St. John’s Antigua- Antigua Labour Party (ALP) stalwart and political hopeful Daven Joseph has no intentions to sit back and accept the use of a poll to select the election candidate in All Saints’ West.
The two-time contender in the constituency is of the view the party should follow the constitution which clearly outlines how candidates should be selected.
He said even if he is the chosen candidate by way of the newly suggested polling method, he would insist on having a primary.
“Even though, if there is a poll that gives me that go ahead and the party decides it will have me as a candidate based on that poll I would still ask for a primary because I believe the primary is the right thing to do. I believe that is what the constitution calls for and I would not feel good to be nominated to go forward on a poll alone,” Joseph said on OBSERVER Radio’s Snake Pit programme Tuesday night.
He said the results of a poll could be very subjective depending on who asks the questions and what is asked. Thus, he opined that candidates should have an input in the questions and the analysis of the poll.
However, he said regardless of what method is used he is confident the electors would not disappoint him a third time.
“Whether it’s a poll or a primary I am very confident that the people of All Saints West understand exactly what I am bringing to the table; understand my willingness to serve; understand the skills set I am bringing on board; and would definitely choose me from the three of us who want to go up,” Joseph said.
Last month ALP leader Lester Bird threatened disciplinary action against party members who publicly debated the use of the poll.
On both his attempts at the polls, Joseph lost to ruling United Progressive Party (UPP) candidate Chanlah Codrington.
In addition to the possibility of going up against MP Codrington again in 2014, Joseph is now facing an internal challenge from political hopefuls Ralph Potter and Wigley George.
Of Potter’s decision to leave the UPP for the ALP, Joseph said, ”I cannot see how someone cursed the lifeblood out of the philosophy and the governance of the ALP and rather than coming in to the party and trying to understand the philosophy, functions and approach, he wants to shoot himself right to the top of the ALP, to me that is a very opportunistic approach and the people should never tolerate that.”
