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United Progressive Party (UPP) Chair D. Gisele Isaac has alleged that the outcome of Antigua and Barbuda’s general election was heavily shaped by the governing party’s access to state resources, corporate influence and direct voter inducements.
In a sharply worded opinion column published Tuesday in the Daily Observer, Isaac described the country’s democracy as “plywood-built,” arguing that constitutional advantages enjoyed by incumbent governments create an uneven political playing field.
Isaac claimed the ruling party benefited from control over state institutions, including the Treasury, Immigration, the Port, Public Works, APUA, ABS-TV and the Electoral Commission.
“It is a fact that, constitutionally, the advantage in a general election belongs to the party in power,” she wrote, adding that the incumbent “controls all the resources of the State” and determines “how, when, and where they are deployed.”
The UPP chair also alleged that the recent election campaign featured “intensive and intentional cash bribery,” including “free-gas-on-bad-roads motorcading,” supermarket vouchers, gifts and concerts.
“This was a classic case of paying the people to remain in poverty,” Isaac wrote.
She argued that economic hardship made many voters more receptive to direct assistance rather than long-term policy proposals from the opposition.
“To thousands of families, scrunting because of the high cost of groceries and living with termites, the cash in hand and plywood were more attractive than the Opposition’s plans to make life better, healthier and more affordable,” she stated.
Isaac also reflected on internal turmoil within the UPP during the lead-up to the election, referencing defections, “double-agents” and disagreements over party decisions. She suggested that the opposition entered the campaign weakened but still managed to mount a significant challenge despite limited resources.
“Without apology I will say, again, that the Opposition — with its small resources but great goodwill and superior talent — pulled off an election campaign that was A+,” she wrote.
The veteran political figure further questioned the role of corporate influence in national politics, claiming some businesses and donors exert outsized control over election outcomes and government decision-making.
“Vote all you want — whether for a political leader or a party; it is those who open the purse — or keep it closed — that determine the outcome,” Isaac wrote.
She ended the column by expressing concern about public faith in the democratic process, saying she struggles to encourage electoral participation when “one man, one vote” does not reflect what she described as the reality of politics in Antigua and Barbuda.
The article comes days after the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party secured a fourth consecutive term in office in the April 30 general election.
[8:15 AM, 5/6/2026] Uncle : UPP Chair D. Gisele Isaac Claims Election Was Influenced by State Power, Cash Handouts
United Progressive Party (UPP) Chair D. Gisele Isaac has alleged that the outcome of Antigua and Barbuda’s general election was heavily shaped by the governing party’s access to state resources, corporate influence and direct voter inducements.
In a sharply worded opinion column published Tuesday in the Daily Observer, Isaac described the country’s democracy as “plywood-built,” arguing that constitutional advantages enjoyed by incumbent governments create an uneven political playing field.
Isaac claimed the ruling party benefited from control over state institutions, including the Treasury, Immigration, the Port, Public Works, APUA, ABS-TV and the Electoral Commission.
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Gisele, Gisele, Gisele, Gisele, Gisele…..
Don’t be such a sore loser. Yes your party did SURPRISINGLY well despite the fact that you guys WERE SIMPLY NOT READY.
You got caught with your skirt over your head, AND you have totally mis-read the voters.
All UPP came with really was a 4 day work week and the removal of taxes on imported vehicles. There was hardly any mention to investments or where the shortfall in revenue was going to come from.
You might think that voters are fickle to accept “bribes” in exchange for votes, BUT they also know that any shortfall in government revenue will only lead to new/increased taxes or a visit to the IMF.
Give the voters credit. They voted for who they wanted. I am sure that even UPP voters voted for ABLP candidates and vice versa.
Let it rest now. It’s time for you to lose the bitterness and get down to the matter at hand…..building up the UPP. Learn the lesson and not get caught with your skirt over your head again.
No, it was influenced by your refusal to recognize that no one wants you as a leader. You used Pringle as a scapegoat but you are the real problem. Go,, hurry up and disappear from politics. You have destroyed the UPP and if you continue as Chairperson, you will help destroy this country
Anyone who gives the UPP an A+ for their campaign is seriously delusional. How could the electorate take the UPP seriously when the UPP exhibited such a collosal state of unpreparedness? After being in opposition since 2014, the UPP was running around, shuffling candidates three weeks before election day. How could anyone take that seriously?
Politics in A&B has a transactional component (much like anywhere else in the world). If her bribery claims could be substantiated, then persons would have been brought before the court.
The UPP needs to do Antigua a favour and just fled the scene.
Oh please!! Some of us are true supporters of the ABLP. You and your Executive team are fighting back so you all can benefit from all the ghost boards that fluffed up your pockets. You guys have no need for Pringle. If you look close you will see that we the supporters deeply believe in our party. Your so called supporters stayed home as they have a party that has failed them 3xs before. Get lost with the bullshit.
This woman really lacks accountability. That means she’s very dangerous in leadership.
No rom for I-N-T-R-O-S-P-E-C-T-I-O-N in the upp??
Giselle Isaac, my God you till nar move you na understand that a you make.the UPP nar move forward. What they should do is to form another party with bright and strong men and women and leave you and Pringle by yourselves. Just saying
So what accounted for the UPP’s whopping loss in 2014 since they controlled the resources then?
And if you know you need money, why don’t you get some invested in your party?
And what superior talent? Michael Joseph made your party’s self- anointed best candidate Richard Lewis look small.
Maybe call up Knight and asked why he chose to openly lambase the party to only try to make amends in the last minute?
Why didn’t you throw out Shugy, Serpent and Richard when they went on the radio and castigated your duly elected leader?
Your party is its own undoing. Blaming your endless losses on bribes and money while your party is clearly bruck and suck at fundraising, therefore unable to mount a convincing political campaign is a YOU problem.
INTROSPECTION is what is needed, not the blame game. Look within yourself. If that is so difficult then change will never come. UPP is doomed with leaders like this.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUKci-qdK5k&list=RDYUKci-qdK5k&start_radio=1
Matthew 7:3-5
3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
Like Giselle still don’t get it. UPP gave hand outs too but theirs were of little value. She rejected the poll that Emmanuel commissioned for them. She caused the party to lost the election
A termite infested house in creekside was fixed, Benji at all cost you wanted to win to get Deputy, you should be ashamed. They say you will help Gaston get back American visa priviledge lol lol lol
That is what Some Antiguans are worth 2 sheets of plywood, a rice cooker, an airfrier and $2, well the PM say he’s shearing
Very soon she will be the only member of the UPP
WOMAN!!!! YOU GUYS LOST BECAUSE THE PEOPLE DON’T BELIEVE IN YOUR PARTY AND THE MEN AT THE HELM!!!!!!HAND OUTS WERE ALSO GIVEN DURING UPP’S TIME ESPECIALLY 2009 AND 2014 THEY STILL GOT VOTED OUT….STOP THE CRYING!!! ALP GAVE OUT MONEY ASOT SPEND SPEND SPEND 2004 ELECTION AND THEY STILL GOT VOTED OUT…..STOP THE CRYING!!!!
Your assertions are nothing new in the #Game_of_poliTRICKS.
The question is why was the team under your management not prepared to go the distance?
It’s obvious from the voter turnout, that approximately half of the eligible voters did not participate in this #S_Election cycle which means, that there is room for improvement for any opposition to reestabli
Regardless of the criticism of Giselle, I agree with her but the UPP clearly was not ready. The Infighting was a major factor, it appears as though there was a sort of coming together after the Election date was announced, that was a little too late and most of all even though Jamale might be a nice guy he is certainly not Leadership material. I have often heard Giselle is a bit too abrasive and it’s turning off people. Honestly I would love to see her run for Leadership but she must be aware you can catch more flies with honey than with tar
@Look in the Mirror
Boyyyy you hit the nail on the head there. They must think that people forget……
And the UPP Queen continues to live in a different world refusing to face reality. At this rate it will be a generation before the Antigua and Barbuda parliament has an Opposition presence. She fails to understand that while we understand the need for an Opposition we are not prepared to elect a bunch of misfits with no vision and no plan just for the sake of having an Opposition. And Queen, just understand that this is the last election where the diehard blue supporters will exist. Those legacy voters are old and may not be alive in 5 years. The young people are no longer voting the way of their parents. There was no one under 40 years old at the UPP meetings that I saw on social media. In fact most seemed to be in their 60s and 70s.
Oh, Giselle. Oh Giselle.
You said you would go and this was your last. Now it’s time. Please go. ALP broke all the rules and they were stronger because they had all the state resources to use, and use them they did. This euphoria they’re in now will not last. I give the water criers one more week before they start calling in and begging for water.
But here is the main reason why UPP lost. You emasculated the men in the party, even the high up ones and the rest saw that and drifted to background. After you stole the convention and told them kiss your you know what and walked out of the retreat, and they did not object to you, then anybody could run cattle through the UPP leadership after that.
There were many people who supported UPP including some ALP who were tired of Gaston Brown, but they just could not get their minds past Pringle as Prime Minister. You know he will not make a good PM, but your ego and your ambitions were too great for the good of the party.
Remember PLM. That is UPP now. Get out the way and give people a chance to start afresh. The puppet will do well. He think Gaston Browne is fine. He is making his money with that thought. Please go, chaos demon. You totally destroy the house that Baldwin built. And he too fraid you to tell you so to your face.
It’s saddens me to read this. It is time for you to step down. You are not a leader and there is no confidence in your vision. Truthfully, you have to make the sacrifice for the future of the party if it is to come out of this.
Do the right thing
After every election you guys come with some sorry excuse for loosing. Handouts in the form of money, and other, have been taking place in every election in Wadadli, it’s just that when you’re an opposition like UPP, money of this kind is hard to come by. Asot was famous for this, but giving out money doesn’t solidify a vote, for I can take your money, and still vote differently.
Think about this! If Ms Issac gonna use this logic, she may be acknowledging the fact that the UPP will never win another election, because of empty pockets.
In politics, Gaston Browne has done his homework, and is now most skillful. There is no one presently in the UPP organization that can go up against this man, check out the youths, even the so-called gangs, check out all the top entertainers, even the biggest one from south Menace, who decided to go where the money is, Fort on labor day, the Rasta families, the Spanish and other foreigners who calls Wadadli home, these are all voters that the UPP don’t see, instead they continue to clink to their original voting base.
Tap right day Giselle. Nah move! If dem want ya spot, tell dem win at CONVENTION.
“DOUBLE AGENTS” and disagreements over party decisions”?????? Who are these “DOUBLE AGENTS” she is referring to? By chance is it the Trinidadian and the Jamaican?
@ Facts
I also think Giselle should remain a part of UPP, but she should challenge for Leadership. Some say she is toxic but I do not believe she can be even half as toxic as Gaston, the difference he has power as Prime Minister and she really has none so when she rubs someone the wrong way they can easily walk away and go to the other side, in the case of Gaston even if he was to kick anyone on his team in the backside, they would say it’s an accident just to stay close to power
With much respect your Honourable Chairperson Ms Gisele Isaacs, I’m one of your biggest supporters; and your last paragraph hit the “political” nail on the head, when you’ve mentioned (and I’m paraphrasing here) in how the ABLP benefited from a one-sided and bias media platform; the Treasury and Public Works.
However, I look back at a time just before our last UPP convention when we had Gaston Browne on the ropes. Kelvin Shugy Simon had just one a by-election; Richard Lewis was holding Gaston Browne to account on 2-3 issues; and let’s not forget that the country wanted the ABLP to put into action their manifesto promises, and tackle rising crimes.
ABLP were at their lowest ebb at that time.
We missed a great opportunity to dethrone them with one of the above, already mentioned. Now you must look within yourself and do what is right for the party and the country as a whole.
I have no idea what that is (only you will know), but what I do know is that we’ve hit rock bottom from a position of ongoing strength.
UPP’S DESTINY IS NOW IN YOUR HANDS!
I wish you well in this arduous endeavour…
*won a by-election
@Capone, well said👏🏾
It is sad to see how some men dance around the bush. Not knowing how to tell the good lady straight in her face. “You are FIRED”. And that want to call themselves “MAN”. Without BALLS you can’t be serious to want to be called that. Speak your mind freely without fear or favor for no WOMAN. PUSSY. CHICKEN.
…And furthermore your Honourable Gisele Isaacs, this is just a suggestion to help the UPP in future elections. Why don’t the party focus on making voting in country compulsory?
Other countries that regularly registered around 50-55% then went up to the mid 90s after making voting compulsory.
Something worth pursuing I firmly believe.
Our last two General Elections had very poor/low turnouts. And also a no-vote will always favour the current incumbents, because their supporters (I.e, the Gastonites) like Trump’s own MAGA followers will turn out in their droves to get them re-elected.
The no-voters in our recent GE without a shadow of a doubt helped the ABLP retain power once again.
COMPULSORY VOTING MUST BE IMPLEMENTED NEXT TIME…
@Less We Forget [He], says the person that NEVER CRITIQUES the Prime Minister on anything; and there lies the BIG difference between ABLP and UPP supporters.
We will call out our own shortcomings (and proud to do so) unlike you sycophants who carry on like Gaston …. don’t stink!
You can fill in the blanks, you irreligious idiatt!
You still na ready for Brixtonian…
Assuming that all or even most of the persons who voted for an ABLP candiate are foolish and/or were bribed and constantly shouting that retoric is a turn-off for those who were just on the fence, received nothing and made a decision. The decision simply being that UPP was not ready this time around.
But if you honestly feel those who voted ABLP; that they are fools whose vote can be bought, then don’t bother ever expecting a.bote from them; expect to lose then. UPP you guys need to switcj things up, change your marketing strategy. Calling people foolish and greedy won’t encourage them to join your side. Quiet this woman before you lose the fence-sitters and some of your own die-hards.
I notice that the The ABLP supporters are ignoring what The Honourable Gisele Isaacs has mentioned about the imbalances, biases and blatant media propaganda towards the re-election of Gaston Browne’s ABLP.
Your silence on this is LOUD and clear to all
You guys would be spitting Egret feathers 🪶 🪶 if the rules was reversed in favour of the UPP.
At the next General Election, the finances, media coverage and other political elevation must be balanced with no more disproportions, disparities or asymmetrical imbalances.