UDP Marks 51st Anniversary Amidst Internal Power Struggles and Leadership Disputes

Today, the United Democratic Party (UDP) marks 51 years of existence. The party was founded in 1974 as Belize’s second political organization by National Hero Philip Goldson. However, while it is a time for the party to celebrate, it remains divided as key figures within the UDP continue to fight for power. The party’s leader Moses Barrow has denied that the party will be holding a National Convention despite the Alliance for Democracy insisting on the event being an official UDP event. On Wednesday, Chairman of the People’s United Party, Henry Charles Usher weighed in on the situation and whether he believes it is troubling for the nation. 

Henry Charles Usher, PUP Chairman: “I try to spend as little time as possible concerned about the issues in the opposition. They remind me of that story that they’re willing to burn down their house and quarrel over who will rule over the ashes. That’s what they seem to be doing, they’re quarreling over who will rule over the ashes of their institution. But as chairman I can tell you this, the constitution is the supreme law of any organization and if the constitution has a clause that allows a certain number of delegates to trigger a convention then I don’t see how anybody, the chairman, the party leader. I can say that I think the job, the function, the role of any chairman is to be loyal to the constitution and I always tell people that my loyalty is with the constitution of the People’s United Party and I try to carry out my function as chairman in an accordance guided by the constitution and if there is a clause in there that persons can utilize to do anything then it’s my duty to see that yes it was done properly and to make sure that whatever is triggered, whatever is done is done in accordance with the constitution.”

The event dubbed the Special UDP National Convention is slated for October 20.