Rumors Swirl of Plan to Oust Shyne Barrow as UDP Leader

Tonight, a plan to remove Moses “Shyne” Barrow as the Leader of the United Democratic Party may be afoot. Following the UDP defeat in Toledo East, rumors of Barrow’s removal have been spreading like wildfire within the UDP. Despite Barrow stating last week that there is no one else to lead the party, several UDP members, including former leaders Patrick Faber and John Saldivar, publicly expressed their support for Panton’s leadership today. However, while it seems that a coup has been formed to remove Barrow, the party’s Chairman Michael Peyrefitte says the persons behind the purported attempt don’t have the final say.

Michael Peyrefitte, UDP Chairman: “I don’t know about a lot of people saying that. Shyne Barrow is our party leader. He is our party leader. The National Party Council and the National Convention said he will be our leader until the next general elections. He has committed to saying listen if I don’t win ten seats I will step down. So I mean he made that very clear and the party made a decision. Of course there are mechanisms for that to be reversed but at this point I haven’t received anything official that anybody wants to remove him as party leader.”

Reporter: Well I ask because there seems to be a social media campaign behind Ms.Tracy where they’re saying “I stand with her.” Are we we witnessing perhaps like a coup to remove Mr.Barrow as the party leader ?

Michael Peyrefitte, UDP Chairman: “I don’t know. The party leader of the UDP is not determined by social media posts. There’s a process for that. And until and unless that process comes alive Mr.Barrow is the party leader.”

Reporter: Do you believe that this campaign behind Ms. Panton is out there due to the poor results of the Toledo East elections or could it be because of the expulsion of Mr.Willoughby ? 

Michael Peyrefitte, UDP Chairman: “Well I don’t know. The people who are fostering those opinions and those ideas you would have to ask them. I don’t know what’s in their heads.” 

Our newsroom reached out to Barrow for an interview, but he declined to comment.