United Progressive Party (UPP) candidate for St. Philip's North, Alex Browne, has sharply condemned a proposal to rename the Sir Rupert Philo Highway, describing it as a "slap in the face" to both the local community and the family of the late calypso icon.
According to Antigua Observer, Browne made the remarks during an appearance on Observer AM ahead of Monday's by-election, using the platform to publicly criticize the government's handling of the proposed renaming.
Browne's comments reflect broader tensions surrounding the by-election in St. Philip's North, with the highway renaming controversy emerging as a flashpoint issue in the campaign. The Sir Rupert Philo Highway bears the name of a celebrated figure in Antiguan cultural history, and Browne suggested that any move to alter that designation would be disrespectful to the legacy of the calypso icon as well as to the community the road serves.
As reported by Antigua Observer, the UPP candidate directed his criticism squarely at the government, framing the proposal as an affront to constituents in the area at a particularly sensitive political moment.
