UDP’s Tracy Panton Intensifies Push to Oust Shyne Barrow Amid Party Turmoil

UDP’s Standard Bearer for Albert, Tracy Panton continues her quest to unseat the Leader of the Opposition, Moses Shyne Barrow.  Her grab for power within the party comes at a time when political parties are gearing up for the 2025 general elections.  For the UDP, however, there is internal unrest and disunity that recently saw the formation of the Alliance for Democracy with a mandate to put Panton as the party leader.  Panton, with support from Patrick Faber and John Saldivar, has written three times to the UDP Chairman, Michael Peyrefitte, calling for a National Party Council meeting.  In the event that the meeting is approved, it is that platform that the alliance would use to put forth a vote of no-confidence in Barrow.  Appearing on Sun Up’s talk show this morning, Panton has referred to Barrow as an ill-equipped UDP captain who needs to be removed.

Tracy Panton, Area Representative, Albert Division: “The captain is ill-equipped. We are all UDP, members of the United Democratic Party. We’re all committed to principles and values of the United Democratic Party. We don’t want to go anywhere. However, there are still provisions in the Constitution that we can exercise before we decide, you know, we can still seek an injunction which we’re discussing with a group of attorneys. We can still sign a recall petition. for the party leader to be removed. We didn’t want to go that way. You know, we’re trying to unite not to divide and we don’t want to be disruptive to the rebuilding of the United Democratic Party. There is the option of branching off if that becomes necessary but the Alliance for Democracy has a simple objective. We need to unite the party and we need to ensure that the voices of the people are heard via their standard bearers, area representatives, constituency caretakers. I am leading the charge for the Alliance. There are 16 constituencies on board. We want to get all 31. You know, I keep hearing we’re looking for 16 seats. No, the Alliance is looking for 31 seats to contest the next general election. We need all colleagues on board. And it’s not rocket science. It’s a simple undertaking. Let’s just follow the rules and guidelines that we say will guide our decision making as a mass political organization.”

As Panton pushes to become the UDP Party Leader, and as Barrow holds on to his seat, there is the issue of missing standard bearers.  As a matter of fact, late this evening, our newsroom received a letter from Ramon Vasquez indicating his withdrawal as the UDP Standard Bearer for Belize Rural South.  It is another blow to the UDP as it tries to get its proverbial ducks in a row.  The securing of standard bearers was another point of contention that Panton spoke on this morning, harping on the removal and delays in finding standard bearers for next year’s elections.

Tracy Panton, Area Representative, Albert Division: “There is no leader unless a national convention is called and convened. Now the NPC, which is the second highest decision-making body of the party, the National Convention is the highest decision-making body of the party, but an NPC can decide to change its mind on any decision it makes as long as it has the voices of the majority. The Constitution affords for that, allows for that. You know, the current party leader has made decisions that have not enjoyed the input of the National Party Council. You know the removal of the candidate from Port Loyola, the removal of the standard bearer from Belize Rural South, the removal of the standard bearer from Caribbean Shores. Do you know that the United Democratic Party does not have a standard bearer in Freetown? But yet, we are focusing on removing standard bearers who have been duly elected or endorsed by their constituencies. Let’s focus on filling the gaps and trying to unite this party rather than dividing the party because someone says something that you may not like to hear. It’s as simple as that. The NPC has a responsibility to make those decisions.”

Love News understands that many are in disagreement with Panton’s current move to oust the Party Leader as a resolution was passed at the highest level of the UDP to keep Barrow as the leader until after the 2025 general elections.  To date, Panton is yet to receive a response to her third petitionsubmitted to Peyrefitte. As it relates to Ramon Vasquez’ withdrawal, he noted that he had consulted the Board of Directors of the Belize Broadcasting Network, and it was decided that he should withdraw in order to maintain the integrity of the network and its neutrality in politics.