Shyne says there’s space in his future administration for Patrick Faber

Shifting now to politics: the United Democratic Party says that it’s creating its team of 31 standard bearers to contest the next municipal and general elections. Municipal elections are exactly a year away and the general elections are constitutionally due in 2025. While the party has not announced its municipal candidates yet, it has begun the process of choosing its general election standard bearers. However, there’s a curious case in Collet. As we know, long-time area representative Patrick Faber’s application was denied last year and the party endorsed Ian Jones, who Faber appointed to be the Director of the National Sports Council. However, senior leaders of the party including Belmopan standard bearer John Saldivar and Area Rep. Tracy Panton have called on the party to bring Faber back into the fold. We asked UDP Leader, Moses “Shyne” Barrow if a redo is outside the realm of possibility and if there’s space for Faber in a future Shyne Barrow government. Here’s what he had to say.

Moses “Shyne” Barrow, Leader of the Opposition: “The answer remains the same. There is not much that the party per se could do. There isn’t anything the party could do other than try to encourage the current standard bearer Mr.Ian Jones and the representative Honorable Patrick Faber to come to terms. I don’t in the interest of unity and moving forward as you know a resolution will be passed at the next NPC that will state that there will be no challenge to my leadership and that I will lead the party going into the general elections and hopefully to become the next Prime Minister of Belize. And so getting everyone on board is my objective and so if the Honorable Patrick Faber is prepared to support one party leader, one party, one mission and we move forward together again I have no difficulty with Mr.Jones and Mr.Faber and you know different mediators coming together and trying to broker a deal but we cannot disenfranchise or displace Mr.Jones. There is no remedy to revoke his candidacy he would have to resign and I have no objection if he is satisfied to the terms. Obviously we’d have to arrange the terms and I have no difficulty with such negotiations.”

Reporter: Is there a space for Patrick Faber in your administration sir ?

Moses “Shyne” Barrow, Leader of the Opposition: “Absolutely. I couldn’t think of a better Minister of Education to appoint.”