At a Thursday evening rally held at the Newfield basketball court, the United Progressive Party (UPP) launched a vigorous campaign for its by-election candidate, Alex Browne, presenting the March 16th vote as a pivotal moment for the St. Philip’s North constituency. Party speakers articulated a compelling narrative of progress versus prolonged neglect, positioning Browne as the catalyst for much-needed revitalization.
The core of the UPP’s argument centered on what they characterized as five decades of inadequate representation, questioning the tangible benefits delivered to the community over this extensive period. Speakers pointedly suggested that recent infrastructure improvements, such as road repairs, were strategically timed to coincide with the electoral cycle rather than representing genuine, sustained development efforts.
Education emerged as a critical policy battleground. The rally highlighted pressing issues of overcrowding at Newfield Primary School and expressed deep concern over the delayed redevelopment of the former Glanvilles Secondary School site. The UPP framed greater investment in science, technology, and innovation education as an essential strategy for equipping young residents with the skills necessary to compete in evolving global industries.
Healthcare accessibility formed another major pillar of the campaign rhetoric. While acknowledging the successful opening of the Glanvilles Polyclinic following community advocacy, speakers sharply criticized the substandard conditions and operational closures affecting other local clinics. They emphasized that these service limitations disproportionately burden vulnerable demographics, including elderly residents, women, and individuals managing chronic illnesses, who face significant hardship due to diminished access to proximate medical care.
The by-election, scheduled for March 16, is being framed by the UPP not merely as a political contest but as a fundamental choice between continued stagnation and a transformative new chapter under Browne’s leadership.