UPP to Name New St. George Candidate as Pringle Confirms Caretaker Slate for 2026
The United Progressive Party (UPP) is expected to name a new candidate for the St. George constituency within weeks, following confirmation that the sitting MP, Algernon Watts, will not seek re-election due to health reasons.
Opposition Leader Jamale Pringle made the announcement in his New Year’s Message for 2026, saying the party will select a candidate for St. George once the constituency branch completes its internal process.
“In a matter of two weeks, I will be naming the candidate for St. George, after that branch completes the required process,” Pringle said.
Watts, commonly known as “Serpent,” has represented St. George in Parliament and has publicly indicated he will not contest another term because of ongoing health challenges, prompting the need for a new standard-bearer in the constituency.
Pringle used the address to confirm a full slate of UPP caretakers across Antigua and Barbuda, describing the team as central to the party’s preparations for national elections and its wider push for what he termed “people-first” governance.
Among those named were Sherfield Bowen for St. Philip South, Senator Alex Browne for St. Philip North, Wayne Benjamin Marsh for St. Paul, Captain George Wehner for St. Peter, Senator Johnathan Joseph for St. Mary’s North, and Kelvin Simon for St. Mary’s South.
Additional caretakers include Senator Pearl Quinn-Williams for St. John’s City East, Alister Thomas for St. John’s City West, Franz deFreitas for St. John’s City South, Ashworth Azille for St. John’s Rural East, Richard Lewis for St. John’s Rural West, Malaka Parker for St. John’s Rural North, Emanuel Peters for St. John’s Rural South, and Harold Lovell for All Saints West.
Pringle said he will continue to serve as caretaker for All Saints East and St. Luke.
The opposition leader said the slate reflects the party’s intention to rebuild its national structure and position itself as an alternative government, while urging supporters and undecided voters to register or revalidate their voter identification cards ahead of the next general election.
