Opposition Leader Jamale Pringle has turned down an invitation from Prime Minister Gaston Browne to be part of Antigua and Barbuda’s delegation to the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Brazil. The invitation was extended as a symbolic gesture to foster national unity on climate advocacy, a critical issue for small island states. However, government officials revealed during a recent discussion that Pringle declined the offer, prompting criticism from the Prime Minister. Browne emphasized that true leadership prioritizes national interests over partisan politics, citing his own participation in national events during his time in opposition as an example of such commitment. He described Pringle’s decision as a missed opportunity to present a united front on climate change, a matter of existential importance for vulnerable nations like Antigua and Barbuda. The country will join other Caribbean nations at COP29, where discussions will center on climate finance, loss and damage, and support for developing countries disproportionately affected by climate change.