ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, May 18 2015 – Former finance minister Harold Lovell was elected leader of the main opposition United Progressive Party (UPP) vowing to return the party to government in 2019.
Lovell replaced former prime minister Baldwin Spencer who has led the party since its inception.
The former finance minister polled 291 votes as against 13 for his lone challenger, Eleston “Namba” Adams, during the closed door event on Sunday night.
“The road to 2019 has begun,” Lovell told supporters. His deputy is the former education minister, Dr. Jacqui Quinn-Leandro.
In his address to the party, Spencer called for an end to the “bickering” to bring about unity as the party seeks to regain political power in Antigua and Barbuda.
“While there has been unfortunate divisiveness and too much public wrangling in the past few months you need to heal. We must heal and I have no doubt that we will because this party is bigger than anyone.
“We must begin to change the conversation,” Spencer told supporters.
Lovell has said he will ensure that the party remains united and with the leadership race now completed he will now be able to “take the fight to the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party”.
(Photo courtesy C Major Productions)
