Parker Says DNA Was Founded to Elevate Policy Politics, Not Split Opposition Votes
Former senator and community activist Malaka Parker says the Democratic National Alliance (DNA) was founded to elevate policy-based politics in Antigua and Barbuda, rejecting claims that the movement was created to divide opposition votes.
Speaking during a Twin Island Media Live interview, Parker addressed what she described as a persistent misrepresentation of the DNA’s origins, saying the movement emerged from discussions among politically experienced actors seeking to change the tone and substance of national politics.
Parker said the intent was to move political engagement away from personality-driven conflict and toward development-focused policy discussions, reflecting growing public fatigue with confrontational political culture.
She said she did not join the DNA but was a co-founder of the movement and played a central role in shaping its policy direction and manifesto, which were designed to offer voters a different political approach.
Parker acknowledged that the DNA’s trajectory later shifted, leading to internal disagreements and her eventual departure, but said those developments should not redefine the movement’s original purpose.
She said claims that the DNA was established to weaken the United Progressive Party are inaccurate, adding that the founding discussions were centered on reforming political engagement rather than influencing electoral outcomes.
Parker said her later decision to rejoin the UPP was also grounded in principle, arguing that political movements should be judged on whether they advance accountability, policy coherence and national development.
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I beg to differ on this point, your Honourable Malaka Parker. I do agree that it wasn’t your intention to split UPP voters with the creation of the then fledgling DNA party. But surely you would have recognised that a lot more UPP voters rather than ABLP ones would follow your stranding?
And furthermore, if the former UPP voters hadn’t have voted for the DNA at the last General Election, Harold Lovell and the UPP be running the country today.
This is my opinion, but again I totally respect your own viewpoint.
I like to bring balance into the political arena whenever I can…