Wickham Believes – By Deslyn A Joseph
Wickham Believes Should Seize
Regional pollster and political analyst Peter Wickham is advising Prime Minister Gaston Browne to consider calling a snap general election to capitalize on what he describes as significant momentum for the Antigua Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP).
The recommendation comes as Randy Baltimore has been elected as the new Member of Parliament for St. Philip North after a clear win in Monday’s by-election. He secured the seat with 924 votes, defeating the United Progressive Party’s (UPP’s) Alex Browne, who received 406.
Wickham argues that the current political climate presents a unique opportunity for the governing party, noting that the UPP is currently at its weakest point and remains on the back foot. He suggests that as the administration moves toward a potential fourth term, there will be few opportunities as attractive as the present for the ABLP to secure its position.
The analyst also addressed the leadership of Jamale Pringle, suggesting that the honourable thing to do in a Westminster system following such defeats is to offer a resignation. Wickham pointed to a series of failures under Pringle’s tenure, including the loss of the St. Peter’s constituency, the departure of various candidates, and statements from party members indicating they would not return to the fold under the current leadership.
“The party should be given the opportunity to decide in a special conference whether to stick with the current leadership or move on, especially with other candidates waiting in the wings,” he stated.
Sharing the concern for the opposition’s future, former UPP parliamentarian and government minister Bertrand Joseph described the party’s current state as a major cause for concern. Joseph highlighted a visible struggle to mobilize supporters on the ground, questioning how the party can expect local confidence if it cannot show strength during its own activities.
“When a party can hardly get people to mobilize in a constituency to bring their support to bear, the people in those areas begin to wonder why they should put in the effort themselves,” he noted.
Wickham concluded that if a leadership vacuum is created within the UPP, it would provide a unique political opportunity for the ABLP to see through its agenda with minimal opposition.
