighter future—not by tearing others down, but by lifting everyone up.
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Imagine dis general election is called old upp candidates against new upp candidates utter confusion
Gaston love talk bout education but he picking up everybody from UPP side like is clearance sale 🤣
Man predicting clean sweep again? Last time he say that we barely scrape through. Sometimes you need to humble yourself yes
The PM playing both sides… bashing UPP people in public then hiring them behind closed doors 🤔 Make it make sense nah
This after you went begging!! And was refused…. interesting. Fox calling the grapes sower cause dem nah want you!!!
At least somebody saying what everybody thinking! PM can’t be calling people unqualified then turning round and hiring the same people 😂
When someone is lack of education they always admire educated people Glaston was always dissatisfied with his party and always try to push them out now he’s trying to squeeze them out by taking people from the opposition. If you claim they’re so incompetent why offer them money to come over to ALP.
Ah, but this is what is faulty in this simplistic sound-bite from Simple Simon. It’s the UPP’s ambitious young that choose to rise up and rid themselves of the suffocating old fogeys in the UPP who seem more interested in grasping for a last opportunity for title, pomp, fame and historical relevance. You give the PM far too much credit this time round, Shuggy, to suggest that he could walk into your camp, select and recruit from among your ranks and have them desert camp, Pied.Piper style. Amazing. But then, this is Shuggy’s Simple Simon analysis.
Another simple/stupid conclusion by this aspirant to leadership is that the PM recognizes the rich talent existing among the UPP ranks….! What utter foolishness! Talent?????? One of the first demands made by the PM of this young, disillusioned but robust young men who have shown the courage to leave rubish behind, is that, where lacking, each new-comer/recruit raise his intellectual capacity, ca-pa-city in readiness for leadership.
Shaggy, I’m sure you must have heard this adage before. It is better to keep you mouth shut and appear to be a fool ( to simpletons like yourself), than to open your mouth and prove it. A word to the wise is sufficient.
It’s really interesting to see how Prime Minister Browne criticizes UPP candidates while still choosing to bring them into his own fold. It makes you wonder what he really thinks about their capabilities.
I wonder if this speaks to a broader issue within the ABLP. Are they struggling to attract and develop talent internally? Sometimes the best leaders are those who aren’t afraid to learn from the opposition.
APOSTLE SHUGY SIMON OF THE NAZARENE CHURCH it’s a good thing you have the moral authority to speak on “criticism and recruitment”
Now what do you make of any MP criticizing his wife for putting on some baby weight, calling her fat and leaving her after she endured hours of labour to have his child, then go back and RECRUIT her to “help” his campaign??
PM Browne thinks belittling other people makes him look big and tough to his sycophants. Come next election Shugy will beat that pompous Gaston Browne wanna-be Dwayne George in St. Mary’s South again. Gaston says the next election will ba a clean sweep for the ABLP, remember UPP got more votes than ABLP in the last election you might not be as popular as you think
This man needs to be the leader of the UPP. He will win an election.
Math was not my strongest subject in school but how on earth did UPP got more votes than ABLP in the last elections? Last time I checked 20,000 plus voted went to ABLP while UPP got 19,000 plus votes. Please don’t tell me you are seriously adding on the votes in St. Peter cause they were not for UPP but for the independent candidate the late MP Asot Michael who was coming back over to ABLP before his unfortunate passing. You people can’t be serious sounding more and more like the J6 incerectionest🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣😭😭😭😭
@RED TIL ME DEAD
A dunce dem dunce!!! You right fu laugh atta dem stupid libba 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣
Remember it was AZARA LAVIA WHO HAD TO SPOONFEED SHOOGY WITH PRONUNCIATION DURING THAT INFAMOUS PRESS CONFERENCE
The man is a dumb ass….dunce too
Dem LADY BOYS 8n Thailand messed him up or something?
Great points in this. Sorry, I had 2 appeal’s brief is had to submit and was not able to comment. But the points are great. I do believe we should put people with the degrees where they should be but bashing those without isn’t the way.
PM Browne calls it as he sees it and that is his view why quarrel about that and want to curse him off that is his opinion and Mr Simon has his right to give his what I do know is that more shall leave from the opposition and join him why because he is a better and visionary leader what is clear as day they are less qualified not many with political qualifications and that does matters and who ever calls his bluff will be suckers when he calls election in March he will win because of the headless chickens that is running around ask the opposition candidates to show is their qualifications most don’t even have CXC the entrance requirements for UWi just a lot of big talkers and now he has drawn them out to show their qualifications let’s see show the Antiguan people, show is because it does matters in leadership let’s see the debate skills at the next debate let’s hair the oratory requirements for diction and clarity the PM has stirred the pot once more
Shuggy I am not a fan of yours but I agree you with you 100%. Sometime ago your chairlady mentioned that many secondary school students who are passing many subjects including 20 plus subjects are subjects that are really watered down. The same applies at the UWI making the students no longer ” critical thinkers but ” great regurgitators “
I am not even going to respond to this as we all know that Shuggy is incapable of stringing a set of word together to make a sentence. So we know he did not write this. Will the real writer please stand up.
Exactly!!!!~he so DUNCE & DAFT!!!! Can barely read
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