New ALP Leader By November?

Details

Politics

Wednesday, 06 June 2012 02:30

By Everton Barnes

Antigua St John's - There are growing suggestions that the opposition Antigua Labour Party (ALP) will have a new political leader by November when it convenes a major convention.

ALP Chairman Gaston Browne said that November 25 has been set aside as the tentative date for a convention to select a new executive for the party and that it is more than likely that the convention will also be asked to select a new political leader.

“Our party constitution provides for biennial conventions and we have not had one since 2009, so one is long overdue. Along with the selection of new officers, the convention will also confirm the ALP’s slate of candidates who will contest the 2014 general elections,” he announced.

Browne said there are plans to stage a number of events leading up to the convention, which he anticipates will be an important gathering of party faithful.

“Our first effort will be a retreat on July 1st when executive members and other leaders will meet to regroup and to plan the way forward. Clearly, we have had issues of divisions among our ranks and this retreat will give us an opportunity to begin the process of rebuilding and recommitting ourselves to the work of labour. It will also give us an opportunity to ready ourselves to take over the leadership of the country,” he declared.

The party official said following the retreat there will be a series of public rallies and town hall meetings during which the party will begin to lay out its platform for the elections and beyond.

“Immediately after Carnival, we will launch a registration drive along with our other activities as we rev up the Big Red Machine that will take us into the convention,” the ALP chairman stated.

Browne did not say but some party sources were unsure whether or not current ALP Political Leader Lester Bird will offer himself as leader. Others suggest that following the debacle over the failed attempt to move a motion of No Confidence in Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer, Bird may use this opportunity to gracefully bow out as leader.

Browne did say that his preference is for a convention devoid of rancor where a new leader will take the helm in an atmosphere similar to that of a coronation rather than to have a bitter fight on the convention floor.

• < Prev
• Next >