Upp Candidate – By Jeressa Jeremy
Upp Candidate Slams Slap
United Progressive Party (UPP) candidate for St Philip’s North, Alex Browne, has characterized a proposal to rename the Sir Rupert Philo Highway as a “slap in the face” to the local community and the family of the late calypso icon.
Speaking on Observer AM ahead of Monday’s by-election, Browne criticized the government’s plan to rename the stretch—originally named in honor of the legendary “King Swallow”—to the Sir Robin Highway, in recognition of outgoing representative Sir Robin Yearwood.
“The members of the Sons and Daughters of Willoughby, they would have been the driving force… and we were very happy. The family, I know, were very happy. And to do this now is a slap in the face of the community, and especially a slap in the face of the family,” Browne stated. “They need to rethink this.”
The candidate further accused the administration of utilizing state resources in their bid to influence voters in the final days of the campaign. Browne pointed to a sudden improvement in water supply and road infrastructure in the constituency as evidence of an electoral strategy.
“We know they’re coming with deep pockets. I mean, the entire army of the government, especially Public Works, have been in St Philip’s North,” Browne noted. “While we appreciate the water and the roads that for 50 years we have not gotten, we are saying it should not have taken an election for this to happen.”
Browne also criticized the management of local health facilities, specifically the Glanvilles Polyclinic. He alleged that the facility sat idle for two years, deteriorating to the point where it was occupied by livestock before public pressure forced it to open.
“We were the ones who had to picket to make sure that the clinic… which became a den for goats who were living there like crazy – we had to picket to have that open,” he said.
He is now advocating for 24-hour service at the clinic, noting that other districts are receiving expanded hours while Glanvilles facility remains overlooked.
The UPP candidate pledged to reform the process for acquiring land and housing, arguing that the current system is overly dependent on political patronage.
“If for whatever reason the minister knows that you’re supporting somebody else… he can deny you that access,” Browne explained. “I have established places that people can go to make sure that if you want to have land, you want to have housing, you can go in, present your credentials, and the process starts there. Not to check no minister.”
Looking toward a long-term economic strategy, Browne proposed public-private partnerships to provide free Internet access in community spaces and the development of the Rupert Philo Cultural Center.
“The Internet age right now, if you’re not into AI, it’s like you’re being left behind,” Browne remarked. “We want to make sure that we are the person driving that… to make sure that Antigua and Barbuda don’t only have jobs, but are the creators of jobs at the top of the food chain.”
Meanwhile, Browne categorically dismissed rumors of internal party division, stating the UPP is “100 percent” behind his bid for the seat.
The by-election, which sees Browne facing off against the ABLP’s Randy Baltimore, takes place on
Monday, March 16.
