Chaku Says No Confidence Will Fail

Details

Politics

Friday, 04 May 2012 02:30

By Everton Barnes

Antigua St John's - Former chairman of the ruling United Progressive Party, Leon ‘Chaku’ Symister, says any No-Confidence motion tabled in the House of Representatives against the leadership of Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer and the UPP Government will fail.

Speaking in on a local radio broadcast, Symister also dismissed suggestions that there are divisions within the ruling party.

“There have been rumours about divisions within the UPP. I can tell you categorically, that there are no divisions in the UPP.

There are also rumours about No-Confidence vote coming in parliament. We are confident that a No- Confidence vote will fail,” he declared.

The former chairman also dismissed what he turned ‘rumours’ about possible early general elections. “There are rumours of early general elections. These are just that, rumours. The Antigua Labour Party has survived on a platform of rumours and it will continue to do so in order to make itself politically relevant,” he stated dismissively.

Symister also stated that the UPP is readying itself for a period of political activism starting with a public rally that took place yesterday night at Thwaites Corner and a town hall meeting planned for next week.

He said prior to the 2004 general elections that party had brought out its supporters on Labour Day, but since the call from the Trade Union Congress for a more labour-oriented set of activities to mark Labour Day, the party had reduced its involvement. However, he announced that this will change this year.

“We believe that we are in such trying times that it is time for the people to be told once again the challenges the government is facing and that Antigua and Barbuda is in safe hands in these challenging times under the leadership of Dr.
Baldwin Spencer,” he noted.

He added that the party is excited about returning to political activity. “We decreased our level of activity and we are now raising them again,” Symister said.

On the question of candidates for general elections constitutionally due in 2014, Symister said the process of candidate selection is just getting started and that no decision has been taken in that regard.

“Every political party in a modern society would look to reshape its policies, reshape its personnel, reshape its programme, and of course, as time goes by, some politicians would have to leave the stage and others emerge,” he explained.

However, he noted that the wheels for this process are now being oiled with no  definitive decision on candidates for the various constituencies.

He added that where incumbents exist, there can be challenges as the UPP is a democratic party, while in those areas with no incumbents, then the field is wide open. He said the preparation for the process (of selection) is currently in gear.

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