UPP ignored data predicting its defeat, says former advisor
by Tahna Weston tahna.weston@antiguaobserver.com The United Progressive Party (UPP) reportedly had its own data showing it would lose the general elections and ignored it. That is the claim of former diplomat Dr McChesney Emanuel, who served as an advisor to UPP leader Jamale Pringle. He said a poll he commissioned from Jamaican pollster Don Anderson, […]
Black News 
by Tahna Weston
tahna.weston@antiguaobserver.com
The United Progressive Party (UPP) reportedly had its own data showing it would lose the general elections and ignored it.
That is the claim of former diplomat Dr McChesney Emanuel, who served as an advisor to UPP leader Jamale Pringle. He said a poll he commissioned from Jamaican pollster Don Anderson, described as highly regarded, laid bare the party’s weaknesses well before election day on 30th April.
Dr Emanuel said the findings on two key areas stood out.
“And the poll did show that the UPP was really, really, in terms of its favorability was lagging far behind the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party.
“There were two issues that the respondents were actually focusing on apart from inflation and infrastructure. But regarding the parties themselves, the UPP, the issues of leadership and experience did actually bring through very high, 80% and 75% respectively. Comparing Jamale Pringle and Harold Lovell, Harold Lovell was leading by four points, 27 to 31,” Dr Emanuel said.
Armed with those results, Dr Emanuel said he took his concerns directly to Pringle and made a recommendation.
“I met with Jamale and I said, listen, I’m seeing this where Harold is four points ahead of you. And then when you look at the issue of leadership and experience, I said it may be a good idea for you to sit this one out, step aside and let Harold lead the party going forward. We may not win the election, but at least given the scientific results that I’m seeing, it may give the organisation a better chance of having a better showing,” the former diplomat said.
Pringle reportedly rejected the advice which prompted Dr Emanuel to resign from several branches of the party.
“Well, he disagreed, and his people decided they indicated that they were not prepared to have Jamale Pringle step aside. I decided to resign as his advisor. I resigned from the general council and also from the central executive, but I still continue to support the party, and I’m still a member of the United Progressive Party,” he said.
Dr Emanuel traced the root of the defeat to the division that erupted at the party’s convention two years ago between supporters of Pringle and those of Richard Lewis. He said the party never found a way to heal that split, and it ultimately cost them at the polls.
The Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party won 15 of the 17 seats in the House of Representatives during the general elections. The UPP and the Barbuda People’s Movement (BPM) each took one seat.
