The Political Leader, Harold Lovell, and the Leadership Group of the United Progressive Party (UPP) are pleased to present the first four members of the Party’s slate to contest the next General Elections.
After a comprehensive process of applications and vetting, including interviews and endorsements, these four have been approved to carry the Party’s flag in their constituencies.
Alex Brown – St. Phillip’s North Michael Burton – St. John’s City South
Richard Lewis – St. John’s Rural West Alister Thomas – St. John’s City West
The Leadership thanks the Branches, Membership, Supporters and the wider public for their patience. It was our intention to begin the roll-out of candidates since the end of the first quarter of the year, i.e., in March 2020.
However, as the Country – understandably so – was engaged with handling the COVID-19 crisis, it was agreed that a delay was in order.
The ensuing State of Emergency – with its imposition of curfew hours; prohibition of gatherings; and social-distancing requirements – meant that the Party’s usual procedures could not be implemented, and that adjustments had to be made to the timelines. However, another four Candidates will be named during the week of June 22, 2020.
ALEX BROWNE, St. Phillip’s North
An “East Man” through and through, Alex Browne was born and raised in the village of Willikies; was educated at Willikies Primary School; and, later, as an educator, spent three years teaching there. His secondary years were spent at Pares Secondary School, from which he graduated, and then he pursued higher education at the Antigua State College.
After he left teaching, Alex decided to pursue a career in the hospitality industry, the lifeblood of the Antigua & Barbuda economy, for which he had the perfect personality.
After completing a two-year Management Trainee Program at the Pineapple Beach Resort, Alex climbed steadily and was appointed to several Executive Management positions. These included Rooms Division Manager, Food & Beverage Manager, and Resort Manager. His career took him to other Caribbean islands and properties, where he also held senior management positions.
However, his love for country and, in particular, the Food & Beverage Department brought him back home, and he took up positions as General Manager for both the fine-dining Pavilion Restaurant and the Sticky Wicket Restaurant.
After the collapse of the Stanford Group (which owned these two establishments), Alex returned to the hotel industry, full-time, at the Jolly Beach Resort. Since then, he has held several positions – Maitre’d, Training & Standards Manager, Food & Beverage Manager, and Resident Manager, the position he currently holds.
Alex is involved in several organizations whose main goals are giving back to the Community and Nation on a whole. He is a founding member of the The Sons and Daughters of Willikies, as well as a past President of the Glanvilles Football Club, Willikies Football Club, and the Willikies 4H Club.
In addition, he is a director of the Antigua and Barbuda Cricket Association and of the Antigua Hotels and Tourist Association (A&HTA).
But he is not all work and no play, because Alex is also an avid songwriter and playwright.
A person who can be depended upon to serve the St. Phillip’s North Constituency and his country, Alex Browne has a genuine love for people and a love for the progress the UPP represents.
MICHAEL BURTON, St. John’s City South
Michael Burton’s roots are deeply embedded in the soil of his constituency, starting at his primary institution, the venerable Foundation Mixed School on South and Tanner Streets.
From there, he went across Independence Avenue (East Street) to the St. Joseph’s Academy, before going abroad to further his education.
“Burton for Certain,” as he likes to be known, attended South Broward High School in Florida; South College in Tennessee; and Alabama State University, earning a BSc. in Business Administration.
In addition, Burton has completed certificate courses in Accounts, Executive Leadership, and People Management.
His keen interest in the Royal Police Force of Antigua & Barbuda no doubt stems from his service in the US Army during peace time and active war. He served at Fort Benning, Georgia, with the Infantry 11B regiment; at Fort Lee, Virgina, with Logistical Supplies, 92A; at Camp Casey, in South Korea; and at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, 101st Airborne, and was deployed to the conflicts in Kuwait and Iraq.
Burton received certification in Air Assault; Experts Infantry (EIB); Combat Infantry (CIB); and Leadership in Combat, proven records of his national and international service.
In his civilian life, he has served as PTA President of St. Joseph’s Academy and provides yearly sponsorship of the Teacher of the Year and the Top Student at the Mary E. Piggot Primary School and to the St. Vincent de Paul Society of the Catholic Church.
In his efforts to improve and upgrade the professionalism and image of local law-enforcement, Burton has donated electronic equipment (laptops , tablets, flash drives) to the Police Force and drafted proposals for prison-reformation and work programs and assistance to under-privileged youth.
Burton, whose business sits in the middle of the Ovals commercial centre, intends to represent his St. John’s City South constituents with the same zeal and honour with which he served the United States Army.
RICHARD S. LEWIS, St. John’s Rural West
No stranger to politics, Richard Lewis represented the Party in the 2018 elections after 13 dedicated years as Chairman of the Constituency Branch. He is currently the Senate Minority Leader in Parliament, as well as a community and social activist.
For four years, Lewis held the position of Vice Chair of the UPP; was Labour Relations Officer for two years; and is credited with updating the Party’s Constitution as a member of the Constitution Review Committee.
A trained teacher, Lewis taught for 22 years – at the University of Technology (Jamaica); the University of the West Indies School of Continuing Studies, here at home; and in the secondary schools.
In addition, he held office in a number of organizations, including the Teachers Union; the Information Technology Teachers Association; the National Advisory Council on Education; and the Antigua & Barbuda Student Association (Jamaica).
Lewis is an Information Technology Specialist who put his considerable experience to work in the Ministry of Education as a former Assistant Director. As Director of the Education Management Information System, he created the first EMIS in local schools, and is the co-author of an Information Technology textbook used at the secondary level.
As an IT Management Consultant, Lewis has been a member of the Association of
Computing Machinery (ACM) since 2001 and of the Institute of Electrical & Electronic
Engineers, Inc. (IEEE) since 2002.
But Senator Lewis is positioned not only to define education and shape IT policies; he is qualified to be a game-changer for the youth, as well. He served the Young Men’s
Christian Association (Antigua) and the Christian Children Fund and Project
Lifestyle (Antigua & Barbuda), and was listed on the Ministry of Sports’ National Honour Roll for his contribution to sports.
In terms of business acumen, Lewis spent nine years as a Director of the Antigua and Barbuda Development Bank and five years on the Board of the National Training
Agency.
A distinguished scholar, this Green Bay Primary and Ottos Comprehensive alumnus went on to become Valedictorian of his Antigua State College graduating class.
Lewis, who is an OAS Fellow, holds a Master of Science degree, summa cum laude, in
Management Information Systems from the Graduate School of Computer and
Information Sciences, Nova Southeastern University, Florida, and a BSc. (double major) in Computer and Management Studies (First Class Honours) from the
University of Technology (Jamaica), where he was awarded the President’s Gold Medal for outstanding academic achievement.
He also holds diplomas in Accounting, Fitness & Nutrition, and Photography.
As multi-talented as the constituents of St. John’s Rural West, Senator Lewis is determined to bring representation back to the community he calls home.
ALISTER THOMAS, St. John’s City West
For both his contributions to culture and Carnival and to socio-political issues, Alister Thomas is a household name in Antigua & Barbuda.
Born and raised in The Point, when it was the nexus of social, economic and political life, Thomas has a wealth of information on, and a passion for, the elevation of cultural expression in art, music, and Mas’, as well as for the economic empowerment of citizens.
His professional appointments in culture include:
- Assistant Director of Culture
- Cultural Consultant to the Barbuda Council
- Chairman of the Sir V.C. Bird Centennial Committee, December 2009
- Chairman of the 60th Carnival Celebration Award Committee, August 2017
- Designer Instructor National Handicraft Centre – Government of Antigua & Barbuda and UNESCO
And specifically in the arena of Carnival, his contributions are:
- Chief Executive Officer & Designer – Ali & Associates (43 years)
- Master Costume Designer, Fabricator, and Lapidarist
- Founder and first President of the Antigua & Barbuda National Mas’ Makers Association
For his contributions in all these areas of national life, “Alister,” as he is fondly called, was recognized with a National Honour: Grand Officer of the Most Precious Order of Princely Heritage (GCH) on the 25th Anniversary of Independence, November 2006.
Thomas has served The People in other diverse and important capacities that include:
- Information Commissioner of Antigua & Barbuda (2 terms/6 years)
- Founding Executive Member of the Caribbean Information Commissioners Network
- Lecturer in Black/African/Caribbean History and Geopolitics
- Founding Member and President of the National Parent Teachers Association
- Geopolitics – Host of Caribbean into the 21st Century, a ZDK Radio program, for over 25 years
- Founder and Coordinator of the First National Softball Cricket League
- First Public Relations Officer of the United Progressive Party (UPP)
To all of these assignments and positions, Alister brought his formidable intellect, energies, and commitment to excellence. The United Progessive Party is confident he will go even further in the interest of the St. John’s City West Constituency.