Opposition Senator Jonathan Wehner has taken the high road in response to what he called "unfortunate remarks" directed at him by Prime Minister Gaston Browne — firmly refusing to trade insults while issuing a pointed challenge to the people of Antigua and Barbuda to hold their elected officials to a higher standard.
Senator Wehner's statement follows remarks made by PM Browne on his radio programme, where the Prime Minister compared the senator to a well-known person within Antigua's LGBTQ community. PM Browne further described Senator Wehner as "totally agitated" and suggested the young senator was "going down the wrong path."
In a video message released on social media, Senator Wehner expressed gratitude for the outpouring of public support before turning his attention to what he described as a troubling pattern in the nation's political culture.
"I want to publicly express my sincere gratitude and appreciation to my relatives, church family, UPP family, youth parliament colleagues, friends, supporters, well-wishers and all citizens and residents of our beloved Antigua and Barbuda who called, texted or commented on social media to offer their support and encouragement in response to the unfortunate remarks hurled at me by the Prime Minister," Wehner said.
Declining to Respond in Kind
The senator said political leaders should seek to elevate rather than diminish public discourse. "It is unfortunate that our leaders continue to lower the bar of our political and national discourse by engaging themselves in frivolous and disgraceful comments which debase the high office they hold," he said.
Wehner was unequivocal about how he intended to respond — and how he did not. "I will not degrade the Christianity I profess or the public office I hold by participating in the 'tit for tat' melee of disgracefully juvenile discourse often spewed by our leaders," he stated.
He added that he was not seeking an apology from Browne. "Nor will I waste any time asking for an apology that I know will never come, especially when the Prime Minister has consistently shown the nation this is who he is throughout his 12 years in office," Wehner said.
A Direct Appeal to the Public
Rather than directing further commentary at the Prime Minister, Senator Wehner turned his message squarely toward the citizens of Antigua and Barbuda, posing two questions that cut to the heart of the matter.
"Is this the behavior we find desirous in our nation's leaders? Is this the behavior you want your children to emulate?" he asked.
He closed with a call to civic responsibility, urging the nation not to look away when those in positions of power conduct themselves in ways unworthy of the offices they hold.
"Let us never condone or be silently complicit when those who occupy the high office we, the people, elected them to debase that office through their unbecoming behavior," Wehner said. "God bless you. God bless Antigua and Barbuda."
Senator Wehner, one of the younger voices in Antigua and Barbuda's parliamentary landscape, has emerged as a figure of increasing public interest since the UPP's opposition activities intensified in recent weeks. His measured response to the Prime Minister's criticism appears to have resonated widely, with significant public support expressed across social media platforms following the release of the video.
Prime Minister Browne had not issued a public response to Wehner's statement at the time of publication.
