LISTEN: UPP Chair D. Gisele Isaac explains why she walked out of UPP leadership retreat

UPP Chair D. Gisele Isaac Explains Walkout from Party Retreat

The embattled Chairperson of the United Progressive Party (UPP), D. Gisele Isaac, has publicly addressed her decision to walk out of a party leadership retreat several months ago, describing the experience as deeply troubling and emotionally jarring.

Speaking during an interview on Crusader Radio, Isaac rejected criticism that her departure from the retreat reflected instability or disloyalty, instead painting a picture of a toxic environment in which she felt demeaned and disrespected.

“You all just crazy,” Isaac said in response to the scrutiny. “I left a meeting before when I was at the Board of Education—and I left because of the tone of the meeting. I said to the chair, ‘This is not good,’ and when she didn’t listen, I got up and walked out.”

She went on to recount how, following that particular board meeting, an apology was later issued to her after investigations proved the allegations made against her were unfounded.

Isaac drew parallels to her recent experience within the UPP, pointing to the behaviour of some individuals at the retreat, which she said crossed a line of respect and civility.

“One person spoke to me in a manner that, had he been a white man speaking to a Black man, people would have called it racist. If it was a white woman talking to me like that, it would have been the same,” she said.

She emphasized her longstanding service to the party as a volunteer, not as an employee, and said she had always maintained a respectful tone in her interactions.

“I have a bachelor’s degree with honours in journalism and English. I don’t need to speak to people like that. I’ve never disrespected anyone by the way I speak.”

Isaac revealed that during the retreat, she was stunned by the tone and content of remarks made by party members—many of whom she had worked with closely over the years. She said the criticism made her question whether she could continue in her leadership role.

“I was bewildered. I didn’t know I was such a flawed creature until that retreat,” she said. “These were people I had opened my home to, shared my resources with, cooked food for. And then to hear what they were saying—it was unbelievable.”

Eventually, she passed a note to UPP Political Leader Jamale Pringle and General Secretary Shawn Nicholas indicating her intention to leave both the meeting and potentially the position. She then informed the meeting’s moderator, Pastor Paul, that she could no longer continue.

“I said to Pastor Paul, ‘I can’t continue. This is not a position I can continue to hold.’ And I left.”

Isaac’s statement is the most detailed public account to date of the internal tensions that have rocked the UPP in recent months. Her comments are likely to reignite debate about leadership stability and internal party dynamics as the opposition prepares for future electoral challenges.

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