James ‘Tanny’ Rose, the self-appointed ‘Voice of the Oppressed,’ passes after brief period of illness

Antigua Labour Party (ALP) stalwart and mouthpiece James “Tanny”
Rose is dead. Reports say he passed away on Monday morning,
October 30, while receiving treatment at the Sir Lester Bird Medical
Centre.
 
Rose had been hospitalized for about two weeks after reported
bouts of delirium, sources claim, and his treatment had been
progressing. However, he apparently took a turn for the worse and
was placed on a ventilator on the weekend.
He had celebrated a birthday earlier this month.
 
Following the ALP’s election loss in 2004, Rose dubbed himself “The
Voice of the Oppressed and Downtrodden.” He began calling into a
radio station daily to push his party’s agenda and to discredit the
then-governing United Progressive Party (UPP) Administration.
 
He continued this until shortly before he was hospitalized.
 
Rose, who once served as manager of the State-run ABS Television
and Radio, had contested an election in St. John’s Rural West on the
ALP ticket, but was unsuccessful. However, his short-lived political
career did not stop him from being an active member of the party, in
which he filled various roles.
 
Outside of his political life, Rose reportedly played a part in the
development of culture and was a founding member of the Halcyon
Steel Orchestra.
 
The ALP St. George Branch has sent out condolences to Rose’s
family.