Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) Chairman E.P. Chet Greene has predicted that the constituency of All Saints East & St. Luke could return to the polls, as he claimed growing internal pressure within the opposition United Progressive Party (UPP) may force its leader Jamale Pringle to vacate his seat.

Speaking at a joint Antigua Trades and Labour Union (AT&LU) and ABLP Labour Day rally on Monday, Greene said the opposition is facing further decline and suggested that developments within the party could trigger a by-election within months.

“The unraveling of the UPP will continue,” Greene told supporters, adding that “within six months… the people… will probably go back to my election.”

He claimed that pressure from within the party could lead to Pringle being “forced to resign the seat of parliament,” opening the door for a fresh contest in the constituency.

Greene said such a scenario would give ABLP candidate Lamin “Lammy” Newton another opportunity at the polls, following his narrow defeat in the April 30 general election.

“I am anticipating and prophesying… that… Comrade Lammy Newton… with our second chance… [will have] a successful opportunity at the polls,” he said, adding that it could contribute to what he described as a “clean sweep.”

The ABLP chairman also used the platform to criticise the UPP’s performance, arguing that the party has failed to function as an effective opposition in recent years.

“None of us in this country can say that the UPP… was effective,” Greene said, pointing to past disagreements over issues including the government’s handling of COVID-19 and cruise ship policies.

Despite his criticism, Greene maintained that a functioning opposition remains essential to democracy.

“Democracy requires an opposition… an effective opposition,” he said, while rejecting any notion of eliminating opposing political voices.

He also outlined plans for increased engagement by ABLP representatives, stating that all elected members would be required to hold quarterly town hall meetings in their constituencies.

“That’s the balance we strike for democracy… constant engagement of people,” Greene said.

The UPP has not yet responded to Greene’s remarks.