Former United Progressive Party (UPP) political leader Harold Lovell is urging the party to intensify grassroots engagement, refine its public messaging, and strengthen its organisational structure in the wake of the St. Philip's North by-election.
According to Antigua News Room, Lovell made the remarks following the March 16 vote, calling on party members to redouble their efforts across all constituencies.
"It is now time for really everybody to batten down the hatch, get on board, and make sure that there is activity in the constituency and that we continue to engage the constituents all over Antigua and Barbuda," Lovell said.
Lovell stressed that the party must also sharpen how it presents its platform to the public. "I think the UPP has a very good message. We need to sharpen it, we need to refine it, and define it more clearly… and bring that compelling narrative to the people," he said.
He underscored that the path forward requires a unified, collective approach within the party's ranks. "That has to be a collective effort… within the ranks of the organization," Lovell said, adding that the ultimate aim is to position the UPP to compete effectively in any future election.
Lovell also pointed to the party's branch-level infrastructure as a critical area for development. "Strengthen our political machine… especially our branches," he said, highlighting the importance of building durable support in constituencies across the country.
Rather than dwelling on the defeat, Lovell framed the by-election as a learning opportunity. "You win some and you learn from some. This is one that we learn from," he said.
He added that the party's immediate priority is developing a stronger, island-wide political infrastructure capable of mobilising rapidly when the next election is called.
