Regional political analyst Dwyer Astaphan has criticised the United Progressive Party’s (UPP’s) preparedness for the upcoming St Peter by-election, highlighting fundamental concerns about the opposition’s strategic approach and organizational readiness.

“Awareness and preparedness are two different things,” Astaphan emphasized during Observer media’s Big Issues on Sunday. “You could be aware that a house is on fire, but you’re not prepared to put it out if you don’t have the tools.”

The by-election, called following the passing of Independent parliamentarian Asot Michael, presents a test for the two main political parties but Astaphan suggested that this would be more testing for the UPP which faces a particular challenge in mounting an effective campaign.

“I am not feeling the energy from the UPP,” Astaphan stated, “When a party is selecting a leader, the party has to look beyond the boundaries of the party. The party has to elect somebody who can be embraced nationally by all stakeholder groups and who is seen as a logical, acceptable alternative to the incumbent Prime Minister.”

Astaphan noted that while the UPP’s victory in the upcoming by-election remained possible, it would require exceptional effort.

Earlier, the UPP Political Leader Jamale Pringle had announced that the party was readying itself to name a slate of candidates in October who will contest the next general elections, but to date, there has been no official announcement from the party about the candidates.

Meanwhile, the UPP has named its Mobilization Officer, George Wehner, as its candidate to contest the St Peter by-election next month.

However, the timing of the UPP’s candidate announcement also drew scrutiny, with Astaphan suggesting an earlier announcement of a candidate could have proven beneficial to the party, having known of the mandatory 120-day timeline for the by-election.

“The UPP candidate for this by-election ought to have been on the ground, patrolling it day and night, chipping away. This is retail politics. You have to go in there and get the people’s confidence and their faith and trust.”

Over the weekend, the UPP’s Chairman D Gisele Isaac defended the party, stating that there was “constitutional housekeeping” that had to be dealt with.

Astaphan said that while the opposition party had strong momentum coming out of the 2023 general elections, recent defections and party infighting have effectively weakened its position in the minds of the public.

“The UPP has experienced what one might characterise as a haemorrhage … but it is a party that is limping, not at its full energy, as it might have been in January 2023,” Astaphan noted.