Political Leader Harold Lovell has advised the Leadership of the United Progressive Party (UPP) of his retirement from the position, effective January 20, following the General Election of January 18. He is succeeded by Deputy Political Leader Jamale Pringle.
While the team he captained captured six (6) seats at the polls, Lovell missed out – by six votes – on retaking the City East seat that had sent him to the House of Representatives in 2004 and 2009.
Although he is retiring as Political Leader, Lovell will remain active with the Party, mainly in the role of advisor to the Executive and the incoming Parliamentarians.
“It’s a new day; a new era,” Lovell says, “and the team deserves a fresh start. The UPP is in a very strong position now, the best since 2009, and this is a good time for me to step down. I know that Brother Pringle is more than capable of leading the Party and he enjoys my committed support,” the outgoing leader adds.
Lovell was elected Political Leader at the Party’s 2015 Convention and has been the force behind the rebuilding of the UPP since it lost office in 2014.
During his ten years in Government, he distinguished himself as the Minister of Tourism in his first term; and, as Minister of Finance & the Economy, in his second term, his was the steady hand that successfully steered the country through the Global Financial Crisis.
His service to the Party and the country will be celebrated later this year at the UPP Convention. In the meantime, on behalf of the Executive and Membership of the United Progressive Party, the Leadership puts on record its sincere love, deep appreciation and great respect for this statesman, intellectual and patriot: Harold Lovell.
