U.D.P. Cayo North and OW East Recognize Panton’s Leadership  

Eleven days ago, the Alliance for Democracy garnered substantial backing from United Democratic Party delegates. These delegates, transported from all corners of the country, cast their votes decisively in favor of Albert Area Representative Tracy Taegar-Panton, electing her as the interim leader of the U.D.P.  In the lead-up to the Unity Convention, former party leader Shyne Barrow dismissed the event, claiming it was not officially sanctioned by the United Democratic Party. He consistently referred to the Alliance for Democracy, a faction within the U.D.P., as a third party, underscoring his disapproval.  Much has unfolded since last Sunday, with Taegar-Panton firmly establishing her leadership of the embattled party by taking control of the U.D.P. headquarters here in Belize City.  On Monday, U.D.P. Cayo North Standard Bearer, Omar Figueroa, wrote to Barrow informing him that U.D.P. supporters in his constituency have decided to recognize Panton’s leadership.  In his letter, Figueroa wrote, “given the urgency of the situation, the Cayo North Executive finds it necessary to take a position on the current crisis.  In the spirit of achieving unity, we urge all executive committees across the thirty-one constituencies to do the same so that there can be a final and lasting resolution.  We join with the call of the delegates as displayed on October twentieth, 2024.  Through this medium, we recognize Tracy Taegar Panton as the interim leader, Sheena Pitts as the interim chairman, and their executive as the single executive of the great United Democratic Party”.  A similar letter was written to Shyne Barrow on October thirtieth, by Orange Walk East Standard Bearer Elodio Aragon Junior.  In the letter, he wrote, “at this time, we believe that Tracy Panton is the leader who can best serve the United Democratic Party and lead the charge into the next general elections of 2025.  We know that there are those standard bearers who support Honorable Shyne Barrow, but we also note that many of them do not have the full support of their delegates in that regard”. Earlier today, we had a phone conversation with Panton, who expressed her thoughts on the growing support she’s receiving from various constituencies.

 

On the phone: Tracy Taegar-Panton, Interim Leader, U.D.P.

“It has been our commitment, and I think I have made it clear that we would make every effort we can to ensure that we solidify the party by extending a hand of friendship and collaboration with those who were not prepared at the time of the convention to get involved and we have been having these discussions with not only Omar and Elodio, the members for Cayo North and Orange Walk East, but other colleagues as well so we can bridge the unity divide.  I am very pleased that these two colleagues have taken the step to come on board.  It is important to us in terms of unifying the party, but also for our commitment to defend our democracy.”

 

Isani Cayetano

“What does this mean now, going forward?  You seem to be shoring up support from others who may have been on the fence at the time of the convention.

 

Tracy Taegar Panton

“I think it is our objective to bring as many people under the tent that we can and that includes the former party leader, the former chairman and the former vice chairman.  We are one United Democratic Party and we believe that through a United Front we can competitively compete in the next general elections and that is the objective that we want to win and failing that, we want to ensure that we have a more robust democracy and more robust opposition by having more members at the table than we have now.”