Opinion by the Diplomat: Political Ambition Must Not Come at the Expense of Our Nation
At a time when Antigua and Barbuda finds itself navigating delicate diplomatic tensions with the United States, particularly surrounding recent visa restrictions, our national discourse demands maturity, responsibility, and foresight.
Unfortunately, what we are witnessing instead is an opposition strategy that appears more focused on political gain than on national interest.
An opposition that aspires to govern must do so on the strength of ideas, policy alternatives, and credible leadership, not by invoking illegitimate claims, exaggerations, or manufactured scandals designed to discredit the state itself.
While scrutiny of government is a cornerstone of democracy, reckless allegations that feed external narratives do not strengthen democracy; they weaken the country.
The United Progressive Party, in its quest to return to office, has unfortunately contributed to this dangerous dynamic.
By casting falsehoods, promoting unverified claims, and formulating scandal-driven narratives, the party risks aligning itself, wittingly or unwittingly, with external forces whose stipulations and actions may not always reflect our national realities or interests.
When internal political battles are internationalized without care, the collateral damage is almost always national.
We must be clear: Antigua and Barbuda is bigger than any political party. At the end of the day, we are all Antiguans and Barbudans.
The negative portrayals we cast onto our country do not selectively harm one administration or one political movement, they affect our passport holders, our business community, our students, our diaspora, and our global reputation. Diplomatic consequences do not pause for election cycles.
There is also a hard truth that must be acknowledged: government is continuous. Any damage done today, whether to diplomatic relations, investor confidence, or international standing, does not simply disappear with a change of administration.
Reversal under any future government, regardless of political color, will be difficult, time-consuming, and costly. Political power may change hands, but the consequences of reckless rhetoric endure.
Criticism of governance is necessary.
Accountability is non-negotiable. But there is a clear line between responsible opposition and national self-sabotage.
Winning power by tarnishing the state is not leadership, it is short-sighted ambition. No administration, present or future, benefits from a weakened Antigua and Barbuda on the global stage.
This moment calls for restraint, patriotism, and political responsibility. Our leaders, on both sides, must remember that the country is not a pawn in a political chess match.
The reputation of Antigua and Barbuda is a shared asset, and once diminished, it is not easily restored.
We can debate policies. We can contest elections vigorously. But we must never undermine the very state we seek to govern.
Advertise with the mоѕt vіѕіtеd nеwѕ ѕіtе іn Antigua!
We offer fully customizable and flexible digital marketing packages.
Contact us at [email protected]
Writer: Totally totally true. Well written. I keep saying this, but I don’t think it is understood the damages this can cause. #AntiguanForever
I do not know who wrote this, but I will not read on any more. Absolutely no one is doing more to discredit this Nation than the present Administration. I really do no understand why these ABLP ghost writers think they can continue to fool us with their nonsense
Here we go again with another hard-hitting opinion piece from an ardent ABLP supporter trying to not only place the dire straights our country now finds itself, but now wants to blame the UPP and those who opposed – for years – what Gaston Browne was doing internally and on the world stage – and we are now witnessing the repercussions today.
Without repeating myself, the Prime Minister’s numerous mistakes were obvious to many. We wondered if he’d consulted with any of his “silent” Cabinet Members or advisors.
Because of their silence – or complicity – the country seems to have gone down a road of no return.
Now look where we are at present, that the rumours are that within a matters of days or weeks, the US are going to name Caribbean countries that have been intertwined with any illegal activity with Venezuela 🇻🇪
MIND YOU, WHO MADE THE US THE WORLDS POLICE?
Rightly or wrongly, we are not in a good place, unless a new Prime Minister is appointed ASAP and doesn’t put themselves ahead of Antigua & Barbuda.
The writer has made a valiant effort to castigate the messengers with this wayward opinion piece, but sadly it seems to no avail.
The castigation should lie firmly on the shoulders of the Prime Minister who stubbornly refused to listen or consult with more qualified people in the past or present.
The problem IS NOT with the UPP as suggested by this person. Rather this is a problem because the Government does not respect the people, and functions without accounting to the people for what has transpired. The Government withholds important information from the public, and only release information selectively, after the information is already in the public domain.
The most recent example of this is the agreement for us to host refugees/illegal immigrants from the USA. And even then, there has not been full disclosure. Now we have the issue of citizens having to post a bond to facilitate issuance of a B1 or B2 visa to travel to the USA. What other information is being withheld from the populace?
If the Government is desirous of building national consensus that it must be accountable and transparent in its dealings. Show respect for the intelligence of the people.
UPP ahhh shut the hell up u bunch of bums.. We are lucky you guys are not at the controls anymore….Trump would be on our neck like George Floyd…
UPP is desperate.
@this world is a messed up place, what a well written and constructed piece to the ANR commentary threads. NOT!!!
Is it any wonder with numbskulls like you, Gaston Browne STILL ah run tings in Antigua for so long…
ANR threads have come a long long way since the years of the untutored and unlearned talking nonsense (one of the main reasons I got involved to redress the ignorant). Thank goodness: but there are still a handful of neanderthals that have slipped through the well worded net.
Do those opinions just fall out of the sky?
Why are people so afraid of owning their opinions?
Is there an attempt at some reverse psychology at work?
I have said so and I will repeat myself.
UPPites are never afraid to express and identify with their opinion.
It therefore calls to question who is the person or persons giving anonymous advice to the UPP
The laboRATs are really feeling the pressure.
The UPP and the Lovell effect is in full swing.
Labour is seeing the handwriting on the wall.
The end of labour is nigh and they have all kinds of advice for the UPP hoping that the UPP will heed it to its detriment.
Let me give you a piece of advice laboRAT.
Rethink your strategy.
Gaston needs help.
Give him the advice that you are giving to the UPP.
The UPP is in a good place now.
LaboRATs, do some introspection.
Look at where this labour grabberment has gotten us.
this world is a messed up place, I really hope you’re white nothing is more embarrassing than an uncle rukus classic ass uncle tom.
To the main article I have disagreement with UPP only “damage” they have done is just talk about the topic of the day. Yacth, roads, cemetery, duty free vehicles with government and private businesses and persons. The response to from the “educated” party have been basically “no you did”/ “you did this” and “stop talking about this”. It’s actually funny looking at it sometimes then they turnout and saying we should cooperate and work together after belittling the same people for years publicly from dead dog to someone being a lesbian and a woman’s foot.
Well said
Ditto
@brix.
Hold your horses. I do think this ” @the world is a messed up place” is a catfish.
I don’t think he is the true one, I think this one is a informer trying to spread propaganda under the real true one.
😆. But the length these people will go to is just alarming.
But on to the topic of the article.
And this is not just a emotional rant at GB and co.
Loud and clear I will say it, again.
GB is corrupt and highly compromised. The proof is laid out in front of us.
Sanctions are not laid down for nothing, and as you have noticed, no other carribean island (other than the also corrupted leader of Dominca) has come to his side, why, because they know it as well.
Remember when the Trinidad PM called out GB with this very loud question.
And I quote ” why don’t you GB go and explain to your people why their Visa’s were revoked”.
That was not just talking, that was throwing serious shade, why, because the Trinidad PM know the truth as well. How can she have such audacity to attack a sitting Caricom leader, huuumm? 😂.
The US has serious dirt on GB, serious.
So, there you have it.
Think people, think
Cry cry baby, when Gaston march against police instructions going where was not authorized, and kick in showles door and take away mic on podium and call woman a bicycle to ride I didn’t here you, when Gaston go on his radio station and read our people private confidential bank account balances and their health record with what disease them have or use the police and army with machine guns to threaten to shoot barbudans senior citizens and even babies to get the lands to sell tp white people I did not here you.
@ .
You and Gaston seem to be the desperate ones!!!!
Such a pity, and quite ironically you and the writer talking about unity but still bashing the ‘defunct’ UPP. You and him think the party was done/destroyed but God is not sleeping, remind Tabor, Mansoor, Dr Benjamin, Anthony ‘Judas’ Smith, Lamming ‘Backbiter’ Newton, Collin ‘Oneal’ The cheat et al.