Quinn-Williams bows out of UPP leadership contest, not having secured her branch’s full support

The United Progressive Party (UPP) leadership race is down to two
candidates, as Pearl Quinn-Williams has withdrawn her candidacy.
The decision reportedly was made on Monday night, March 11,
following a meeting of the St. John’s Rural North branch at which
nominations for the upcoming party convention were to be
finalized.

The Central Executive of the Party has since been notified.
According to a source, Quinn-Williams chose not to contest the
leadership race any longer because she did not have the full support
of the branch for which she is the caretaker.

However, she has promised to support whoever emerges as the
leader of  the Party, as she is looking at the bigger picture – that is,
the UPP regaining governance of the country and restoring the
economic and social fortunes of the people. 

At present, unless someone else throws his hat in the ring, the
contest for political leader will be between Opposition Leader
Jamale Pringle and MP Richard Lewis, the parliamentary
representative for St. John’s Rural West.

Pringle, who became the deputy political leader in 2018, assumed
the role as leader of the institution when Harold Lovell resigned the
position after his loss in the January 18, 2023 General Election.
This will be Lewis’ second time contesting for the top post. He was
defeated by Lovell on the first occasion.