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…
Like hell, yes.
And she know so too. Smith was sent to city east by DNA not to win but to deliberately draw some of Lovell vote. The man hated Lovell so much he did not care about winning. Just hitting him where it hurt bad. And it was a mighty blow.
As everybody can see, that is exactly what happened and Antigua and Barbuda history is how it is today because of that.
In another party there is no way that Miss Parker could find herself back in their party. But the UPP is not a normal party. So UPP members who support her re-entry could delude themselves all they want, what go bad a day could never come back good a night.
It was a foolish decision to let those DNA people come back in UPP. If it was Gaston Browne anybody see Gaston Browne grabbing them right off and putting them to run in conctituency?
Anybody with some kind of sense could see that they would soon be taking over the UPP and relaunching DNA. They just passing through for a transfusion.
The UPP leadership has failed the politics test. They say they have plenty political experience but they do not have not one scintilla of political sense.
MP Shugy and Lewis should start to think about leaving and form their own party or call it a day. UPP is not going one place with the likes of Dalso and Parker. Don’t forget that Bruce Goodwin, the Brownes, Gatie to name a few are also back. And they back hard and with plenty say so.
Dalso and Parker miss whatever chance they had before they cuss off UPP and now walking back in. Plenty UPP people have long memory. They remember the how Parker kill Spencer bill in parliament and the things she said about UPP after she left.
I do not know,Miss Parker.Never met her in my life.However,I always liked listening to her. She is always very articulate and makes sense with her commentaries.Keep it up Miss Parker.
@BSC YOUNG BOYS OF BERM like listening to her does not make her a great person. The woman is deceptive and untrustworthy. Look at the picture of the DNA candidates with this article and ask yourself why is a picture of Malaka Parker not there. She did that and why I don’t know. You can figure it out.
It was definitely made to split the upp and her actions thrown her under the bus DNA will never rise because of selfishness,arrogant ungratefulness is worst than witchcraft,Joanne could have been the next prime minister of this country but greed had the best of her so therefore she will never regain that opportunity all trust has been lost toward her the damages that was done is unforgettable by many so her rising is doomed. Sad but its true
@ Ah we nuh fuhgat yuh and Wadadli Woman
OK you ABLP USEFUL and useless idiots.
u tink people nar see through ar you. she nar good but like Shuggy the ABLP pursued her like a tick and of course and unlike Anthony ‘Judas’ Smith and Dwayne ‘Hypocrital’ George she did not sell her soul to them.
There would probably be no.dna if it weren’t for.the fact that LOVELL BADPLAYED.JOANNE MASSIAH!
that man is a master LIAR, MANIPULATOR, DECEIVER, UNDERMINER and LUCIFERIAN AGENT wrapped up in.one
@Sad but true
You people love a story so much you hold onto it and to hell with the truth. Lovell did not badplay Joanne Massiah. He was the one who wanted Joanne to replace him. It was the party that told him that was not going to happen. The party wanted him to run again. UPP was not ready for Joanne as leader especially with some of the stories going around based on her time at the Ministry of Agriculture.
I hold no brief for Harold Lovell, but truth is truth and what you and other people are saying about him bad playing Massiah is just not true.
@ gosh oh lard WE would have seen where Malaka Parker would have been today if she had gotten the UN job or any other job that she asked Gaston Browne for. Some of you people are so blind and stupid it is unbelievable. Malaka Parker like many politicians in Antigua is just looking for a payday.
Lovell can take full credit for the creation of DNA.
Uncomfortable truths are truths too.
If the UPP did not put in enough work to capture the majority of votes blame Lovell not DNA.
DNA should not be the excuse for the failure of the UPP to get the majority of seats.
ÀBLP won therefore DNA did not affect ABLP.
I love you Ms Parker. I will vote for but please just say you made a mistake joing DNA and move on .
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