Analyst dismisses UPP boycott as ‘opposition theatrics’

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Political analyst Peter Wickham has dismissed a planned opposition United Progressive Party (UPP) boycott of the Budget Presentation as “opposition theatrics” and suggested the party would do better to focus on making its case in the Budget Debate.

“I am not quite sure what it is intended to achieve. I guess to call more attention to the issues. But the Budget Debate is the opportunity for the opposition to raise these issues and fully ventilate them. They have equal time and they can raise all of the issues of concern to them in the Budget debate and in their response,” Wickham said.

The Budget Speech will be delivered on Friday by Prime Minister and Finance Minister Gaston Browne, and will be followed by a Budget debate.

Wickham said the debate gives the UPP ample opportunity to raise issues of concern.

“To on top of that add a protest and avoid the actual Budget speech, which is basically the kernel of the whole exercise, seems to me to be a bit theatrical. I don’t know that it will achieve anything. I also don’t think it will detract or make a huge difference to the vast majority of Antiguans and Barbudans and I don’t think it helps to highlight the case of the opposition that much more,” Wickham declared.

UPP Political Leader Harold Lovell has refused to give the Antigua & Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) administration credit for doing anything positive for the country in its two and a half years in office to date.

Political Leader of the United Progressive Party (UPP) Harold Lovell

“The United Progressive Party has taken the decision and we stand by the position that this administration has done absolutely nothing for the people of Antigua and Barbuda. We have received nothing but hot air for the past two and a half years,” Lovell said.

More in today’s Daily Observer.

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