In a passionate public letter addressed to the local editor, Dr. Lois Jeremy-Greene, a proud Antiguan and Barbudan national residing overseas, pushes back against recent criticism from Opposition Leader Jamale Pringle regarding the twin-island nation’s concurrent 45th Independence anniversary celebrations and hosting of the 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).
Jeremy-Greene states she felt profound disappointment after reviewing Pringle’s official Independence Day message, in which the opposition figure claimed national independence commemorations had been tainted by partisan bias and sidelined to make space for the high-profile international summit. The letter pushes back firmly against that framing, arguing that the dual milestones are not competing priorities, but complementary opportunities to showcase the small Caribbean nation’s 45 years of sovereign progress to a global audience.
Rather than overshadowing Independence, Jeremy-Greene argues that hosting CHOGM – a historic first for Antigua and Barbuda, which is the smallest nation ever to lead the Commonwealth gathering, and only the fourth Caribbean country to take on the role – amplifies the anniversary’s significance. Welcoming more than 50 heads of state, international dignitaries and global media to local shores allows the nation to share its unique cultural heritage, hard-won achievements and future aspirations with the world, rather than shrinking its national celebrations to accommodate the event, as Pringle claimed. She notes that the summit expands Antigua and Barbuda’s global visibility, proving that a small island nation can punch far above its weight on the international diplomatic stage.
The letter also addresses Pringle’s unsubstantiated claim that the official Independence theme has fostered political division, pointing out that the opposition leader failed to name specific partisan language in the published theme text. Jeremy-Greene notes that vague, unevidenced accusations of division risk creating the very partisan rifts Pringle purports to condemn, rather than fostering constructive public dialogue.
While acknowledging the opposition’s constitutional mandate to scrutinize government action, demand accountability and propose alternative policies as a core pillar of a functioning democracy, Jeremy-Greene argues that this historic moment demands setting partisan differences aside to prioritize the national good. She emphasizes that the successful bid to host CHOGM, and the seamless execution of the event, is a national victory that belongs to all Antiguans and Barbudans, not a single political party. She specifically commends Prime Minister Gaston Browne and all organizers who contributed to bringing the summit to the twin-island state, noting that recognition of this milestone does not require partisan loyalty, only acknowledgement of a collective national achievement.
Jeremy-Greene further counters Pringle’s call for exclusive “truth-telling and stock-taking” over celebratory messaging, arguing that the nation can simultaneously acknowledge unmet challenges, hold elected officials accountable, and honor the decades of progress built by generations of citizens who survived the traumas of slavery and colonialism, and overcame successive economic shocks, natural disasters and global crises to build a sovereign, respected nation. She closes with a call for all citizens to reject the usual ABLP versus UPP partisan framing during this landmark moment, uniting under the shared identity of Antiguan and Barbudan to welcome the global spotlight with collective pride, showcase the nation’s warmth, resilience and ambition, and live up to the motto of “One Nation. One People. One Antigua and Barbuda.”
Response: Our Independence Is Not Being OvershadowedIt Is Being Showcased to the World
