Pringle says audio excerpt is ‘political mechanics’ intended to distract the public from the real problems it faces

Opposition Leader Jamale Pringle says that an audio recording of
him that is now making the social-media rounds is nothing but
“political mechanics” and intended to distract the public from the
economic and social problems the country is facing.

The recording was cut from an interview with Daren Matthew
Ward of Twin Island Media that took place since March 27.
Near the end of the almost hour-long outing, the host asks MP
Pringle what he might have learned from observation of Antigua
and Barbuda’s four prime ministers that could be useful if he
were to become the head of government one day.

The MP cites certain qualities about Sir V.C. Bird, Sir George H.
Walter, and Dr. Baldwin Spencer, and ends with Prime Minister
Gaston Brown.

He credits the latter with being forceful and decisive and says that
Browne is not afraid “to take the bull by the horns and to tame it”
– even as he acknowledges that the current prime minister can be
dictatorial.

The audio is followed by a video clip in which Browne is heard
lying to his studio colleagues and media audience, claiming that
Pringle “chose” him from among the four prime ministers and
implying a form of endorsement.

“Anybody who listens to the entire interview – or even to that
specific question – would realize this is just political mechanics,”
Pringle says.

“What the Government wants is for people to forget the 14
percent salary increase to the Labour Party ministers and the
West Indies Oil Company property deal with the prime minister’s
son,” Pringle continues.

“And with the Party’s convention coming up, they believe they can
use this clip to paint me in a different colour. But my role models
are within the UPP and nothing that Gaston Browne says can
change that,” Pringle declares.