Newly appointed Opposition Senator Chester Hughes says the United Progressive Party deliberately assembled its Senate team to combine legal expertise, academic experience and trade union advocacy — with the stated goal of rigorously scrutinising legislation and holding the government accountable.
According to Antigua News Room, Hughes made the remarks in an interview with ABS Television following Monday's swearing-in ceremony at Government House. He was emphatic that the Opposition senators are "not just politically appointed individuals" but people equipped with the knowledge and experience needed to challenge government policy.
"We're coming as legally trained individuals to scrutinize the laws," Hughes said.
Hughes identified three members of the UPP Senate bench as holding law degrees: Senator Jonathan Wehner, Senator Malaka Parker and himself. "Senator Jonathan Wehner, legally trained mind, with a law degree, myself with a law degree, and Senator Malaka Parker with a law degree," he stated.
Beyond legal training, Hughes also pointed to a strong trade union presence within the Opposition's Senate appointments. He identified Ashworth Azille from the Antigua and Barbuda Union of Teachers, Malaka Parker — former president of the Antigua and Barbuda Workers' Union — and himself, a former president and current Deputy General Secretary of the same union.
"As you rightfully said, we have three trade unionists on the bench for the UPP," Hughes said.
He argued that this blend of legal, academic and labour backgrounds would sharpen the Opposition's capacity to represent working-class Antiguans and Barbudans. "Academics who study the laws, and we also come in as trade unionists who would have had to fight on behalf of the ordinary working-class people of Antigua and Barbuda," he said.
Hughes, who previously served in the Senate, said he returns to Parliament with considerably more experience than during his earlier tenure. "The last time I was there, I was just a normal Chester Hughes, a trade unionist," he said. "Now I'm going back to the House as a legally trained individual with a bit more experience in politics and well-rounded knowledge of the political arena."
He said his role this time would be to bring "a little bit more balance and historical perspective" to Senate debates.
Hughes made clear that the Opposition intends to be a forceful presence in the Upper House. "You can expect very robust debate in the Senate," he said. "We will be holding the government's feet to the fire. We will be asking questions through the Senate."
In some of his sharpest remarks, Hughes framed the Opposition's mission in direct terms. "We will be relentless in our pursuit of justice on behalf of not just working-class people but the ordinary Antiguan and Barbudan who is suffering," he said.
"Our job right now is to make those who are comfortable very uncomfortable in the House and those who are uncomfortable bring relief to them through the Senate," he added.
Hughes concluded by expressing gratitude to Opposition Leader Jamale Pringle for his reappointment. "I must say thanks to Almighty God for sparing my life to see another day and to the Honourable Jamale Pringle for renewing his confidence in me to appoint me to the Senate," he said.
