UDP Reinstates Expelled Members—Except Patrick Faber

The United Democratic Party (UDP) is once again making headlines following a contentious National Party Council (NPC) meeting held on Saturday afternoon. All previously expelled members of the party were officially reinstated, except for former Collet area representative Patrick Faber. The meeting, intended to unify the party ahead of its October 5 National Convention, instead laid bare deep internal divisions. According to reports from inside the meeting, Faber who was neither invited nor listed as an eligible voter, interrupted the proceedings, leading to a disruption that forced the council to shift the voting process to an online platform. Opposition Leader Tracy Panton reportedly opposed the day’s proceedings, signaling that the decision was not without controversy among the UDP’s upper ranks. UDP Chairman Michael Peyrefitte explained that it was within her rights but atleast she did not disrespect the process. 

Michael Peyrefitte, Chairman, UDP: “Honorable Tracy Panton has a right to disagree. She has a right to disagree, she has a right to not like in her opinion what was taking place today. She objected to it but she had the decency and the respect to let the process take It’s place. She decided to stay away from the meeting, to have us put it on the floor to bring us back in but Patrick Faber he thinks he’s big and bad, he thinks the rules don’t apply to him but the UDP is not an abused woman. The UDP is not to be bullied. The UDP will not have its doors kicked down by a sick, deranged, individual. What the UDP will do, what I believe will happen at five o’clock is to say we don’t want Patrick Faber in the UDP any more. I know while I’m chair when the applications come for conventions and for the different divisions and Collet is one of them Patrick Faber’s application will not be accepted if he chooses to apply for one in the convention coming up.”

Adding further weight to the decision, former Prime Minister Dean Barrow reportedly voted in favor of Faber’s removal. Current Party Leader Shyne Barrow also addressed the matter, expressing his hope that the next leader of the UDP would not take advice from Faber. 

Moses “Shyne” Barrow, UDP Party Leader: “Patrick Faber came in and disrupted the meeting and quite unfortunate but the motion still carried that October 5th, 2025 is the date for the national convention and everyone will be reinstated and be a member in good standing and those expelled reinstated except Patrick Faber.”

Reporter: Okay just now we spoke to Mr.Faber and he said that that is impossible.

Moses “Shyne” Barrow, UDP Party Leader: “He can say whatever he wants but asking me as the duly elected party leader what just happened and I’m telling you what happened. That’s Patrick Faber. That’s what he’s always been and I just hope whoever would scudded me as leader is not taking direction from him because he’s been prone to self destruction. He was at the mountain top and he threw himself off the mountain top so he’s definitely not someone to take advice from. You ever see me or any of the colleagues that are the official leaders of the party go to Euphrates or involve ourselves in anything that Ms.Panton is doing ? So you know it’s quite unfortunate but there must be consequences. No organization, no association, no country…..this gentleman was just arrested and charged for assaulting a police again everyone is wrong. He was arrested and charged in 2022 for assaulting someone with a hammer then we saw in a video he head butted the same person everyone can’t be wrong and it can’t be that the party moves forward with these types of tumors. We need to treat ourselves and it is evident after today that he’s the main sickness of the UDP.”

Faber, who served as a UDP parliamentarian for 22 years and currently holds the position of lead opposition Senator, pushed back against the party’s stance. He pointed to a recent court ruling which deemed the expulsion of himself and others null and void. According to Faber, this judgment affirms his continued membership in the UDP and his status as the party’s standard bearer for the Collet constituency.

Senator Patrick Faber: “I don’t need an invitation I am the former leader of this party, I am a senator for this party and I am the caretaker for the Collet constituency. No invitation needed. What we should look at is the flaw that happened when those who decided on who should be invited or who is entitled to be here happened. And that is completely wrong. All of you saw the clarification of the judgement. They went one way when the judgment initially came out, they sought a clarification. Judgment said the explosions of the Honorable Tracy Panton and by extension the other three persons, myself included, was illegal, void, it never happened. So they can’t tell me that I can’t come to an NPC meeting. They can’t. Mr.Peyrefitte can say what he wants to, I’ve been here longer than him. I have worked for this party from 14 years old and that is why I stand up. It’s not for me you know? They’re not having any convention in Collet, that’s not one of the divisions that’s in any danger for a convention to be held but we must do what is right.”

Reporter: But they told us they’re voting you out Mr.Faber.

Senator Patrick Faber: “Well they could say what they want to say, that’s fine. That’s fine. Ultimately I know my value not only for this party but as an individual as well and so it doesn’t matter what they say.”

As for UDP’s Albert Area Representative Tracy Taegar Panton, she issued a resolute statement emphasizing the need for genuine reform within the party’s leadership. She asserts that until the current UDP Leadership Executive is, quote, “ready to do the right thing and do things the right way”.  End of quote.  She noted that along with the UDP Parliamentarian Caucus, she will prioritize national issues and hold the current People’s United Party (PUP) government accountable.  Interestingly, the NPC has resolved to hold a national convention on October 5 where a new leader will be elected to succeed Moses Shyne Barrow.  Most curious is that Panton would more than likely be endorsed as the party leader, yet she refuses to participate in the current plan to move forward.