UPP Leadership Race Intensifies as Richard Lewis Secures Key and Major Endorsements

1. With all of those endorsements so early, looks to me like the leadership race is over. All UPP MPs have endorsed Lewis other than Pringle. Sounds like a wrap!

2. Lewis is the better choice. If UPP serious they would remove Pringle immediately. Assuming they ready to come out of Opposition. This is time for action.

3. Richard Lewis is the best candidate…. let’s be honest here… he is intellectual, confident and full of integrity. He was my teacher and has always been consistent and passionate about country. Upp has a great opportunity to choose a strong leader to guide them to victory!!

4. Isn’t the Leader to be elected / selected through a democratic process AT THE PARTY CONVENTION ?
   Then how proper / correct is it for a contender to be publishing written endorsements from party caretakers and parliamentarians BEFORE THE CONVENTION ?
   This seems to be a travesty of the internal democratic and constitutional process of the party organization.
   So what’s the point of the Convention if outcomes are being decided publicly before the event ?
   This affair reeks of a coup by those just come new members of the party who have no respect for democratic procedures. Doesn’t augur well for the future of our only opposition party.

   • Are you suggesting there will not be a vote at the convention?

     You appear to have privileged information. Tell us more sir

     Endorsements are common across the region and were even an integrated part of the Harold Lovell brochure in a previous Convention.

     Perhaps Pringle will receive a good word from some of those who haven’t endorsed Lewis and are not also running for Leader. That leaves Lovell, Gladys and Alister since Cleon is gone. Let’s see.

     Also your insinuation that UPP members are braindead and incapable of casting their free will vote based on their own analysis is insulting and elitist.

   • @ Eldridge,
     Because you do not understand the rules and the process or like the outcome; does not give you the right to cast dispersions.

     This matter has nothing to do with the circumvention of internal UPP democratic process or constitutional process.

     Unless the rules prohibit what Richard Lewis and those who are endorsing him from doing what they have done; then there is no travesty.

     STOP BESMIRCHING THE CHARACTER OF THESE INDIVIDUALS.

     Political Party rules do not follow the procedures we normally consider as being a democratic Eelectorial process.
     The endorsement and the publishing of the endorsements is generally a preemptive move by one party candidate against his or her opponents.

     Joe Biden was a big looser in the primaries, until he was endorsed by Congressman Clyburn the Congressman from South Carolina for the Super Tuesday primaries. Otherwise, Joe Biden would have never become the President of the US.

     Rushi Sunak, Prime Minister of the UK was endorsed by Jeremy Hunt, so did Sajid Javid, both Chancellor of the Exchequer. Unlikely to be the PM of the UK without those two key endorsements.

     Please spear us the mumbo jumbo; about this does not auger well for the future of our only opposition party.

     What we have is a political Party that is showing maturity and not a group that violating party rules.

     If Party rules were Democratic our current Prime Minister would have not lost his first attempt to be Party Leader. Even worse was when he first ran for electoral office the way in which his opponent was undermined by him and others.

     This is political strategy, and hopefully clean competition throughout the process.

     • @CountryMan Abroad, don’t forget PM Browne was endorsed by other ABLP MPs in their leadership race after the 2009 elections when he became leader.

   • Richard Lewis is credited with updating the Party’s Constitution as a member of the Constitution Review Committee.
     These are endorsements only. It’s a public declaration of who these MPs support. The majority of those eligible to voters have not been heard from as yet.

     My late friend Clarance Crump would have voted for Richard Lewis.

   • Come on Eldrige. Endorsements aren’t votes and there’s nothing barring members from endorsing anyone running for leadership. Each branch still has to send their delegates and the delegates are free to choose who they vote for, regardless of the endorsements from their MPs or Caretakers. Are the endorsements likely to influence how branch delegates vote? Of course. But that’s how it is. Lewis sold himself to those influential members in the party that he won their endorsements. It augurs well for his leadership journey. All the best to Richard.

5. Looks like Pringle is the last one left to support and endorse MP Lewis..

   • Gladys Potter, Alister Thomas and Harold Lovell its your time now! Show us your motion as Robin would say. And Cleo-… oh that’s right, Cleon Athill is no more.

   • This is democracy at play. What we are seeing is a level of political maturity.

     There is so much wrong with this country. What’s needed political leaders who can inspire the public and lookout for the little man and woman who are victims of public corruption.

     This is to give notice to the network who are the enablers and beneficiaries of a corruptive system.
     – THE CHRISTIAN LEADERS
     – THE SERVICE CLUBS
     – CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
     – THE GRIFTERS and other white-bright-and-darn-near-white (WBADNW) who practices the
     fake Bougie way of life

   • Why would someone endorse their opponent?

6. Whoever gets the endorsement from their fellow UPP party Members, it has to be someone that will stand toe to toe with Gaston Browne.

   If the PM goes guttural with his politics – as expected -, then do as Michelle Obama once said: “When they go low, we go high”

   ON TRANSPARENCY:
   “There can be no faith in government if our highest offices are excused from scrutiny” ~ Edward Snowden

   ON CRIME:
   “There is no greater threat to a free and democratic nation than a government that fails to protect its citizens …” ~ author unknown

   All the best to all UPP candidates; Antigua & Barbuda need an opposing party leader that will not only deal with the above, but will also take the country out of recession and poverty.

   2-3 UPP TERMS WILL DO IT …

   • @BRIXTONIAN….UPP members are BUNCH of hypocrite. They never approved of PRINGLE. True colours of UPP are upfront. Pringle do not worry you have the only secure seat in the party. UPP will never win an election in Antigua. UPP never like Pringle. BRIXTONIAN, you now have egg on you face. BRIXTONIAN is FLIP FLOPPER. He jumps from party to party looking for HAND OUT.Twenty more years for ABLP.

   • @ BRIXTONIAN…You are an ASS. You hang your month where the soup falling. You have been supporting Pringle , now you kicked Him to the curb. HYPOCRITE.

     • @ JAM DUNG, I suggest you read what I said again; here’s a reminder:

       “Whoever gets the endorsement from fellow UPP party Members it will have to be someone who can stand toe to toe with Gaston Browne”

       The key word in my first paragraph @ JAM DEM was “Whoever” … you numb-skull!!!

       And BTW, “Whoever” (😁) is endorsed as leader of the UPP, I’ll back them all the way to winning the next General Election.

   • THE LEADERSHIP BATTLE CAN PUT TO REST WITH THE RETURN OF LOVELL. THE SOLDIERS WILL BE WELL RESTED FOR THE WAR AHEAD.
     Take heed…

7. When I read this story, I had to stop and think a while.

   My mind ran back to this quote: THE THING ABOUT DEMOCRACY, BELOVEDS, IS THAT IT IS NOT NEAT, ORDERLY, OR QUIET. IT REQUIRES A CERTAIN RELISH FOR CONFUSION.

   Unless I learn differently, I am told that each constituency and some additional bodies affiliated with the party will have 24 voting electors at the Conference.

   It is the majority of these electors who will give the endorsement that matters.

   • We should all hope for a new era of respect and decency as we meet the many common challenges facing our nation.

8. We will see..Giselle and Lovell do not want Richard because he has a brain and a vision for this country. But only Giselle has a brain and knows everything. Good luck Richard. I hope the delegates do the right thing.

   • @OTTO, I’m hoping the government pays Giselle what she’s owed from the cases and settlements she has won so she can relax and enjoy her senior years. Intelligent lady, but she has no place in any political party institution.

9. Frankly, if the UPP is serious about winning the next election, they must realize that Mr Pringle is not, at this time, suitable for the leadership position. Perhaps in one or two more election cycles he’ll be ready.

10. The Lipstick cannot like this. She must be fuming. Things don’t look good for her horse in the race.

    Spencer needs to come out and publicly endorse Lewis and so stop people from saying he does not support the young man.

    If Harold Lovell had made this young man his running mate way back, he would be the PM now. And spare us from Gaston lunacy. He listened to the Lipstick and she cost him the prime ministership.
    It is not too late. He needs to come down off the fence, straighten out the Lipstick and start working with Lewis to help clean up the place.

    • In my limited dealing with Harold Lovell her comes across like a law school lecturer. He makes a good case, but he is not a fighter. He lacks decisiveness.

      Given what we have as a Prime Minister now; Harold would have been a much better Prime Minister.

      Isn’t it interesting that all these freshmen parliamentarians have signed the letter.

      What does that say about Harold Lovell and Past Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer?

    • @Good Choice, Spencer does not need to do anything. It’s time for the UPP brass to allow Spencer to enjoy his retirement. He was a dear servant to the Party and the Country, but it’s time to let go. Seeing Spencer on the picket lines, while other younger members of the party stay in the background pains me. Time for the Party to honour him, put him in the Party’s HOF, and let him enjoy his family.

11. Even if they all endorsed LEWIS as they did … it’s still the ELECTORATE MEMBERS CHOICE THAT CHOSE THE PARTY LEADER…

    RICHARD LEWIS IS MALICIOUS MANIPULATIVE IN PUTTING THESE ENDORSEMENTS INTO THE PUBLIC NEWS PORTAL …

    This was what the convention is for y is he doing this publicly to HUMILIATE PRINGLE CAS I CANT SEE Y HE WOULD DO THIS BEFORE THE CONVENTION

    • Take a beginner’s course in political science!
      The electorate choses the candidate they wish to represent them in their respective constituencies. Period.

      There are Party rules as to how candidates are chosen for leadership. There is nothing here that seems to contravene The UPP rules.

      It is smart political strategy to get endorsements and publish those endorsements. Endorsements serves a number of purposes.

      For those who endorse it’s like saying they are “putting their money where their mouth” so to speak.
      Its putting those on the fence to come to a decision before the Party convention.

      Spend a little time and study Parliamentary democracies such and the UK and Germany.

      This has nothing to do with humiliating Pringle. its sophisticated campaigning for Party leadership.

    • ‘RICHARD LEWIS IS MALICIOUS MANIPULATIVE IN PUTTING THESE ENDORSEMENTS INTO THE PUBLIC NEWS PORTAL…’

      Do we really know that it was Richard Lewis who put the ‘letters’ into the public?

      He (Richard) SHOULD NOT BE ACCUSED if there is no evidence.

      I agree that whoever put it in the public did so for the ‘benefit’ of Richard but in the end, it is just those persons endorsing Richard.

      It is at the convention where the ‘DELEGATES’ will make the FINAL DECISION.

      Moves and counter-moves will be made.

      It is all good for ‘DEMOCRACY’ in my opinion.

12. So nine out of 16 mixture of candidates and elected members have endorsed the Hon. Richard Lewis for leadership. That leaves three others, excluding Dr. Cleon Athill as she has defected or vehemently resigned.
    Trevor Walker, Allister Thomas, Gladys Potter have not yet endorsement either Hon. Jamale Pringle or Pearl Williams.

    It seems as though Gladys will be replaced by a young lady, one Jermaine Edwards who has been reaching out to many with her message of love, compassion and purpose.

    That leaves the hierarchy of the party to endorse Hon. Jamale and perhaps Pearl whom I think is intending to be a spoiler in the race.

    So who will the chairman endorse?
    Who will Chaku endorse?
    Who will Harold endorse?
    Who will the former PM endorse?

    If the other two candidates do not drop out before the convention, there will be some inevitable mud-slinging.
    Who will be the new chairman of the UPP?
    Are there term limits in their constitution?
    Let’s see how this plays out.

    • Why you should care ???
      what’s it YOU ……Your an haggard half dead looking kiss arse to Gaston and an ALP opportunist……. Y you care abt UPP and who gets selected to lead … so you can crawl back and beg for recognition relevancy

      Kip out of blue business

    • Dave Ray you chat so much from your halitosis mouth and stinking ass. What the hell do you know about UPP. Trevor Walker is not a member of UPP so don’t go now and edit your comments. It’s people like you who can’t be in a democracy in Antigua and Barbuda.

    • Dave Ray let us talk about the Labourites and Gastonites the split within ALP and the dictator Top Dawg Browne the failed experiment.

      • @KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOUR

        Knight….Keep out of ABLP business. Go and study your UPP mess. Gaston will bring a law suit against You and Joan for DEFAMATORY remarks you have been making on OBSERVER RADIO. Knight and BRIXTONIAN cut from the same cloth. Knight , have a wonderful vacation with your BOYFRIEND.

        • What do Richard Lewis and Dr Cleon Athill both have in common?

          They know how to mek the ABLP acolytes, Gastonites and sycophants come out of HIBERNATION! 😂😂😂

          🎶”Wheeeeeel, Rewind an Come Again…”🎶

    • @ Dave Ray

      Is it any of your dam business. You are always pushing your halatosis breath where it was never asked for no sought.

      Just shut the hell up and find solutions for the paltry state of the nation.
      Antigua is crying out for change and rebuilding, as Gaston and your corrupt ABLP party has destroyed it. What a bunch of thieves.

    • Will the Syndicate be hosting a convention at anytime?

13. Dr. Ray,
    It’s a free country; but you seem a bit overly indulgent in the affairs of the UPP, when you are a longtime rabid supporter and defender of the ABLP.

    Antigua and Barbuda need thoughtful political commentators, I have been waiting for that person who can go beyond the trash talk and offer in depth analysis. You could be, if you were not so bias and mischievous.

    Just because the individuals mentioned have not publicly endorse Richard Lewis do not mean they will not do so.

    As someone who presents himself as a student of politics, this was to cut them off at the pass. If you know what I mean.

    In the event they had other thoughts; you know how it works, they come in line and endorse what seems to be the inevitable Party leader. The race is all but over at this point.

14. Listen you political amateurs. The candidates run things and the delegates from their constituency will follow their lead. That is how Gaston beat Lester. When the then Chairman of Rural North was supporting Lester, Max replaced him and the constituency voted for Gaston. That is the way of politics. There is nothing nice and fair about it. Look at the campaign Lovell and Giselle mounted against this same Richard Lewis the last time he challenged for leadership.

15. I wonder if comrade Asot has any dog in this fight? Seems to have a liking for shuggy but since he is not up for leadership, I wonder which one he thinks his money could influence the most!!!!

16. Well, Well, Well! The UPP confusion start. Get your popcorn and soda ready for the drama. I guess all these UPP constituency leaders who sign the above letter came out publicly in support of Lewis because of the backlash they are getting from their branch members. Democracy is at work within the UPP. The UPP delegates should vote for change and not exchange. VOTE for Mrs. Pearl Quinn Williams.

    • @Knight
      Please provide a bio on Mrs. Williams. Most of us know nothing about her except being a former bank employee. What is her educational background? Is she a university graduate?
      Being a politician and a prime minister for that matter is not a fan club.

      • @ Asking

        VC Bird NEVER HAD A UNIVERSITY DEGREE. Neither did GASTON. Some of the BRIGHTEST PEOPLE IN THE WORLD DON’T EVEN HAVE A SECONDARY SCHOOL LEAVING CERTIFICATE.
        For eg. C L R James

17. Let the process play out. What is important is for the party, especially MPs and the eventual losers of the leadership contest, to rally behind the new Leader. The UPP needs to be a formidable fighting force in the next general election so that this corrupt and incompetent ABLP Government can become just a bad episode in our history, to be hopefully never repeated.

18. This is inevitable. UPP is full of confusion. The MUDSLINGINGS now start. UPP will never win an election with Pringle. Pringle did not learn AH TING.

    • @ JAM DEM

      Oh how you wish

19. Why don’t you keep out of upp affairs and go and take you hiv medication

20. Dave Ray you chat so much from your halitosis mouth and stinking ass. What the hell do you know about UPP. Trevor Walker is not a member of UPP so don’t go now and edit your comments. It’s people like you who can’t be in a democracy in Antigua and Barbuda.

21. Pringle became UPP party leader by default, when he was the only UPP candidate who was elected. During that time, he has proven to be only a place holder.

    Mr. Pringle has not seemed to have grown into the office, but rather functioned as a message carrier.

    I don’t recall any issues of significance or policy initiatives put forward by MP Pringle. There have been numerous lost opportunities when he could have stepped forward, and he has failed to do so.

    On the other hand, Richard Lewis has been bold in challenging the status quo.

    He has made a number of suggestions that could strengthen the education sector; counter hate; reduce youth violence; and foster a more harmonious society.

    He has written about the cost of inefficiencies and bureaucracies in Government services among other archaic practices that needs to be reformed.

    Pringle has complained about the condition of roads in his constituency. In doing so, he fails in recognizing a good road network is a national priority, not only his constituent priority.

    Prime Minister Gaston Browne has neglected his Constituency and continues to be elected.

    Why? Jamal pringle needs to understand the tail of a default party leadership is short if he is not able to articulate a better vision for Antigua and Barbuda.

    The time of the Dominator has ended; that power player who attempts to assert undue influence and control over the UPP.

    It’s time to move on and allow another UPP Member of Parliament who is able to capture the imagination of the public with bold and practical ideas to take the leadership that’s required to win the next general Election.

22. I don’t think it should be lewis going tow to tow with Gaston, a good leader should delegate whatever intellectual capacity his party possess In the vicissitude of time, that’s was Lovell’s mistake to let Gaston appear to outshine him on various subject matter, if Gaston comments on the economy and want to put statistics in public, that rebuttal should have been delegated to cortwright marshall at the time, in today’s perspective I would say sherfield Bowen should be the man delegated that responsibility to rebut Gaston financial pronouncement which are impulsive, I could remember Julian Rodgers tore gaston to pieces on observer one morning on banking and accounting matters even as a journalist, sherfield is very decisive and would bring Gaston to trash, and Giselle is just trying to be there for her country, for all the criticism she would have leave, but speaking of chair person in correct term by pronoun, the next lady suitable is Joan underwood, also the late kevar margetson would have suited that position too, so Richard Lewis has to delegate a shadow cabinet to the relevant subject matter, and not just make it a leader to leader battle in the public gallery ,and with the resources and empirical data at Gaston hands been in government shall give him the edge, but proper dissecting by the opposition of the subject matter according to the intellectual capacity of each team member. And in our vernacular will avail ,let’s not make Lovell’s mistake all over again, I am not into emotional politics, but ideological politics, we must remove the Gaston gang of looters.

23. @Elread,
    I think we can both agree Gaston Browne is a fast-talking film-flam artist among other things.
    Beside MP Richard Lewis, I have not heard any other UPP elected or unelected UPP official who have written or made any policy statements other than the Senator who outlined the deficiencies at SLBMC (Johnathan Joseph if not mistaken)

    I’ve recently heard Shefield Bowen on Dave Lester Payne recently, and it was painful listening to him answering simple questions. The hesitancy in his voice and answers bordered on mumbling. I’m not here to knock Sheffield Bowen. He is a better person and better MP than anyone you pick on the ABLP roster of MPs

    Don’t get me wrong; simply put: Gaston Browne is bad for Antigua and Barbuda.
    But please do tell who is the intellect in the UPP on Economic and Financial issues? Who is the intellect on Economic development? Who is the intellect on Education and Human Services? Etc. Etc.

    ABLP/GOAB policies and functions are outdated and archaic. Who is the process expert?

    Who is going to challenge the political doctrine of “Go see your Minister?” These are but few of the issues if presented in an informed fashion, can win the hearts and minds of the voting public.

    Every year Gaston Browne rolls out a fancy GDP number. 5 % then 8.5% so on and so forth.
    Those numbers if accurate are meaningless when poverty is increasing year after year.

    Anyone who has a taken a few courses the economics and has some financial knowledge should be able to make mincemeat out of Gaston Browne; assuming they can articulate the case, they are making.

    So who would that person be? With the ability to also make their case in writing. You are right Gaston is just a salesman harking and barking and he is not challenged.

    WHO IS GOING TO CHALLENGE HIM? WHO HAS THE ABILITY TO MAKE A COGENT CASE, AND CHALLENGE THE STATUS QUO, WITH REGARDS TO GOVERNMENT POLICIES AND FUNCTIONS?

    Pringle was Party leader by default. he has basked in the glow of being party leader, even though he has been bossed around.

    It’s time for a new Leader to get us out of our misery, call Gaston Browne & Co.

24. Jamale Pringle should sit back and laugh. All UPP MP are one term.They would never be elected again including Richard Lewis. Jamale Pringle will always be the Opposition Leader and Leader of UPP. Jamale Pringle is UPP MP who would always be elected.

25. While the political leadership of the party is decided by election, the leader of the opposition in parliament is the member who commands the majority support among the opposition MPs. It is clear for all to see that person is the Hon Richard Lewis. Let me be pellucid this is not up to the executive of the party. It doesn’t require a convention by the party. The Supreme law of Antigua and Barbuda is clear . The constitution in section 79(2) states that the leader of the opposition is the member that command the majority support of the members of the house who do not support the government. The Hon Pringle should step down now for obvious reasons

    • Then how did he became the leader of the opposition if he didn’t command the majority support of his colleagues in the house in the first place…he must have.. I could understand he was a lone wolf during the previous term…along with the Barbuda M.P…..so who appointed him then…was it the Speaker. Why not Trevor walker when they were the only two on the opposition bench….why NOT Trevor walker now for ” leader of the Opposition” in the house…noticed o didn’t say political leader….don’t know why he continues to be the step child of the UPP…When in fact he is the one leading the charge against the ABLP in the house.
      This reveal the cowardice of the UPP parliamentarians…if Pringle does command your support in parliament let it known…we can deal with leadership of the party at the convention and let the delegates vote their conscience.
      But one may ask…what do the delegates have to rely on to make their choice? Is it like and preferred? Or do they vote on advice of their candidate. I would argue that the delegates don’t know one that about the leadership hopeful.
      Outside of debates among the would be ” Saviors of Our Nation” the process is meaningless. That’s the only reason why the ABLP continues defeat the UPP….we have no clue why we voted for a candidate…WE NEED TO ENCOURAGE DEBATES between and among those who wish to lead us…time to end the rhetoric of platform politics.
      If DEBATES were encouraged…all the pension hopefuls we see grabbing for power would leave the process alone…let’s attract the best and the brightest amongst us …those who stand up against world leaders and represent us…in forums on the international stage and make us proud.

26. He may had had it fresh after the elections of 2023 but once the dust settled he lost it and position can change….remember the case of the Hon Yearwood when he was removed as leader of the opposition and replaced by Hon Cutie Benjamin by the very same members who formerly supported him

27. Is it true that Bowen has pulled out of the MPs who endorse Lewis? He better have a good reason. Schoolchildren say the big lady and Pringle offer him Deputy Leader if he brings his branch to vote for Pringle.

    Wat a ting? Bowen, you’re showing your real clothes. This is a red clothes move. Plenty traitors end up wearing red clothes.

    These days they sew with blue thread.

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