Opposition Leader Clarifies UDP’s Position on Alliance for Democracy Convention

Leader of the Opposition, Moses Shyne Barrow, continues to emphasize that the October 20 convention is an event being held by the Alliance for Democracy and not the United Democratic Party (UDP).  The issue keeps coming up as it is uncharted territory in politics where several UDP members have been expelled just months before a major election.  Barrow held a press conference this afternoon where he provided more clarity with an appeal to UDP supporters to not be misled.

Moses “Shyne” Barrow, Leader of the Opposition: “The UDP constitution authorizes the national party council to interpret the constitution. So all the decisions that were made we kept hearing are “unconstitutional.” “Did not follow procedures.” They’re not this they’re not that. I shared with you the evidence regardless of what they say all the standard bearers, 17 of them not the 12 or 13 that they claim. I started with you, you saw their names, members almost every single member of the central executive, the majority is the majority and the majority agrees with all of the decision that have taken. Along with the majority of colleagues believe that having people that want to divide and destroy the party within the party makes absolutely no sense. They want to lead the party and so regardless of what they say in our view they formed their own party the Alliance for Democracy Party and we would hope that they would focus on John Briceño. It is interesting for all of the interviews that they did they had nothing bad to say about the government of Belize and the ministers and the cabinet and only focused on myself. But we would hope that colleagues that want better for Belize, that want to help their constituents would focus on the issues that really matter. The majority is the majority, the majority support the leadership and that is just a fact of life.”

As it relates to the faction that has been created by the Alliance for Democracy, Barrow explained how and why such divisiveness could not bode well for the party, its members and stakeholders.  He also noted that while Tracy Panton and her followers are focused on the UDP leadership, their concerns over national issues have been nonexistent.

Moses “Shyne” Barrow, Leader of the Opposition: “Was not a UDP activity so the National Party Council has put that question to rest once and for all. So they can do whatever they want that has nothing to do with the United Democratic Party.”

Reporter: But it does though because these are UDP personalities with relationships….

Moses “Shyne” Barrow, Leader of the Opposition: “These are people who were UDPs. You could do it like how you do it in America where people identify as whatever they want to identify as but identifying as a UDP does not make you officially a UDP. We do have a constitution that talks about membership, talks about the rights of memberships, talks about the revocation of membership so as I said they are free to do whatever they want but that has nothing to do with the United Democratic Party. I’d just like to point out to you we’ve had at least three recent instances where there is a consistent demonstration of support by the majority of the standard bearers. There was the meeting in Orange Walk where we met at the ranch in Orange Walk South with German Tillett and there were about fifteen standard bearers there. We had the 51st anniversary and 15 including the deputy party leader elected member of the House we had the 51st anniversary again Hugo Patt, 15 standard bearers. We had the letter that was signed when we were trying to do mediation 17 standard bearers and we had this national party council which according to my opponents is the second highest authority and they had so much reverence for the national party council when it suits them. There is a consistent pattern of support there. So I have no doubt that those 17 standard bearers and their delegates will not participate in anything that has nothing to do with the UDP. What is happening on October 20th is similar to a PUP convention or a Will Maheia convention that has nothing to do with the United Democratic Party.”