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Politics
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Thursday, 16 August 2012 02:31
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By press release
Antigua St. John's - Former Prime Minister Lester Bird has refused to budge as political leader of the main opposition Antigua Labour Party despite attempts by his parliamentary colleagues to force him to step down.
Bird issued a strongly worded statement on Wednesday stating he has not been included in any discussion on the matter.
The Leader of the Opposition made it clear he would not be part of any such conspiracy or plot and warned of the effect such a move could have on the party ahead of the next general election, constitutionally due in 2014.
The following is the full text of the statement issued by the Leader of the Opposition:
Bird’s Media Statement I have read a story appearing today, Wednesday, August 15, 2012, on the CARIBARENA Website which purports to convey from “a reliable source” a plot by several elected members of the Antigua & Barbuda Labour Party (ALP) to displace me as the Opposition Leader.
According to the CARIBARENA article, captioned “LESTER TO BE ASKED TO STEP DOWN”, I would be asked to remain Political Leader of the ALP, and some other ALP parliamentarian would become Leader of the Opposition in Parliament.
There has been no such discussion with me, and I would not agree to any such arrangement. The Constitution of the ALP at Section 8.9.1.1 commands that “The Political Leader of the Party shall serve as the parliamentary leader…and [be] the person entitled to head any government formed by the Party…”
As the Leader of the ALP, I intend to exercise the duties and functions which the Constitution compels. I shall not conspire to weaken and to destroy my Party at any time, and certainly would refrain from any self-serving act less than 600 days before general elections are constitutionally due. The ALP is larger than any one member.
One of the reasons prompting this un-constitutional plan, which the CARIBARENA article cites, is my absence from the Parliament’s Chambers on Friday, August 20, 2012, during the OECS Assembly. Independence Anniversary celebrations, which many of us have not attended, are another of the events mentioned as the rationale for the unconstitutional act that is supposedly contemplated.
I did not intend to boycott the OECS Assembly, as several journalists have wrongly accused, and I did not boycott the Friday Assembly. My commitment to regional integration, both as Head of Government and as Leader of the Opposition, is without question. On June 18, 1981, I lent my signature to the organic document which created the OECS. My OECS “Thorn Bird” speech, has acted as my guide in regional integration, and still remains relevant today, years following its delivery.
Former Prime Minister Kennedy Simmonds and I, prior to Friday, did indeed express feeling slighted by the program executed last Friday which excluded completely those founding OECS Heads and Plenipotentiaries who are still alive today. I nevertheless published a statement last Friday, carried by CARIBARENA, which celebrated the coming into being of the OECS Assembly and repeating my commitment to regionalism.
There had been some discussion, more than two weeks ago, involving Opposition Leaders, regarding the possibility of having me deliver a statement on behalf of Opposition Leaders, last Friday. I spoke with the OECS Director General, Dr. Len Ishmael, indicating that an inflamed back would cause me to have to sit, should I be a spokesperson.
Nonetheless, because the host Prime Minister was sure to speak, one Opposition Leader insisted that his preference exclude Antigua & Barbuda’s Leader of the Opposition. He reasoned that Antigua & Barbuda would appear too dominant, if both the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition spoke at Friday’s Inaugural Assembly. Not wanting to have the Assembly start on a contentious footing, I agreed that Antigua & Barbuda support that other Leader.
The question of sitting for an extended period was not very attractive, on Friday, August 20, 2012, since my back was inflamed and I could not stand for long periods on that day. Some days are better than others, since the operation on my back several months ago.
I chose, therefore, not to make an appearance on Friday, not to cause the Assembly to be off to a contentious start, and not to allow any flawed planning to guide my decision-making. It is surprising to learn that my selflessness could be interpreted as an act deserving of a pernicious and unconstitutional plot.
The ALP is facing a fierce and non-performing United Progressive Party (UPP) Government that has shown a willingness to gerrymander the boundaries of the constituencies in order to engineer an unwarranted victory. For the UPP to name as Head of the Boundaries Commission and Head of the Electoral Commission, men who seem to act on the instructions of Government, contrary to the law and the oath which each took on accepting the posts, is reason enough for the people to elect the ALP to govern.
The UPP has demonstrated that it does not intend to abide by internationally-accepted electioneering standards. It has failed to publish and to bring to Parliament the guidelines that are to be followed by the Boundaries Commission, and it has used the Parliament to weaken and compromise the Electoral Commission. It is the same UPP administration that unlawfully removed Sir Gerald Watt from the Electoral Commission and has stripped the Supervisor of Elections of her duties and responsibilities.
The battles which I continue to lead, in the courts, in the councils of the ALP, in the parliament and elsewhere, have caused countless electors to encourage me to carry forward this fight against this regime that does not respect the law. My leadership is unassailable, and I intend to continue to lead this Party for as long as my health lasts.
Conspiracies and plots that are intended to cause unconstitutional displacement of the duly elected leader are not to be entertained. The ALP will continue to lead the struggle against those who may place their personal ambitions ahead of the interest of the people of Antigua & Barbuda, as exhibited by Mr. Baldwin Spencer and other UPP politicians. The ALP will continue to strengthen its work in favour of the Antigua & Barbuda nation, and will not relent in its defence and rescue of Antigua & Barbuda from a rapacious and non-performing UPP.
59 Comments In This Article
@ Antiguan Woman, "is you is..."
Jumbee Picknee
@JUMBY PICNEY
ANTIGUAN WOMAN
@Jimmy( poverty is the mother of crime(marcus Aurelius)
Antiguan Woman
Vote for Me!
You will need to take a pencil and write me in because I have no money to hang up posters and Billboards. I am independent and since I have taken no monies I don't owe any favors.
JP Farnsworth
RE: Bird Refuses to Resign
Daughter of the Soil
@Daughter of the Soil
Dig It
LB - Give it up
Lively
@ Antiguan Woman
There parents had less positive choices to offer their children, unlike those wive's, servants, secretaries of the xxxds who made sure they got a diplomatic pass, rather than a pass to the street corner or the jail. WHO'RE YOU, to classify those that gave you and the Birds there nest in such vile manner. WHO'RE YOU?
Jumbee Picknee
@ ANTIGUAN WOMAN
You are so self serving! How insulting! You are doing Lester more harm than good by your senseless posts! Your last post really shows how you think! The rest of us are less than you and Lester? How amazing and to think that V. C. Bird, father of the nation, was such a humble man...then again he was born here...unlike you and Lester!
Jimmy
RE: Bird Refuses to Resign
A WORD TO THE WISE
Jimmy
ANTIGUAN WOMAN
RE: Bird Refuses to Resign
Daughter of the Soil
@ ANTIGUAN WOMAN
Lester said he would release his medical records since last year...nothing!
What he is doing now is setting his "goons" after anyone who questions his ability to lead the Party! He is encouraging the Party to tear itself apart - just to satisfy his own selfish plan...and of course to help keep sycophants like you at the trough too!
His present machinations are bringing into question his capability to reason!
Jimmy
@HC
It Is Me
@HC
It Is Me
RE- It is me
HC
@Observer overseas/Jimmy
ANTIGUAN WOMAN
Lester Lester Lester!!!
But it's not just Lester Bird we need to watch we need to get rid of Baldwin Spencer as well. These times are technologically driven and we need leaders who are up to par with technology ... not ancient dinosaurs who don't even know how to use I-Pads etc...
Lester Bird is making it diffucult for both his party and his constituency right now. He clearly can't help neither in his condition ,,, and it might cost them both the seat and the general elections.
His supporters keep talking about LBJ and other leaders who were wheelchair bound etc... but fact is LBJ was much younger and he was never voted out and neither did he loose 2 consecutive elections like Lester did.
But we can't put all the blame on Lester ... if he has nobody able to challenge him what do you expect him to do?
Lester should become Chairman of the party and just help them win the next election!!! Time to move on!!! Time to write books and go on the lecture tour mr Bird!!!
It Is Me
RE: Bird Refuses to Resign
Truth
RE: Bird Refuses to Resign
Shame
RE: Bird Refuses to Resign
Antigua to de bone
RE: Bird Refuses to Resign
SlyThatGuy
OBSERVER -back problems is the hardest to get over
Back trouble
RE: Bird Refuses to Resign
TC
RE: Bird Refuses to Resign
ANTIGUAN WOMAN
RE: Bird Refuses to Resign
Eric
@ Lester!
I coming down to talk to you! They say Hurst xxxxxxng your speeches dem (like wrong date)!
I coming down to talk to you! They say Hurst want Maulwyn to replace you!
I coming down to talk to you! They say even your old buddie Sir Sir want you thrown over board!
I coming down to talk to you! They say Jimmy bad mouth you every where - except when he in front of you!
I coming down to talk to you! They say xort will fund your campaign in 2014!
Obstinate
@ ANTIGUAN WOMAN
Jimmy
ANTIGUAN WOMAN
..
tenman
Antiguan Woman
You should note that FDR was 51 when he was elected president of the United States. Mr. Bird will be 76 by the next general election. And although many of us pretend that it does not, age matters. There comes a point when "more important things" such as ones family and health should take precedence over politics and power. And just one more thing, Lester Bird is no FDR. Not by a long shot!!
Observer Overseas
RE: Bird Refuses to Resign
smokie
RE: Bird Refuses to Resign
Rastaman
RE: Bird Refuses to Resign
ANTIGUAN WOMAN
Lester Won't Resign
I read in the article above that you recieved your information from caribarena news however, I hope and pray that you are reading all of the negative comments about you not wanting to quit. I haven't seen one coment supporting you! Please reconsider and install Gaston NOW.
A-Political
@Tenman
Dig It
RE: Bird Refuses to Resign
Cool Ruler
DiGIt - Bird digs a deeper grave
DigIt our own (ANU) constitution states the person who the GG feels has the support of the majority of opposition members is made leader of the opp in parliament. If what MP Bird suggests of the ALP constitution is true, then after the 2004 election he (MP Bird) should never have been political leader of the ALP. The post should have gone to an elected MP selected by the party members which then made Bird an illegal leader. The argument at the time when Dr. Heat was replaced as leader of the UPP party is that he was not an elected MP and so the post fell to BS.
..
tenman
What have you done for me lately...Antigu a needs a Opposition?
Dig It
From Bad to Worse
As an Antiguan first, and an ALP supporter second, I will always put the nation before party. Antigua and Barbuda needs a vibrant ALP at this time to give all of us (Red, Blue and Undecided), the hope for a better tomorrow. The ALP must get its act together.
If Lester can't put the nation's and party's interest before his own ego then the ALP members of parliament must do the right thing and remove him. Lester should not be allowed to be the fiddler while Antigua burns.
ALP Supporter
RE: Bird Refuses to Resign
Vicnes
RE: Bird Refuses to Resign
UNITED STATES
Like Father Like Son
He would do well at this stage of his life to focus on his health and family. Mr. Bird, its time for fishing, golf and grandchildren
Observer Overseas
RE: Bird Refuses to Resign
Truth
Lester has to stay to protect xxxx!!
NO EASY WIN FOR LABOR..
If Labor happen to sweeze through with Lester ,xxxx is KING again! If Labor losses ,Lester,Robin ,Moywyn ,Benjimen, Gail,Max,ect will be finished. xxxx will then take over Labor with his puppet PM and Rule again!
Garrat.
RE: Bird Refuses to Resign
Anonymous
Bird refuses to resign
heavenhelpantigua
RE: Bird Refuses to Resign
His continuance will ensure once again the defeat of the ALP. The only good thing coming out of this is that the leader of the UPP, does not realize that he should call elections at the earliest and take advantage of the ALP in its weakened state.
R. Berry
RE: Bird Refuses to Resign
naiomi
RE: Bird Refuses to Resign
SlyThatGuy
@ Lester B
Jimmy
resolve
In my view Lester has made his contribution and should look to the good of his party and Country, he can make a larger statement by being the "elder statesman & tactician. If his back (and other ailments) cannot allow him to sit for periods of time now- he will be worse in 18 months time!
justin
RE: Bird Refuses to Resign
observer
RE: Bird Refuses to Resign
observer
RE: Bird Refuses to Resign
Herby
Bird na move
PLM
from my cold, dead hands
I have heard suggestions that the idea to remove bird as opposition leader in the house (not the party) is the brain child of MP Browne. Truth be known it was first publicly suggested via ZDK's morning program about 3 weeks ago, by James Tanny Rose. Rose argued the change was necessary because Bird could not fulfill the requirements of the office due to his health. I can't see Rose pushing the suggestion at the behest of MP Browse since both men have been at odds since the selection of T. Lake for the 2009 election.
..
tenman
RE: Bird Refuses to Resign
Audley Dave Joseph
lame
LB needs to really search himself, think for himself and realise that he cannot lead the Party, much less govern Antigua, through speeches!!!!!!!!!!
Let go already!!!!!!!! !!!!!! My gosh
honesty
Friday August 20, 2012
However, it is clear from the statements made in the letter by Mr. Bird, shows that he has his own agenda, and it is clearly NOT in the best interest of the Citizens of Our Nation, the Citizens of the OECS, or the ALP.
There's a sayimg, "once a man and twice a child."
He is behaving like a spoilt American brat/child which he is by birth, a man who has lost touch and cannot cope with the realities before him AND a child that needs a spanking. (A mental Spanking). Someone, who is close to him should give him that spanking, otherwise, to "spare the rod and spoil this child," will be disastrous for him. HE MIGHT END UP COUNTING LEAVES ON G**. Spare yourself the embara$$ment...
Jumbee Picknee
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