Moses Shyne Barrow continues to be a thorn for the UDP

The United Democratic Party (UDP) has issued a statement clarifying who it recognizes as the Area Representative for the Mesopotamia constituency, amid an ongoing internal disagreement.  In a press release dated January 8, 2026, the UDP said that Lee Mark Chang is the duly elected Area Representative following the March 12, 2025, General Elections. The party stressed that any claims suggesting otherwise are misleading and said it is distancing itself from statements that could confuse the public. In response, Jamal Shyne Barrow issued a written statement disputing the party’s position. Barrow says he is not claiming to be the elected Area Representative but maintains that he remains the UDP Caretaker for Mesopotamia under the party’s constitution. He argues that no constituency convention has been held to replace him and that Chang was not selected through a UDP constituency process. The disagreement reflects ongoing divisions within the UDP, particularly over internal party governance and the difference between elected office and caretaker roles. For now, the party has not indicated how or when the matter will be formally resolved.