By Robert Andre Emmanuel
In the wake of Dr Edmond Mansoor’s resignation from the United Progressive Party (UPP), two political analysts are urging for a serious self-reflection within the halls of the main opposition party.
Political analysts Stafford Lewis and Dwyer Astaphan shared their views on the latest political development as party members are discussing the UPP’s internal dynamics.
Lewis, speaking to our newsroom, emphasised the critical need for introspection within the UPP.
“It has been a process of introspection for me, and it is something which I hope that the current leadership of the United Progressive Party has been doing and will continue to do,” Lewis stated.
Dr Mansoor spent decades supporting the United Progressive Party, serving as Minister of State with responsibility for Telecommunications, Science and Information Technology under the Baldwin Spencer administration and as a senior campaign official.
Lewis said that this highlighted for him that the defection from the party could not be as simple as a financial move and stressed that this self-examination should extend to the highest levels of the party.
“I would hope that the chairperson is … doing some introspection and I hope that the leader, too, would be doing the same thing because we didn’t get here overnight,” he said.
Lewis said that the party should assess whether the latest move could impact how the public views its handling of differing views within its top brass, arguing that “leadership has dug in, held its position, and anyone else who comes with any alternative ideas or suggestions they are just brushed aside and not valued”.
Other high-profile resignations Dr Cleon Athill and All Saints West MP Anthony Smith Jr with members of the party’s youth arm all leaving their executive roles, citing feeling disrespected by the party leadership.
Meanwhile, Astaphan said that there are three questions that must asked when someone would feel the need to leave the party: “what are they going for…what are they going to…and what are they running away from?
“What are they going for—is it for personal reasons, personal aggrandisement, whether material, social, political or otherwise,
“What are they going to—are you going to a better philosophy, are you going to an organisation that is better organised, are you going to an organisation that can provide better service and results to the country?
“Are you going to an organisation that stands a better chance of providing the administrative infrastructure for the country and an organisation through which you believe your principles, your goals, your aspirations can be realised, or better realised?
“And the third question is what are you running from? Are you running from an organisation in which there’s a lot of personality toxicity? Are you running from an organisation which has poor leadership and cannot deliver what the other organization can?” Astaphan said.
Lewis said he was saddened that there are few alternatives for persons who wish to stay involved in political policy but no longer feel respected within the UPP than to join the ABLP.
Astaphan called for a more scientific approach to addressing the party’s challenges, emphasising the importance of following the data on its next steps.
“What they have to do is to do some scientific polling, they have to do some introspection to have some very serious conversations internally,” Astaphan advised.
He also stressed the need for objectivity and professional guidance. “I would strongly suggest that it invites outside objective, independent scientific, knowledgeable personnel to help direct it on a stronger footing.”
Both analysts cautioned against dwelling on past grievances as Astaphan advised that “in the difficulties that the UPP will endure right now, one of the things that it ought not do is ventilate any bitterness towards those who left.”
Lewis echoed this sentiment, urging the party to focus on the future. “Looking back all the time is going to get you into trouble going forward, so they really need a clinic,” he suggested.
The analysts also emphasised that the UPP’s internal issues have implications beyond the party itself.
Astaphan warned that “this is a very, very serious situation for governance, for politics, for democracy in Antigua and Barbuda”.
Lewis concurred, noting the importance of a strong opposition. “If you’re really serious about building an institution which is going to move forward and retake power for all of the situations that exist where we know that they’re questionable decisions that are being made and we really want to see a change in Antigua and Barbuda at the leadership level, then you have to make sure that your house is in order,” he advised.
