The United Progressive Party (UPP) has flatly rejected claims by the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) linking it to a controversial letter circulating in the public domain, dismissing the accusation as baseless and politically motivated.
In a press release issued Thursday, the UPP stated it had "no connection to any anonymous website nor to the document being circulated," and accused ABLP Chairman Chet Greene of attempting to deflect from legitimate public concerns raised by the letter's contents.
"The ABLP's pathetic attempt to attach political blame without evidence is irresponsible, misleading, and intended to intimidate," the party said.
Rather than addressing the substance of the letter, the UPP argued, the government chose to shift the narrative through what the opposition described as "manufactured outrage" and unfounded conspiracy allegations.
"What Mr. Greene's response reveals is an administration that is unable to respond to legitimate scrutiny without resorting to personal attacks. This is not leadership; it is political damage control," the statement read.
The UPP pointed to broader public concerns referenced in the letter, including a reported U.S. visa ban and bond, and their potential consequences for travel, education, medical treatment, and business.
"The issues raised in the circulated letter are matters that require answers — not cheap press releases designed to insult opponents and seek sympathy," the party added.
The statement also defended the right of civil society to ask hard questions, cautioning against efforts to dismiss or silence criticism. "In a democracy, scrutiny is not sabotage, and accountability is not an attack," the UPP said.
The party called on the government to respond with clarity and transparency, arguing that confidence in its record should be demonstrated through openness rather than "blanket accusations."
The UPP concluded by reaffirming its commitment to offering what it described as a credible alternative to the current administration, stating it would not be "intimidated nor misrepresented into silence."
