Police Caught in UDP Power Struggle After Tracy Panton’s Alliance Occupies Party Office

In our continued coverage of today’s events at the UDP office, we can tell you that Police officers are now caught up in the political debacle between the United Democratic Party and the Alliance for Democracy.  Law enforcement was sent into the UDP Headquarters this morning after the Alliance led by Tracy Panton stormed the building, forcing themselves into the offices.  According to Panton, she was taking her place as the interim leader of the UDP.  Panton came with documents reportedly signed by the trustee of the UDP building, Phillipa Griffith-Bailey.  It was just Friday that Police Commissioner Chester Williams told the media that he would not allow his officers to get entangled in the political fight.  Today, however, after the take-over, Commissioner Williams in his legal and law enforcement expertise gave directives to block Panton and her followers from further pursuing the take-over.  

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police: “The legal process cannot be circumvented by some other process and it is sad to see that we have instances where people are who trained attorneys and should know better that certain documents do not carry the force of law. And if it is that Philippa Bailey was the trustee of the property and she was holding on trust for the UDP the question then lies as to who is the UDP ? Shyne is a UDP. Panton is a UDP and so there’s a dispute there. In order to resolve that dispute the police must not be the arbiter of that issue. That is an issue that ought to be resolved in a court of law. And so if the Panton faction believes that they have all rights to the building then the proper thing for them to have done was to take the matter before the court perhaps request Philippa Bailey who is the trustee to issue Shyne with a notice to quit. Perhaps a month, if after the one month period expires he does not quit, and notice to quite simply means notice to leave, just a legal term, he does not leave within that time then they would then take that to the court and apply for an eviction order. If the court sees it fit after having heard all the evidence and then the court issues that eviction order then the police can then act with them to forcefully evict him from the building. In the absence of that then the police does not have the legal authority. Now we are in a very difficult situation because one faction now occupies the lower flat of the building. I have again said to the police that we are not going to force them out of the building. Yes they can be asked by the police to leave but if they don’t leave we’re not going to force them out. At the end of the day we do not want to have any sort of confrontation with nobody unnecessarily.” 

The day saw the old guard of the UDP flocking at the headquarters, including but not limited to John Saldivar, Anthony Boots Martinez, Denny Grijalva, and Beverly Williams.  It is an alliance filled with the politicians who have made a reputation for themselves under the last administration.  All that aside, however, Police Commissioner has advised the Leader of the Opposition, Moses Shyne Barrow to seek legal recourse in the courts.  In his rationalization of the matter, the Commissioner did note the weaknesses in Panton’s attempted take-over.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police: “If the court were to find then that the actions of the alliance is wrong and that of Philippa Bailey who I saw a second document came out, a power of attorney. The power of attorney as far as the law is concerned has no effect for the simple fact that it is…she can only transfer or assign the power that is given to her as a trustee and nothing more than that. And the power as a trustee is for her to hold the property on trust for the UDP. So she cannot act outside of that or she cannot transfer more power than what she has. So then again the power of attorney would still not fully address the issue as to who is the UDP. That has to be addressed and I think that only the court could address that issue. Having looked at the convention that was held if the court would see that it was a legally held convention or not. The truth be told both sides can argue that they are UDPs so how can you displace one in favor of the other ? That’s an issue that they would have to deal with. So we will just hold forth and be as neutral as we can. One might not like Shyne but the truth is he is the constitutionally elected Leader of the Opposition and as you would know when there is House meetings he is the one who holds that position. And so we will not take sides for either side but try and remain as neutral as we can. We are not going to use no force on anybody. I would hope that the matter can be taken before the court and for the court to look at the matter and make a determination so that we know where to go from there. We cannot have this matter prolong too much.”

As it relates to the issue of trustees, Commissioner Williams laid out his understanding of what the UDP constitution states on this matter.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police: “The UDP is governed by a constitution and the UDP constitution speaks to how the entire assets of the party is supposed to be managed and it says that it’s managed by a group of trustees. I don’t know if at this time they only have one trustee because I think the constitution speaks to three trustees. I don’t know if they have there at this time or they have one because I think that by virtue of the constitution I think one serves for four years, one I think for seven years and I think one for nine. Something to that effect. So there is a period where they could only have one. So I don’t know if  at this juncture Philippa Bailey is the sole trustee or if the other two trustees are still in force at this particular moment I don’t know. But if it is that there are more than one trustees then she would not be in a position unilaterally to just assign the powers of the trustees to any other person.” 

Tonight, the Police stands guard at the UDP’s Belize City office.  Late this evening, Panton issued a press release, where she reiterated her position as the interim party leader.  We will keep following this story as the days progress.