The United Progressive Party (UPP) has flatly rejected claims made by Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) Chairman Chet Greene linking the opposition to an anonymous website and a circulating letter related to US visa restrictions on Antigua and Barbuda.
In a strongly worded statement, the UPP described Greene's response as "a predictable exercise in political deflection," denying any connection to the document or the website in question. The party characterised the ABLP's attempt to assign blame without evidence as irresponsible, misleading, and designed to intimidate.
The UPP accused the ruling administration of manufacturing outrage rather than addressing the substantive questions raised in the circulated letter. "What Mr. Greene's response reveals is an administration that is unable to respond to legitimate scrutiny without resorting to personal attacks," the party said. "This is not leadership; it is political damage control."
At the heart of the controversy are concerns surrounding the US visa ban and bond imposed on Antiguan nationals — restrictions the UPP says are having real consequences for citizens seeking education, medical treatment, and the ability to conduct business transactions abroad.
The opposition insisted that the issues raised in the letter demand substantive answers from the government, not what it called "cheap press releases designed to insult opponents and seek sympathy."
The UPP also pushed back against any suggestion that civil society voices raising questions should be dismissed. "In a democracy, scrutiny is not sabotage, and accountability is not an attack," the party stated, urging the Browne Administration to welcome open inquiry and transparent processes rather than attempting to silence critics through blanket accusations.
The UPP closed its statement affirming its commitment to offering voters a credible alternative, declaring it would not be intimidated or misrepresented into silence.
