May 22nd 2014 - The UPP has been hearing from unhappy ALP staff about the content of Labour's forthcoming manifesto, and we are surprised to hear that the Labour Party is following the UPP's leadership in a number of key policy areas.
The UPP has introduced numerous positive and transformative changes during our time in government. Labour now claim they will be supporting or "introducing" many of our existing programmes as their "new" ideas. In parliament, the ALP has always opposed UPP ideas, even when our plans had clear positive benefits for the people of this country, so it is strange that they are now promising to do things that the UPP is already doing.
A few examples:
The UPP has consistently supported our police, providing training and state-of-the-art equipment. The ALP is now saying the same thing, but claiming that this is an "original" idea. This also seems strange coming from the party of 'Cutie' Benjamin, who stated in parliament that policing would not be a priority for an ALP government.
The UPP has secured the future of LIAT's headquarters in Antigua, ensuring that Antiguans will keep their jobs. The ALP failed to read the news, however, and claim that they will do something that we have already achieved.
The UPP is building new medical clinics, expanding prescription services, and increasing opening hours. The ALP have again failed to do their research, and deny seeing the clinics and pharmacies that have already been opened in Cedar Grove, Bethesda and elsewhere. They claim that building new clinics is their idea.
The UPP will complete Antigua and Barbuda's new national library in 2014, but bizarrely the ALP are claiming that this achievement will be their idea despite the fact that Labour governments failed to rebuild the library during their almost 30 years in government.
Sources within the ALP tell us that their manifesto is following the UPP's leadership in a number of other areas, and sometimes claiming these ideas as their own despite the fact that the UPP has already introduced them:
• School Meals Programme
• School Uniforms Grant Programme
• Expanding computer and ICT use in schools
• Programmes to educate the population about healthy living
• Programmes to improve sports facilities and performance
• Supporting the Prime Minister’s publicly-stated stance on climate change
• Supporting the UPP's policies on expanding agricultural production to increase incomes and achieve food security
• Supporting the yachting industry to generate jobs
• Expanding land ownership and home ownership amongst our fellow Antiguans
• Community policing programmes
The UPP is glad that the opposition views our ideas as good enough to copy, but we caution the ALP against claiming that they have come up with "new" ideas. It is particularly disappointing to hear that the ALP have few original ideas at a time when voters expect to hear the opposition explain how they intend to improve our country.
We are grateful for Labour's support, but we would also encourage them to come up with their own ideas that they can present to the people.
Regardless of what Labour does, the UPP will continue to propose and achieve positive change for the people of Antigua and Barbuda.
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