UDP Leader Moses Shyne Barrow Comments on High Court Ruling

Moses Shyne Barrow is back in Belize after a business trip to Washington DC.  The UDP Party Leader was out of the country on Friday when the High Court delivered a ruling of status quo ante.  The ruling gave him and his executive the order to take back the UDP Headquarters which was hijacked some two weeks ago by the Alliance for Democracy.  On today’s Morning Show, Barrow spoke on his sentiments towards the ruling, delivered by Justice Tawanda Hondora.

Moses Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition: ”Initially we had asked for an ex parte injunction and when I say we I mean that literally the claim was not Moses Shyne Barrow, the claim was myself, deputy party leader Hugo Patt, the party chairman Michael Peyrefitte, the deputy party chairman Alberto August and the Secretary General Sean Medina. So the elected officials of the central executive are the ones that brought the claim and that was deliberate and strategic because in the judge’s order the judge does not return possession of the property to Shyne Barrow. The judge returned possession of the property to the Central Executive of the UDP. So in reality he has recognized who the UDP is until the substantive matters are determined. We raised the issue of Tracy Panton and her Alliance for Democracy Party passing off as the UDP and declaring themselves leaders and central executives and holding this parallel universe party. So we did bring that before the court because you can’t just bring an injunctive relief claim, even if it’s property, without giving the background.”

With that feather in his cap, one of the key information that Barrow provided had to do with the possibility of a reconciliation of the Alliance and the UDP.  While he did not write it off completely, he did say that there are personalities that he would rather not have in the UDP as the party continues to reform.

Moses Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition: “I will tell you this. It is a difficult situation. It is a difficult situation to consider reconciliation when these people have tried to destroy the United Democratic Party. Because there is no rational explanation for what they’re doing other than they are working with the People’s United Party to bring the UDP to a grinding halt and instead of having the spotlight on John Briceño and their performance, everything is in the UDP soap opera. It is an immaculate crafted, orchestrated design to undermine the United Democratic Party. And it’s difficult then now to say “okay, we will join these people, these people will come back in the party and then we will have an opportunity to run for leader.” after they destroyed the party. It’s difficult but listen my mind, my heart, and it’s always open, my ears are open to listen to my colleagues that support me, that have me as the duly elected leader of this party. And I will always be guided by what the majority of my colleagues want. But I think we have moved on. You know, the last meeting we had, the day of the criminal takeover is a meeting of all the standard bearers that support me and they said man we’re done with these people, we need to fill our vacancies, and we need to move forward and get to work in our constituencies. So I just don’t see how. And you know there are fundamental differences. People like John Saldivar should not be in politics. All the allegations with Danny Mason and head in a bucket and significant corruption. These aren’t the people that the electorate want. The electorate do not want Boots Martinez. They do not want Edmund Castro. Some people even question whether they want Patrick Faber and Tracy is going to lose her seat. She only won by 40. Kaya Cattouse is going to be on her. So I am telling you, how do you reconcile with people who want to lose every seat? I don’t see it, but again, I am guided, I want to make it clear that I am guided by whatever the majority of my colleagues want and I do not make a unilateral decision in that regard. But we have to focus on moving forward and I just don’t see how you move forward with people that don’t want.”