On Tuesday, the Shyne Barrow faction of the U.D.P. issued a statement rejecting Tracy Taegar-Panton’s petition to trigger a national convention. Despite this stance, Barrow expressed his interest in uniting the party but emphasized that any effort to do so must be on terms agreed upon by his side.
Shyne Barrow, Claimant
“I am not interested in being petty, I am not interested in being vindictive and vicious. I am interested in rebuilding the UDP, I am interested in unity, but as I have said all along, it will be on our terms. It will be not with the significantly corrupt, not with people like Faber that don’t respect law enforcement. It will be with the new generation of the UDP and even those that may come from the old generation but are prepared to work together with us. Unless the constitution is changed, you are right, I would not be able to run again, and if my colleagues see it fit to change the constitution then I will continue to serve as leader if they are so inclined to vote for me as leader. Now that the decision has been rendered Hugo Patt is in a much better position to not be pressured by Tracy. They have no standing and, you know, there are some colleagues that would want him to lead the party. Well if he doesn’t want then I’ll continue to lead the party. I am saying, if they amend the constitution, I will serve out my term, I will serve out my term until the next national convention. Show me where in the constitution it says that someone who is occupying the seat upon losing their qualification, immediately has to vacate the seat. These are the ambiguities that need to be clarified, in all fairness. There is no specific procedure for what happens when a member of parliament who is the leader or the deputy leader loses their seat.”
