REAL NEWS: The United Progressive Party (UPP) is extremely proud to acknowledge and celebrate its 30th Anniversary in this month of April 2023.
The UPP enjoys the distinction of being the only political party to have survived against the monolithic Antigua Labour Party (ALP) – and gone on to take and hold the reins of Government for 10 successive years.
“This is a feat of which all members, supporters, friends and well-wishers ought to be extremely proud,” says Dr. W. Baldwin Spencer, Founding Member, former Political Leader and past Prime Minister.Formed in 1993 out of an amalgamation of three political parties – the PLM, the UNDP, and the ACLM – the UPP first contested General Elections in 1994, and, a decade later, came to office in a convincing defeat of the ALP, led by Lester Bird.
It ushered in a period of good governance and transparency described as “Government in the Sunshine,” and it ushered in several programmes that supported its “People First” mantra; innovative solutions to age-old problems; and legislation that held politicians accountable to the people.
Starting today, Wednesday, April 26, the Party will trace its 30-year journey to the present, highlighting its many achievements; paying tribute to those who built and continue to build the institution; and celebrating the light it brought into thousands and thousands of lives.Today, on Progressive 107.3 FM, from 10 a.m. to 12 noon, several members will look back at the early years – the founders, the influencers, and the officers of the Party; pay tribute to those who have gone on to glory, including Sir George Walter; Dr. Ivor Heath; Leonard “Tim” Hector; Charlesworth Samuel; and Frankie Nunes; discuss the roles played by the Youth Arm and the Women’s League; recall pickets, protests and marches; analyze the political and social forces that propelled the UPP in 2004; and examine the contributions of Observer Radio, Crusader Radio, and the Church in the political fight.This discussion will feature Gatesworth James; Gregory Walter, Senior; and Alister Thomas, and will be hosted by Dame D.Gisele Isaac.
Later today, Wednesday, at 12:30 p.m., on Observer Radio, Founding Member and former Minister of Agriculture Hilson “Brother B” Baptiste and Senate Minority Leader Shawn Nicholas will join the hosts of Voice of the People, Paul Quinn and Franz deFreitas, to continue the review of the UPP’s three decades.
