Deception and Treachery Must End: The Power Belongs to the Voter

MP Anthony Smith, Jr., a former UPP candidate for All Saints City West (ASCW), was clearly bought out with taxpayers' dollars to become a member of the prime minister, Gaston Browne, Antigua Labor Party (ALP), and enter the inner sanctum of politicians in government (PIGS) on July 16, 2024, thereby violating that trust for self-enrichment promises!

Smith was sworn in as Minister of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries and the Blue Economy, and profiting as being "independent" is treacherous. 

In many instances, Browne is following the doctrine of the Antigua Labor Party (ALP). 

That's why it's essential to critically analyze the implications of using taxpayers' hard-earned money, embezzled funds, and the influence of self-serving individuals to support defection, as seen in the case of UPP Member of Parliament (MP) for All Saints City West (ASCW) Anthony Smith Jr. 

This reward for treachery failed to meet the constituents' expectations and disregarded the UPP Manifesto agenda. 

As Stokes Susan -What Do Policy Switches Tell Us About Democracy (1999a 261-262) argues, 'manifestos and campaigns express voters' preferences as interpreted and aggregated by parties so that remaining true to campaign positions is equivalent to remaining responsive to voters' 

There was nothing independent about what Smith did; it was an act of treason and undebatable, as explained in the following research article by various authors: -

-Party policy responsiveness at the agenda-setting and decision-making stages: The mediating effect of the types of government and promises -March 21, 2023, -Sage Journals

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/01925121231155140

That could not be possible in other countries with laws governing that expected corruption; the politician must relinquish the seat, and an in-depth investigation must be conducted!

In the case of Antigua and Barbuda, with cooperation, unity, and trust, and by engaging the public to mobilize the dynamic support necessary to uplift the spirits of constituents and the general electorate, particularly fence-sitters and the thousands of potential voters, change is the echoing cry heard throughout all constituencies!

That's why it's commendable that one of the three constituents challenging Smith's charlatan parliamentary Independence is Eversleigh Warner.

In a stern rebuke of Smith, Warner declared, "When I send you to Parliament, I send you to represent me as a UPP candidate. I did not send you there as an Independent candidate."

That was well said!

Smith's departure has left the people of Antigua and Barbuda questioning how their votes are manipulated to serve a politician's self-serving agenda to prop up a weakened government on the brink of collapse.

Firstly, it's incomprehensible that the exit strategy of those who left sought to scapegoat others rather than accept responsibility for that betrayal of trust.

In another example of obligatory policies, 41 countries enact laws to prevent legislators from switching party affiliations, as cited in Albert O. Hirschman's book Exit, Voice, and Loyalty. 

One of the three options given, Exit, was most appropriate to Smith's betrayal of the electorate:  

Switching party affiliation is viewed "as an extreme manifestation of trustee representation!"

Taxpayers' funds must be allocated to benefit the public good and contribute to a fair and transparent electoral process, rather than buy out the nonpatriotic elected officials and supporters or skew the election outcome through gerrymandering and a corrupt immigration policy!

In all this, a red flag is raised, revealing that the prime minister, Browne, would be deposed in coordination with the ALP government MPs' plotted actions by an archenemy!

Imaginin,g or not, Browne presumed his leadership of the ALP government was insecure, a reason for delaying the sitting of Parliament for several months!

This misgiving has undoubtedly given Browne a lifeline towards fulfilling absolutism; by then, it may be too late since a one-party state will emerge, and rising resistance will produce grave consequences.

The dynamics of truth are challenging, and people switch party allegiances for various reasons. 

Consider that inequality, patronage, and local disempowerment—Hirschman's, while others point to comradeship in the party's high echelon. 

Generally, individuals opt to join a party they once criticized as corrupt rather than form an independent think tank, which raises questions about their motives.

ALP networks of friends are adversarial to local development and are now influencing the country's politics.. 

How the UPP will separate itself from this traffic of influences is open to discussion.

The community now calls for equitable remedies to restrain these unbridled acts of economic plunder!

The lack of trust in politicians and the dishonorable actions of MP , Stuart coupled with prime minister Gaston Browne's leadership of the Antigua Labor Party (ALP) government, have led to the perception that the people of Antigua and Barbuda are being exploited by the ruling class and to State Capture!

All these instances demonstrate the standard characteristics of succumbing to the influence of moneyed interests, perpetuating a self-serving agenda that trades the people's vote for personal gain.

The offerings made to Smith are corrupt by-products of the ALP government's consolidation of power and the misuse of public office for private gain. 

Smith was reportedly offered a monthly salary of $16,000, $5,000 for community assistance, and $1,000,000 in contracts. 

-Party policy responsiveness at the agenda-setting and decision-making stages: The mediating effect of the types of government and promises -March 21, 2023, -Sage Journals

http,s://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/01925121231155140

The notorious Asot Michsel criticized ALP as corrupt by publicly declaring in Parliament that pm Browne is corrupt while alluding to an imminent coup that is yet to happen:

"They want to see the back of Gaston Browne more than Asot Michael wants. Trust me on that."

Asot mentioned Chet as part of the team that wanted Browne out, and that a political coup was in motion and is not too far off now. Ex-UPP members are lining up behind Asot's prediction.

Browne's trust in Greene is temporary, as can be written the epitaph, "underneath lies Mercy that trust deceit." 

Whichever way it turns between mercy and deceit, neither is the favorite; so there will be a political tombstone for both!

However, when individuals opt to leave a party and join one they view as corrupt, how can they ever be trusted? They are all damn backstabbing PIGS!

Autocracy must be opposed, not only for that, but for many other instances of injustice and human rights violations.  

Accordingly, giving credence to this argument is the telling statement of a visionary South African woman who comments in the course of Pew Research: 

"Let the young people get involved in politics, as they are the future and will change the country."

That's what Browne fears most; so these youth must arise to be a part of the revolution necessary for change 

Now it may appear to be a hopeless political revolution, marked by the backsliding of the ex-UPP members. But again, the voters have the opportunity to correct that failed representation!

Betrayal is sensed by those struggling on the brink!

We'll have to wait and see how this chapter unfolds! 

The stage is set, and the big Fat Black Cats are all playing their roles and singing the same deception: we have taxpayers' hard-earned monies for you, so join our party of PIGS!

Time to end the PIGS celebration and stop their charade!