‘We Don’t Want Excuses—We Want Action’: Michael Joseph Slams Opposition Representation in Rural West

‘We Don’t Want Excuses—We Want Action’: Michael Joseph Slams Opposition Representation in Rural West

Caretaker for St John’s Rural West, Senator Michael Joseph, has sharply criticised the constituency’s long-standing opposition representation, accusing the incumbent of presiding over decades of inaction and missed opportunities.

Speaking at an Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) political rally on Thursday night, Joseph said many of the issues he witnessed as a child remain unresolved today, despite the MP’s 25 years in politics.

“The people of Rural West don’t need excuses,” Joseph told supporters. “They don’t need MPs who tell you they’ve been in politics for 25 years but only had a voice in the last two. That is not what this community needs.”

Joseph, who recently assumed the role of Minister of State, said he had already commissioned an engineering study to find a permanent solution to the long-standing flooding at Big Gutter. A follow-up assessment is expected in July.

“We’re not here to tell you we can’t act because we’re not in government,” he said. “We’re here to deliver, and we want you to hold us accountable.”

Joseph also underscored his commitment to addressing drainage problems across Rural West, outlining plans to upgrade infrastructure that has not kept pace with the area’s needs.

His remarks formed part of a broader pitch for the ABLP’s vision for the constituency, which he described as a blend of experience and youthful energy, aimed at delivering practical solutions.

“We don’t want people talking on behalf of young people,” he said. “We want people to talk with us.”

Joseph’s candidacy marks his formal entry into frontline politics after more than two decades of voluntary service with the Antigua and Barbuda Red Cross. He said a conversation during the aftermath of Hurricane Irma in 2018 helped shift his thinking on the importance of political representation.

“Some people can afford to be comfortable and avoid politics,” he recalled being told. “But many cannot. They need someone to speak for them.”

Joseph encouraged constituents to continue supporting the ABLP as it prepares for the next general election, stating: “This is not about politics for politics’ sake. This is about work, action, and solutions.”

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