The political landscape in Antigua and Barbuda is no stranger to sharp disagreements, fiery debates, and party rivalries—but when a senior party member is publicly ridiculed, chastised, and dragged back in line by his own political family, questions must be asked about the true state of democracy and internal party freedom.
That was the case with United Progressive Party (UPP) Senator Jonathan Joseph, who found himself at the center of an unseemly public takedown—first in the Senate chamber, and later on Observer
Radio, where his own party appeared to throw him to the wolves.
Joseph, a seasoned professional with over 25 years in the hotel and tourism sector, had taken what many would consider a rational, experience-informed position: he supported the Antigua Labour Party’s decision to invest in the Jolly Beach property and turn it over to the Social Security Scheme as a potential income-generating asset.
As someone who worked his way up the hotel industry to a managerial position, Joseph spoke not from guesswork, but from grounded expertise in a sector that is the beating heart of the Antiguan economy.
Yet for having the courage to express a view not rubber-stamped by the party’s inner sanctum, Senator Joseph was treated like a traitor, not a valued senior member.
In the Senate, fellow UPP Senator Pearl Quinn-Williams launched a blistering and humiliating attack on Joseph, outright rejecting his stance and even implying he was misinformed or misguided, suggesting that he missed the class.
Her behavior was not only dismissive, it bordered on theatrical disdain—despite her limited background in hospitality, having worked only as line staff at Half Moon Bay and later as a bank teller.
Nevertheless, she tore into Joseph’s remarks with little more than emotion and party loyalty.
It was the political equivalent of a public flogging, putting asside her fidgited debate.
Then came Observer Radio, where any chance for reflection or clarification was stripped away by a pair of hosts who treated Joseph with open contempt. Rude, loud, combative, and condescending, the hosts effectively cornered the Senator,
pushing him into what many now see as a forced retraction. Joseph, once confident in his stance, suddenly began to walk back his remarks, contradicting his earlier position in what can only be described as an act of political submission.
To use a local colloquialism, Senator Joseph “lopped his tail like a little puppy dog,” as if sent by the “leadership within the leadership” to correct the record—not based on new facts, but on internal party pressure.
The message was clear: in today’s UPP, there’s no room for independent thought.
You either echo the official line from party figures like Chairperson Gisele Isaac and Chaku Symister or risk being branded a dissenter and thrown out the party, like the Joanne Messiah, the Anthony Smith Jr. and the Lamin Newton.
The party’s growing intolerance of
divergent views was recently on full display when Isaac publicly rebuked former UPP leader Harold Lovell for referring to a former youth leader as a “brother”—declaring that he was no longer a brother due to his resignation from the party.
This is the kind of ideological rigidity that signals a deeper rot within the party: loyalty is not earned but demanded, and independence is punished.
So what now for Senator Joseph? How does he return to his constituents—many of whom live in tourism-heavy constituencies and may have supported his original position on the Jolly Beach investment?
How does a man, stripped of dignity by his own colleagues and media aligned with his own party, face a community that expected leadership, not capitulation?
Senator Joseph may have been trying to
put country above party, using his industry knowledge to assess a proposal on its merits. But in today’s UPP, it seems such intellectual honesty is not only unwelcome—it is grounds for public discipline.
The party must decide whether it wants loyal parrots or thoughtful leaders. Because the treatment of Jonathan Joseph is not just a personal embarrassment—it is a political disgrace, and a chilling message to any member who dares to think for themselves.
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Because they know Jonathan need his Senate job, they treat him any old how they feel. How much embarrassment must one person take before he fights back?
If me never believe what Anthony Smith said before, now me believe after me see how they treat Jonathan, and not one of his Brothers and Sisters as candidates defend him.
You’ve hit the nail on the head. Poor guy has NO BACKBONE, NO GUTS, NO BALLS and NO COURAGE.
So sad to see a professed man of God not stand by HIS CONVICTIONS. When the One World Government is established and MARK OF THE BEAST is enforced, will he cower as well?
If he can’t run with the foot soldiers, can he manage the………?
In other words,the stage is now set through this article for him to jump ship….Jump JJ jump. Well played.
No one in Gaston Party could vote independently And not support anything his party push through parliament.There would be the same outcome or immediate expulsion. Stop your Hypocrisy Mr or miss writer.Lamisha,Anthony judas and joann were all Traitors and put self before country .
We want to know who had Asot Michael murdered. Who was more ridiculed and vilified publicly more than Asot Michael by Gaston and the ABLP Cabal. Who threatened Asot Michael publicly?
“SHARPEN U CUTLISS BACK AND BELLY. CHAP DEM UP!!!” ~Cooks Pond Water
We should KICK Jonathan out of UPP . Revoke His Senate seat. Twice He did the same thing. He CANNOT be trusted. We would not vote for Him in St. Mary’s North. Shame on you Jonathan. Kick His Ass from the UPP.
Everyone knows the ABLP propagandists are going g to gave a field day with this. Nobody and I mean Nobody in ABLP can ever disagree with anything Gaston wants so this is just the blacker kettle calling out the black one
It’s not about self thinking, its party working together you have an opinion take it to the crue before running with it,you must creep before you walk, and when you get scolded you feel betrayed, treated like a child but its your behavior why you are treated in such manner, you need to see your wrong before you take feelings, too many of you wants to do things on your own and can’t face the consequences. You can’t live in a glass house and throwing stones,some of you feel you are highly educated but you don’t have the simplest thing name common sense ,without common sense there will be a lot of chaos in the house, stop behaving childish and you won’t be treated as one,from you going right back to messiah you all are just too self righteous and playing the victim grow up senator and stop your hypocrisy smdh, you’re not the leader so don’t behave like you are and putting your head where your body can’t pass ,take your time
The good man REFUSED TO PURGE HIS CONSCIENCE! Who are you to tell him what/how to think? He has to give an account to Almighty God, not to you.
It is my belief that if someone has an opinion that is different than that of the party you should first notify them rather than pulling a surprise like that. If that was ABLP Gaston would be on Rum Shop Radio tearing that person to pieces and not a damn little puppy could open their mouth out of fear
Comedy Central at its best!. The UPP continues to prove themselves unworthy of and unfit for leadership!! From the disgraceful and ghetto-like behavior of that vagabond Pearl Quinn to the Party’s decision to stage a public lynching of the hapless Jonathon Joseph, one can clearly see and easily conclude the UPP is undeserving of serious consideration for potential leadership of this beautiful, developing country.
Then they try to blame the ABLP for UPP’s pathetic demonstration of statesmanship, even sinking to tossing in, for the benefit of their rabid swamp dwellers, insinuations about the alleged murder of the late Asot Michael Esq. They want to know who killed Asot Michael? Maybe they can tell us who killed Tim Hector and/or who killed OBSERVER’s founder Winston Derrick and the others!! Shameful bunch of power-hungry, gay desperados!
You must feel like a piece of dodo when you are upgraded and insulted by a pea brained loud mouth. I have no sympathy for Joseph. When you lie with dogs, you must rise with fleas. The UPP is a cabal that destroys itself.
Joan say Miss Knight jarz bigger than fu she!!! That vex you too?
Great work of fueling balkanization you ALP worm, Johnathan mouth slipped in favor of Gaston so now you go out there empathizing on Johnathan behalf making him a victim and poor thing? That’s not working Gaston and ALP please leave Johnathan alone, Gaston mouth weary slip when he said he will use up social security monies.
his mouth did NOT “slip”. He spoke very SLOWLY, CAREFULLY and CLEARLY!
https://antiguanewsroom.com/upp-senator-johnathan-joseph-supports-jolly-beach-transfer-to-social-security/
https://antiguanewsroom.com/upp-senator-johnathan-joseph-supports-jolly-beach-transfer-to-social-security/
https://antiguanewsroom.com/upp-senator-johnathan-joseph-supports-jolly-beach-transfer-to-social-security/
I was told to ask , will he be jumping ship soon?
Where is Michael Browne , former ABLP representative for All Saints West. He was “forward “to go against the Global Port agreement. He too had to retract and after that he fell out of grace. Chet Greene for simply trying to protect the PM. Tried to put a twist on what was a bad statement made by the PM. He had to Lapp his tail as well. Remember the most senior minister Maulwin Joseph made a statement about banning Vits cars because they are causing death. Gaston tasked him publicly. He too had to withdraw. No ABLP politician can dear stand up in parliament or the senate and do what Jonathan did without getting dismissed. They dear not . Similarly we had Joanne Massiah , Dave Massiah and Anthony Stewart voted against the CIP under the UPP administration and actually got fired from the senate. In Antigua politics, you would be considered a traitor if you do not tour your party line. A elected representative can be kicked out of ministerial position but not out of parliament. Hence an elected parliamentarian can stand up but they don’t , fearing they will loose party support and it could be the end of their career. So they vote against their own Conscience. They serve as a minister at the pleasure of the PM. It’s called the Gaston Browne Cabinet. He can appoint or disappoint.
The seniors are even in a worst position. They are not elected to public office. They serve at the pleasure of the leader of leadership of their political party. Worst yet when the opposition, whom is trying to take a unified stance to gain power is slighted by a senior. It does a lot of setbacks to their cause, especially on issues such as this one that the opposition is making some serious traction on.
So under this system, it would be best to let your leader of leadership know your stance on a particular issue or bill if you are not supportive. Probably they can find a way to persuade you into seeing things their way.
My personal view in this matter is that I just don’t understand. How the social security cannot find the money to pay people in a timely manner. They owe contributors for in many instances- sickness, death, maternal benefits , disability and worse yet pensioners. People actually die I am told before receiving their benefits. Yet ladies and gentlemen the Board, the management and staff of social security services receives exorbitant salaries. Can we the public know the salary of the director of social security. You land yourself in a job like that, you tour the line and you and your generation are set for life. In fact every employee of the social security scheme is set for life.
I once heard an account clerk that worked there said that they all need to take a pay cut , from the top right down to the line staff and pay poor people their money.
We need constitutional reform. Senator needs to be elected to the Upper House.
Sure. Could the author list the ABLP politicians that have publicly dissented with Gaston on any position? Spare us all the sanctimonious ramblings. One set of rules for UPP; one set for ABLP. Wasn’t senator Ripley fired from the Senate for taking a contrarying stance on CIP? Didn’t Gaston publicly said that no Senator he appoints can vote opposite of his party’s position? Again, spare us.
Well…when the CHOAS DEMON issues and EDICT, all must comply. She is DICTATOR EXTRAORDINAIRE!
It is HER party and she calls the shots. Nuff Said.
@ Frankly Speaking, the shitbag Faithful National #1, seems to forget when Gaston had to put the coward Chet Greene in his place for questioning something he said in Parliament, and when they narrowly win/some say buy even thief the last election the threat he made to them, but that is expected of Faithful National #1, Antigua’s Biggest Asskisser but shit shankers boggles the mind
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