In the aftermath of a crushing general election defeat for the United Progressive Party (UPP), Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister Gaston Browne is publicly calling for opposition party chair D. Gisele Isaac to step down from her leadership post, arguing that top party officials must bear accountability for the April 30 vote outcome.
Browne made the call during an appearance on the *Browne and Browne Show*, broadcast on Pointe FM this past Saturday. The prime minister noted that Isaac had previously privately signaled to fellow party members that she would resign following the electoral loss, and is now pushing her to follow through on that commitment.
“She had said to a number of her colleagues that she would resign, and now is the time for her to resign. I don’t know what she’s waiting for,” Browne told listeners during the radio segment.
Beyond calling for her departure, Browne argued that Isaac’s exit from the UPP chair role is a necessary first step for the fractured opposition to begin rebuilding its political standing ahead of future elections. “She should leave office and resign as chairman of UPP” to open space for organizational renewal, he added.
Browne’s calls for leadership change come on the heels of a historic landslide victory for his governing Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP). The ABLP secured 15 of the 17 total available seats in the country’s parliament, leaving the UPP with only a tiny fraction of legislative representation after a deeply underwhelming performance at the polls.
During his radio interview, the prime minister did not hold back in his assessment of the opposition’s campaign and internal governance. He sharply criticized the UPP’s campaign strategy, describing the party as deeply disunited and lacking a clear policy or ideological direction that resonates with voters. He added that the UPP’s top leadership failed to build meaningful connections with constituents during the election cycle, and warned that if party officials refuse to embrace necessary structural and leadership changes, the UPP will only continue to decline in influence.
The prime minister emphasized that the UPP is currently at a crossroads: to regain political traction and relevance in Antigua and Barbuda’s political landscape, the party must implement sweeping reforms that bring new leaders and fresh talent into its upper ranks.
As of press time, Isaac has not issued any public statement responding to Browne’s calls for her resignation.
LISTEN: PM Browne says UPP Chair Gisele Isaac must resign after election loss
