Alex Browne – By Jeressa Jeremy
Alex Browne Unveils New
Building upon his initial remarks, yesterday, United Progressive Party (UPP) candidate Alex Browne has reaffirmed his stance that the constituency of St Philip’s North has suffered through a “half-century of mass neglect” under the incumbent administration.
The former Senator, who transitioned into full-time campaign mode following his formal resignation from the Upper House on February 18, appeared on Observer AM on Friday to further detail the platform he introduced to supporters on Thursday.
In a notable expansion of his platform, Browne introduced new proposals specifically targeting land ownership and local medical access—issues he noted were not part of his initial public statements.
Expanding on his “piece of the rock” theme, Browne criticized the historical distribution of coastal lands. He noted that over 800 acres of prime property in areas like Emerald Cove and Lawry Bay are currently in the hands of foreign developers, while local residents remain at the “back of the line”. He argued that a dedicated land allocation for young constituents is a necessary step toward localized economic redemption.
Additionally, Browne pledged to transform the Glanvilles polyclinic into a 24-hour facility. He lamented the current limited operational hours, which he says force mothers and the elderly to traverse long distances to St John’s for basic medical care.
“It’s open, but hardly open,” Browne said. “Healthcare is not an option; it’s a necessity. That clinic can take the pressure off of the Lester Bird Medical Center.”
Browne also revisited his primary focus on the chronic utility issues plaguing the eastern villages. He dismissed government claims of increased water production as “misleading,” citing the ongoing dry taps in Willoughbys and Newfield.
“If you notice the map, it’s almost half of what you produce you say you’re losing,” Browne stated. “Fix the leaks. That’s a major plan so that when you produce water, people can get it.”
The candidate further characterized the recent surge in road paving in the area as an election-time “sham” designed to secure votes.
The UPP candidate concluded by framing the March 16 by-election as a test of political loyalty. “These are people who would have supported the Antigua Labour Party for 50 years—and that is how you treat loyalty?” Browne remarked. “You don’t treat it like royalty, you treat it like dirt. We are tired of being second-class citizens in our own country.”
