All Saints West MP Anthony Smith has launched a scathing critique of the United Progressive Party (UPP), accusing its leadership of fostering division and political infighting. Speaking on Community Matters, Smith stated that he was “thankful every day” for leaving what he described as a toxic environment within the party.
“I thank God every day for saving me from the wicked leadership within the UPP,” Smith declared. “It was an environment filled with backstabbing, confusion, and a leadership driven by hate.”
“The same people who supported Richard Lewis for the leadership of the party are the ones being pushed out,” Smith said. “There is a deliberate effort to sideline those who don’t fall in line with the leadership’s agenda.”
Smith suggested that he was specifically targeted due to his perceived ties to the ruling Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP), despite his years of work within the UPP. He accused party insiders of attempting to oust him long before his official departure, using intimidation tactics and public ridicule.
“They saw me as an easy mark,” he stated. “Suddenly, my so-called ‘Labour roots’ became a problem, even though they had no issue with it when I was investing my time, resources, and money into the party.”
The former opposition MP credited Prime Minister Gaston Browne for giving him the opportunity to continue serving the people of All Saints West. He praised the Prime Minister’s leadership style, contrasting it sharply with what he experienced in the UPP.
“Not only did the Prime Minister save my political career, but he positioned me to deliver real results for my constituents,” Smith said. “Unlike what I endured in the UPP, this government values progress and hard work over internal fighting.”
