Veteran UPP Member Desmond Charles Resigns, citing Party Leadership and Direction.

Read letter below:

Dear Madam General Secretary,

I am writing to formally tender my resignation as a member of the United Progressive Party, effective immediately.

This is a decision born of painful clarity. I became a supporter of the UPP in 1990 and joined as a member in 1992. I joined the party of Baldwin Spencer, Wilmoth Daniel, and Harold Lovell at a time when sacrifice, tolerance, love, respect, and team play were the order of the day. I believed in those values to the extent that I gave up my own candidacy in St. George to help pave the way for Dr. Jacqui Quinn-Leandro to become our first female MP.

However, the UPP of today bears little resemblance to the party I joined back then. The current organization is plagued by self-centeredness, gross disrespect for long-standing members, a lack of strategic focus, and a profound inability to engage with people of differing views.

These shortcomings are fully on display in the divisive, destructive conduct of UPP Chairperson Gisele Isaac. Yet, to be fair to Ms. Isaac, she is only one of many in the UPP leadership who have presided over the party’s decline.

The Political Leader, Jamale Pringle, remains ultimately responsible for the continued leadership failures plaguing the party. He has shown no interest in maturing into his role or guiding the UPP on a positive path. His conduct is a disservice to both the party and the nation.

It is shocking to see a party which once cried, “Leadership Matters!” become comfortable with both the absence of effective leadership and total failure to present a credible alternative to the current government.

It therefore comes as no surprise that in recent polling on whom the country trusted more to lead, Prime Minister Gaston Browne outperformed Mr. Pringle by a margin of over 4 to 1.

I will never put party over country. I have always believed in that principle, and I remain guided by it today.

My decision to resign from the United Progressive Party reflects my conviction that I cannot continue to support an organization whose current direction and leadership no longer serve the best interests of Antigua and Barbuda.

I remain grateful for the many friendships and experiences gained during my years in the UPP. However, I can no longer associate myself with an organization that has lost its way so completely.

Sincerely,

….……………………………….

Desmond Charles