Winston Henry Steps Away from UPP, Urges Party to Address Internal Division–
In a candid letter addressed to Senator Shawn Nicholas, General Secretary of the United Progressive Party (UPP), Winston Henry, a long-time member and former chair of the party’s Rural East Branch, announced his decision to step away from the UPP.
After more than two decades of service, Henry expressed concerns about the growing internal divisions and the perceived failure of the party leadership to address them.
Henry, who served the party in various roles over the past 23 years, including as Public Relations and Mobilization Officer, emphasized that the party had once been a space for open discussions and varying opinions.
He noted, however, that recent months have seen a shift toward intolerance, leading to factions and a divisive “us versus them” mentality. Henry called out the leadership for not taking steps to unite the party after its convention, contributing to what he describes as a decline in public confidence in the UPP’s ability to govern.
Despite stepping away from active participation, Henry reassured that his commitment to the party’s principles and its candidates remains unchanged.
He intends to pursue a new path as a political commentator, where he feels he can speak more freely and offer an honest assessment of political matters, including issues within the UPP itself.
In his letter, Henry also made several recommendations for the party’s leadership, including conducting a comprehensive assessment of the party’s standing with the public, creating a “truth commission” to assess grassroots opinions, and fostering more open communication among Members of Parliament.
