By Robert Andre Emmanuel
“A wise [leader] ought never to keep faith when by doing so it would be against his interests”— Niccolò Machiavelli.
The resignation of Anthony Smith Jr from the ranks of the United Progressive Party (UPP) has created an earthquake throughout the political landscape of Antigua and Barbuda.
In a move unseen by most, MP Smith—now serving in Parliament as an independent MP—will caucus with the government as a minister, surrounded by those he once derided in his campaign to political office.
The young businessman turned politician has caused questions to resurface about the leadership of the UPP after he sharply criticised party leaders for their handling of the leadership race. He stated that he felt he was marked for challenging current UPP Chairperson D Gisele Isaac and supporting Richard Lewis, as highlighted in a leaked endorsement letter signed by all UPP MPs (MP Sherfield Bowen and Senator Jonathan Joseph withdrew their names following internal party backlash).
Indeed, at the party’s convention in April, supporters of Jamale Pringle and Isaac were less than magnanimous in their celebrations, with one person going so far as ripping their shirt off their back and others jumping up and down like Carnival came early screaming “loyalty over royalty”.
That line became synonymous with the sentiments of most of the party seniority who rejected the bids of Lewis and Smith to leadership roles. The reasoning cited in the case of Smith was his youthfulness and his role as an MP.
The UPP’s response to the news of Smith’s departure came in a press release several hours after much of Antigua and Barbuda had already reacted to the news. And it did not sufficiently address any of the allegations made by MP Smith, only generally stating that they “recognise the distress it has caused to those who put their confidence and trust in MP Smith” and assuring members, supporters, and the constituents of All Saints West that it will “work assiduously to fill the gap created by MP Smith’s defection”.
Smith’s resignation letter stuck an eerily similar tone to former caretaker for St Paul Cleon Athill, who also attacked the party leadership style, going even further to attack the party for its lack of support for branches, mentality as members of the opposition and a “lack of philosophical grounding”.
For now, party supporters are left questioning what’s next and—more importantly—who is next, as they begin to question the motives of their own members.
Anthony Smith was seen with UPP supporters at last weekend’s small business pull-up and other events in St Philip’s North—in a show of support for the UPP’s Alex Browne.
How long has he thought about resigning and joining the government? What does this mean for the UPP? How was he induced into essentially crossing over, and what other reasons untold did he have for leaving? These would be some thoughts running through UPP member’ heads as they discuss the future of their party.
Meanwhile, the move is a coup for the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party as both parties seek the youth vote.
For much of the last decade, the ABLP political class has consisted of persons in their 60s, 70s, and 80s—Sir Robin Yearwood, Sir Steadroy Benjamin, Sir Molwyn Joseph, Charles Fernandez, Senator Mary Clare Hurst, Senator Osbert Fredrick, and Senator Philip Shoul.
However, the ABLP has more recently moved to selecting and electing younger candidates—whether they had much of a choice as many ministers said they were exiting Parliament at the end of this term is unknown—such as Senators Shenella Govia, Knacyntar Nedd, Rawdon Turner and Clement Antonio.
Even fellow UPP defector and Minister of State within the Ministry of Finance Senator Dwayne George and his predecessor Senator Caleb Gardiner were all appointed within the past 10 years to leadership positions within the ABLP.
From whatever remains of the Democratic National Alliance, Chaneil Imhoff—whom herself was a former UPP member— and Louis Rivera have officially joined the Labour Party ranks as young people with political ambition.
Regis Burton, Lamin Newton, Michael Joseph, and Randy Baltimore all represent a younger generation of the Labour Party.
And while the UPP can still count on Kelvin ‘Shugy’ Simon, Gladys Potter and Sowerby Gomes—who has shown an interest in running for St John’s City East—and even Jamale Pringle himself among others have all, in some shape, represented the youth vote, the Labour Party has been objectively more active in pushing its youth into top visible positions.
We know from the swearing-in that the ABLP party’s leadership are happy at their king’s gambit, their political chess move that few saw possible.
Expanding their Parliament majority by one, they have now more ability to hold parliamentary sittings and pass bills than they did on Monday morning when they had to rely on the good health of the St Philip’s North MP Sir Robin who is the oldest MP elected to Parliament.
But how has the Labour Party rank and file responded to this news? Another member of the UPP—Lamin Newton, Senator Dwayne George, Minister Melford Nicholas—who have all been welcomed with open arms and given seats of power.
Members of the ABLP have shown mostly positive responses to the joining of another passionate young person in politics, especially after Smith’s statements regarding his experiences in the UPP, sympathising with his desire to leave while remaining dedicated to his constituents.
Despite this optimism, there are some who have spoken out regarding what they view as newcomers being chosen over party stalwarts who have spent years supporting the ABLP, believing that a proving of their loyalty should be considered when appointing persons to higher positions within the party.
However, there has been a shortage of interest from the younger generation to align with a political party, leading to a more neutral, competence-focused youth vote.
But as we state all this, what does this say about the political futures of Lamin Newton and Regis Burton, both unseen at the swearing-in of Smith?
With Smith’s move, it effectively ends the run-off primary between the two men for the ABLP seat and although he is independent for now, it is unlikely the ABLP leadership would not have been promised to have him as their candidate for any upcoming general election.
Are Newton and Burton planning on running in another constituency or have they effectively been pushed out to make way for the newbie?
Now a Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries, Lands and the Blue Economy, Smith Jr occupies part of the roles originally handed to Maria Browne and Chet Greene and with the Prime Minister already signalling significant support in his constituency following Smith’s defection, one can expect changes within the constituency—though what it says about our governance structure is another matter.
On Tuesday July 16, the political landscape in Antigua and Barbuda changed and whether for Minister Anthony Smith Jr that change is good or spells trouble for his political future will only be judged by the constituents and voters who voted him in.
If the majority voted for him because of his party allegiance, would their sense of betrayal force them to kick him out in similar fashion to former MP Michael Browne who reportedly has sought the aerial thrill of piloting to escape the island?
But if they voted him in because they were more upset with the ABLP and said MP Michael Browne over his representation and anyone was better than the incumbent, then that is a different story.
How all parties in this story react and choose to act from today onward will determine how All Saints West voters move and that is not a simple analysis.
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