UDP Chairman Denies Alliance’s Claims, Calls Convention Unconstitutional

While the Alliance For Democracy claims it was successful in removing Moses “Shyne” Barrow as UDP Leader, the party’s Chairman Michael Peyrefitte is denying those allegations. He says the entire convention was unconstitutional and had nothing to do with the UDP, given that there was no proper procedure to trigger a national convention. This morning, Peyrefitte appeared on the Morning Show to reject the AFD’s claims and clarify that the UDP’s leadership team remains the same, despite the group stating that they garnered enough votes from delegates to ratify the motions.

Michael Peyrefitte, Chairman, United Democratic Party: “Honorable Panton declares herself interim leader. That tells you that in their mind there has to be a convention sometime in the future for her to be full leader. In their mind. Now listen to how this doesn’t make sense. We have great information that there is a great possibility that the general elections will be called in March. From their people from their camp that is their belief as well so when do you call, in your mind their mind not in our mind, their mind, when do you call a national convention to determine a permanent leader? You have to give notice according to the UDP constitution that you love. You have to give like two, three months notice. Where does that put you ? November/ December. And in your mind if you’re calling yourself interim leader that means that let’s just say in a crazy world you’re the interim leader for that convention in December/January Shyne can challenge you. And so what happens is that the winner of that imaginary convention would then have what ? Two months to heal, to unify people and campaign for a general election in March. It doesn’t make sense. It makes me wonder who is inspiring this movement, this so called Alliance for Democracy. Whenever you look at situations you have to look at who wins you know ? Who is winning in all of this ? Not the UDP. The PUP is winning this. The PUP is getting away with murder because all the attention is focused on internal UDP party politics.”

Peyrefitte also responded to the AFD’s claim of being able to override a resolution passed at the party’s National Convention in 2023 to keep Barrow as the leader until the next general elections. He explained that based on the party’s constitution, the AFD, whose members had supported the resolution, is not able to remove any executive member. 

Michael Peyrefitte, Chairman, United Democratic Party: “It doesn’t matter who the leader is as long as we choose the leader properly. What matters in a couple months is sixteen seats. Sixteen seats. You are looking and I see people, full fledged in this movement and I just hope that that same energy is being put in their constituencies to deliver their seat. Because you create these questions that nobody can answer. We’re not proud to say that we’re in uncharted waters. We have never seen this before. We’ve never seen this before. Like I said the late great National Hero Philip Goldson had the decency to say listen to me I am at odds with Manuel Esquivel and Dean Barrow on this maritime areas act but I am a UDP I will not create any confusion for those in the UDP I will officially without shame say that I am a part of a new party called the National Alliance for Belizean Rights. If you have philosophical differences with the UDP or you have issues with Shyne and you do not want to be a part of the UDP or do not want to be a part of what the National Convention decided last year, of which you were a part of that decision, then form your own party and call yourself Alliance for Democracy and have your people follow you and there will be no shame in that. What we’re saying is this: stop causing confusion in UDP affairs to the point where people like you are asking legitimate questions. What if Johnny gets up tomorrow and says you know what I feel mischievous, 30 days ! Then how does even Honorable Panton become Prime Minister as an interim leader ?”

Peyrefitte also scrutinized the list of delegates, and the figures provided by the AFD.