A fresh political feud has erupted in Antigua and Barbuda’s Senate following a contentious parliamentary walkout last week, with a ruling party senator declaring a first-term opposition legislator has landed himself on his political “hit list” after public criticism of the governing administration and the Senate’s top official.
Government senator Philip Shoul recently opened up about the falling-out during an on-air discussion on local outlet Pointe FM, explaining that he initially extended an olive branch to new opposition Senator Jonathan Wehner when the rookie lawmaker took up his post. Shoul said he had been willing to give Wehner space to find his footing as a first-term parliamentarian, even encouraging him to carve out an independent political identity. “I looked across the aisle and I said to him, ‘Do me a favor. I’m really happy that you’re here. You’re young. You have a lot of potential. Be your own man,’” Shoul recalled of his initial outreach.
That goodwill, however, evaporated within hours of Wehner’s swearing-in ceremony, according to Shoul. The new opposition senator appeared on local Observer Radio that same afternoon, where he delivered sharp public rebukes of the ruling Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) and Senate President Alincia Williams-Grant. Wehner later joined other opposition lawmakers in walking out of the parliamentary session, part of a larger protest over a procedural dispute involving Opposition Leader Jamale Pringle, who attempted to participate in a joint sitting before completing his required oath of allegiance.
Shoul argues that Wehner’s choice to publicly criticize Williams-Grant – the same Senate president he will have to work with for the duration of his term – was a unnecessary and unwise misstep. The public attack, he said, has completely changed his approach to the young politician. “You know, if this young man had one ounce of sense, right? Because I also know right now he’s on my hit list. That’s what I say right now,” Shoul stated firmly.
Previously, Shoul said he had planned to hold back from challenging Wehner during his first major address to the Senate, a common courtesy extended to new parliamentarians making their maiden parliamentary contributions. But that plan is now off the table, he confirmed. “I had planned to leave him in his maiden presentation, right? Just leave him alone. But I’m not going to do it,” he added.
Beyond the procedural dispute, Shoul also pushed back against Wehner’s recent criticism of the ABLP administration’s budget estimates, dismissing the opposition lawmaker’s comments as uninformed. “He talks about budget estimates — that’s his favorite word. He doesn’t understand what a budget estimate is,” Shoul claimed.
The latest exchange of barbs marks a deepening of the political tensions that grew out of last week’s walkout, which has already sparked an ongoing war of words between government and opposition figures over how parliamentary proceedings were handled during the opening session.