Patt Says NPC and Convention is the Best Way Forward

With the United Democratic Party still tangled in a months-long leadership dispute, Corozal North Area Representative Hugo Patt says it’s time to settle the matter once and for all—with a National Party Council (NPC) meeting and a new convention. Patt believes electing a definitive leader is the only way to bring clarity and unity back to the party. But there’s a catch: before any convention can happen, Vice Chairman Alberto August—who held that role before the controversial October 20th convention—must call the NPC meeting. So far, August hasn’t responded to Tracy Taegar-Panton’s request to do so. Still, Patt says he’s spoken with August and remains hopeful that the meeting will be called “in due course.” As the U.D.P. power struggle drags on, all eyes are now on August—and whether he’ll take the next step to break the deadlock.

 

Hugo Patt, Area Representative, Corozal North

“Yes, there is a need for the party to heal. Yes, there is a need for us to unify. Yes, there is a need for us to have a party leader that nobody will question. And yes, there is a need for us to move on in the quickest time possible. And so while we in concept have agreed to that it is just a matter for us to get that advice. In my case, I just want to be legally sure that I’m doing the right thing, and from there we move on.”

 

Marion Ali

You’ve spoken to him? You’ve asked him to call the meeting?”

 

Hugo Patt

“Yes. I’ve spoken to him and he has said yes, we agreed that that’s the way forward. You will hear a lot of things here and there, Ms Ali and you have to understand that there are two factions within the UDP.”