One point for Tracy Panton and zero for democracy

One point for Tracy Panton and zero for democracy – it’s the sad reality tonight as the United Democratic Party, also referred to as the Royal Opposition, remains splintered.  Prior to Sunday, Belizeans recognized on UDP Leader and one Leader of the Opposition by way of Moses Shyne Barrow.  Fast forward today, and the lines have blurred as the Alliance for Democracy held a convention yesterday with Tracy Panton receiving majority support from delegates as the new leader.  The crux of the problem in all this is that the UDP Secretariat, particularly, Chairman Michael Peyrefitte is the only one authorized to call a convention.  Secondly, conventions are only to be called in the odd years or in the case of a dire emergency like the death or incapacity of a leader.  Reporter Benjamin Flowers was at the civic for yesterday’s convention where he met with several members of the UDP old guard.

Benjamin Flowers, Love News: A splintered United Democratic Party (UDP) remains divided as Tracy Panton spearheaded an unsanctioned convention yesterday as the leader of the Alliance for Democracy.  The Alliance maintains that it is a part of the UDP, but the substantive leadership of the UDP maintains that the alliance is made up of members of the old guards who no longer enjoy membership under the proverbial red and white tent.  Of the nine motions presented at yesterday’s event, the most salient was number three where the alliance had 347 delegates of its own choosing, vote on unseating Moses Shyne Barrow as the UDP Leader.  The event did draw some one thousand supporters and was meant to send a message to Barrow that he was no longer wanted.  According to Alliance member, Patrick Faber, says the convention is a reflection of the will of the party at large.

Patrick Faber, Alliance for Democracy Member: “It is a sign of what we’ve been saying that the kinds of changes that this convention is aiming for is supported by the people. We listen to what the people want and I’m sorry that our leaders can’t get that and so you know we hate to do this but ultimately it is the delegates who own this party and run this party if you will, the members you remember my stance long ago “it’s all about the base.” And so the base will speak today.”

Benjamin Flowers, Love News:  As the day progressed, the faces of the old guard like Edmund Castro was seen at the civic as a supporter of the alliance.  According to Clear the Land Castro, who served three terms under the leadership of former party leader Dean Barrow,  he supported Shyne’s leadership at the start, but he can no longer endorse the decisions being made.

Edmund Castro, Former Minister: “If you have a leader that does not consult and if you disagree with him he feels the need to chastise you, fire you, get rid of you, you can’t even do that in the church because if you are the pastor and that’s how you are behaving you won’t have any congregation. And in this case we going into the next general election we need a leader that can unite. We see it in Tracy wasn’t ready then but Tracy is ready now. So hence the reason I had voted and supported Shyne. Now Tracy is read and Shyne has been given an opportunity but instead of uniting the party he’s trying to get rid of current members of parliament, he’s trying to get rid of standard bearers who are elected or sanctioned by the National Party Council, he’s trying to get rid of going into your constituency and getting rid of your delegates it is impossible and that is not how democracy works.”

Reporter: He’s doing too much. 

Edmund Castro, Former Minister: “Way out of line.”

Benjamin Flowers, Love News:  An interesting turn was Queen’s Square Godwin Haylock.  Haylock was mentored by Sista B and brought into the fold at Queen’s Square as the Barrow’s succession plan. But Haylock had no allegiance to the Barrows as he made it clear that he is not supporting Shyne Barrow and will stand with the alliance, come what may.

Godwin Haylock, Alliance for Democracy Member: “As we went to the house last Friday you saw that the House Committee members were changed in a most malicious way. The truth is Dean Barrow, Sista B, the entire UDP of Queen Square will never support such an act. I feel that while the Barrows have the luxury of not coming out vocally against Shyne because they are family members I don’t have that luxury to go to the division and say oh I am a Barrow and I can’t get into this. I must make a stance for my community and I feel deep down the principle, the values that Dean Barrow brought to the Queen Square division is the same value that he would want me to stand for today. Shyne has the last opportunity to make peace, to make unity. When you see all these delegates come out here and make a stand this is not just about me, this is not just about one division, this is about an entire party ready to come together and form a strong opposition and it doesn’t matter what he as a person does the truth is my decision today is clear.”

Benjamin Flowers, Love News:  Over three hundred delegates reportedly voted in the Alliance’s convention to install Panton as leader, while around 13 voted against her. Panton says that all the votes send a clear message of what the people want.

Tracy Panton, Leader, Alliance for Democracy: “This is the most united the UDP has been in the last two years. You have come from far. From Crico Sarco to Sarteneja to ensure that the voices of the people are heard. And you the delegates of the United Democratic Party all 347 of you who voted in today’s convention those who voted for me and those who voted against me have spoken for the people.”

Benjamin Flowers, Love News:  Despite repeated press releases from Barrow explaining that the Alliance’s convention is invalid as it goes against the party’s constitution, Panton says that she is now the party leader and calls on all party members to acknowledge her as such.

Tracy Panton, Leader, Alliance for Democracy: “I am now the interim leader of the United Democratic Party. The mandate by the delegates and the mandate by the UDP supporters who are out here today in the thousands is a clear indication and I will take up that mandate and I will lead this party. I will ensure that the party is united, and I will do everything in my power to have the party rebuild to its days of glory. Because we are nothing, we are nothing without the people.”

Benjamin Flowers, Love News:  With the movements at the civic now only a memory, and with Panton of the belief that she is the new UDP leader, there remains an impasse, and a broken democracy.  Barrow maintains his status as leader and is supported by the UDP’s Executive while supporters of the alliance are demanding the keys to the headquarters.  It is anybody’s guess how this impasse will continue in the days ahead.  Reporting for Love News, Benjamin Flowers.