Year: 2024

Hugo Patt has distanced himself from the Alliance for Democracy, making it clear in a statement that he has nothing to do with the Alliance’s convention on Sunday. In a statement, Patt stressed his position as the duly elected first Deputy Party Leader and a member of the National Executive. He says he will continue to work alongside Party Leader Moses “Shyne” Barrow. Today we asked both Barrow and Tracy Taegar-Panton about Patt’s position.

Moses “Shyne” Barrow, Leader, U.D.P.

“He did not go. Hugo Patt, he’s a trillion percent with me. If Hugo Pat was not with me on Friday, they would have appointed a new leader of the opposition. But they lied. They lied. They put up a, a flyer.  One second. They put up a flyer, Marion, saying that Hugo Pat was their first deputy. How your first deputy know I come? And if that was your first deputy, why has he not gone with you to the governor general? They are dishonest and deceptive. Denise Burrow wants nothing to do with any alliance and does not support what is happening any way, shape, or form, despite the implication or the innuendos that Mr. Godwin Haylock tried to insert. He has not consulted with Sister B. And I know this because I have met with her. Because I do know that they share a close relationship. There is no doubt about that. They are close. They have been working together in Queens Square for quite some time. But he does not speak.”

Tracy Taegar-Panton, Area Rep., Albert

“Did he say that Mr. Pat was in support of or did he say that he was the first deputy leader because he is the first…I don’t know what Mr. Castro have said. There was no effort  or desire for us to act against the first deputy or the second deputy leader who were also endorsed at Bird’s Isle.  The same delegates who endorsed the slate at Bird’s Isle were the same delegates who voted in this convention. So you are going to tell me that they were valid at Bird’s Isle but they are no longer valid? By whose declaration?”

Marion Ali

“Mr. Pat issued a press release today to clarify that he’s not associated with the event that was held on Sunday.”

Tracy Taegar-Panton

“He’s not the first deputy leader? Is that what he’s saying of the United Democratic Party? Is he not the first deputy leader of the United Democratic Party because that event on Sunday was an event held by the United Democratic Party.”

The ongoing divide between the two parties has also angered standard bearers of the party who want to see unification and preparation for any possibility of an early general election. One of those standard bearers, Elodio Aragon Junior took to Facebook to write a letter to both sides. Aragon told News Five today he is tired of the dispute and wants both sides to put their differences to rest and move forward as one united party.

Elodio Aragon, Jr., Standard Bearer, OW East

“I’ve always stood on fat for this party to Tamir. I got an N. P. C. And I talk how I things how I believe  things should be run, etcetera. But you get tired. Sometime, you know, you decide, you know what? Make this attitude. After all, they are. They are the leaders that themselves. So But it comes to a point where we can’t sit back no more as leaders and continue to watch where we are going. And I will tell you, you know, I was so upset when I saw the press release that was issued right after this, this, um, convention, right? But, and after that press release, then I saw the chairman, and I’m not too happy with what he’s saying. Because at the end of the day, they know fully well what the truth of, of, of, of these things and the manner of how they go about it, like they are not looking at the solution to the problem, you know, they are continuing on a path where we never will come together as a party and if we don’t come together as a party, then we are fooling ourselves  because a general election is looming upon us and we have to, to come in and start this issue once and for all.”

And Moses Barrow says he is not surprised by Elodio Aragon’s statement. According to Barrow, Aragon has never supported his leadership of the party, but nonetheless, he tried to build a relationship. Barrow noted that in his statement he did not recognize Tracy Panton as the leader of the U.D.P.

Moses “Shyne” Barrow, Leader, U.D.P.

“He has never supported me but again, another demonstration of my democratic principles and values is the fact that even though he did not vote for me in any of the national conventions, in any NPC, I still supported him. I still tried to build a relationship with him. I was giving him support for his constituency. I gave him tremendous support for the town council, and I tried to build a relationship with him, but this is not necessarily surprising because he has always been aligned with Patrick Farber. But what is interesting is he does not recognize that Tracy is the leader of the UDP. So they, they can spin it their way, but look closely at what he says. If he believed that Tracy was the leader, then he would not be asking me to relinquish anything.”

And finally, from Moses Barrow, he says that he has fortified the U.D.P.’s headquarters on Youth for the Future Drive. According to Barrow, he did so because he received credible information that the Alliance supporters would storm the building and forcibly take over.

Marion Ali

“The locks at the headquarters building were cut and replaced. Why?”

Moses Barrow, Leader. U.D.P.

“No, they weren’t cut and replaced.  Just fortified the building. Just strengthened the security of the building because we received credible information that there were threats that the Alliance would try to breach the building and illegally enter the building.”

Marion Ali

“You feel that there is a potential for violence had you not change the locks or is that still the case?”

Moses Barrow

“Definitely I believe there is a serious threat from the alliance to use violence, to use whatever illegal means. I mean, this is who they are. Once you begin the foundation of your political organization in corruption, deception and fraud.”