In the lead-up to the October twentieth Unity Convention, both factions of the U.D.P., including the Alliance for Democracy, cited the party’s constitution, each interpreting it to bolster their own stance. Interestingly, neither side sought a judicial review of the U.D.P. constitution. Here’s Barrow’s response to this observation.
Isani Cayetano
“The alliance has quoted one aspect of the constitution that essentially empowers them and you, as the Leader of the United Democratic Party up until perhaps the twentieth of October, also cited the UDP constitution to bolster your position as well. But no has decided to take the matter before the court for a proper reading of what the constitution actually says.”
Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
“And so, I reject you saying up until the twentieth because before the twentieth there was no controversy as to my leadership. Now you accept that this is controversial and contentious, but as far as the country knows, myself, Hugo Patt, Michael Peyrefitte, Alberto August, we are the duly elected leaders of the party. This event that took place October twentieth had no sanction, but now you say, why didn’t we stop them or try to get an injunction from them using the name UDP. I think that would have been the only remedy because we can’t stop people from gathering, we can stop people from using the name.”
Isani Cayetano
“To be specific, I am citing that portion of the constitution that speaks to the delegates forming and having a vote based on the fact that they may not necessarily be satisfied with any part of one’s leadership or satisfied with the direction in which the executive may be headed.”
Shyne Barrow
“Well here is the thing, what we are seeing from the Alliance for Democracy Party is not the breath of fresh air, is not the renewed or rebirth of democracy and ideologies strengthen our nation.”
On Monday, Tracy Panton, the Albert Area Representative, made quite a splash when she, along with about fifty supporters, marched into the U.D.P headquarters on Youth for the Future Drive and took control of the building’s offices and operations. This morning, Panton took to the airwaves on the U.D.P’s own Wave Radio and TV, laying out her reasons for the takeover and the backing she’s received. Supporting that bold move, Panton’s attorney, Orson Elrington, presented documents to the media, showing that they had enlisted an employee of the Magistrate’s Court to transfer the land documents into their custody. But the plot thickens—today, a letter from Shari Medina, who insists she’s still the Secretary-General of the party, was circulated to the media. In it, Medina argues that the property couldn’t have been handed over to Panton’s team. News Five’s Marion Ali has the latest on this unfolding drama.
Marion Ali, Reporting
Today, the final lock on the upper floor of the U.D.P. headquarters was swapped out as Albert Area Representative, Tracy Taegar-Panton, officially took the reins of the building. In a press release, Panton announced that she and her supporters have now taken full control of the building, managing the entire compound and the party’s media outlets, the Guardian Newspaper and Wave Radio. When we swung by the headquarters this morning, only a handful of police officers were on guard, keeping an eye on things. Late Monday evening, Panton issued another press release, reaffirming her position as the leader of the United Democratic Party.
Panton shared that she, along with the party’s new Chair, Sheena Pitts, and new Secretary-General, Lynn Singh-Ross, have moved into the headquarters. She emphasized that it’s her duty to make sure the U.D.P.’s resources, including the headquarters, are available to those working to bring the party together. Despite the Leader of the Opposition’s attempt to change the locks and station security at the building, trustee Philippa Griffith-Bailey granted her full access to the property.
Attorney Orson Elrington provided the Instrument of Transfer that bore the Land Registry number: two, zero, one, zero, zero, six, two, nine, two for block forty-five, parcel zero, zero, nine, six, nine. Elrington presented those at the office with a copy of a transfer land document that bore the name of Phillipa Bailey as trustee. And although Bailey handed over the property to Panton and her team, today, Shyne Barrow, who still claims to be the rightful leader of the U.D.P, forwarded a digital copy of a letter to the Commissioner of Police. That letter, signed by Shari Medina, who also claims she is still the Secretary-General of the party, debunks the position of trustee that Bailey said she enjoyed. Medina maintains that Bailey has never been a Trustee of the U.D.P and has no authority to make any pronouncements on the assets of the party.
Medina points to a land transfer document that Gaspar Vega signed when he was the Minister of Natural Resources in 2010. The document does state that the land was transferred to the name Phillipa Bailey for the U.D.P. That document shows a line penned through Bailey’s name. Medina’s release goes on to explain that at the time of the land transfer, Bailey was employed as the party’s Secretary General and hence, was the logical person to sign on behalf of the UDP. But since then, Bailey resigned and was asked to hand over all the party’s assets, including the land document. According to Medina, the U.D.P’s Central Executive has not written to any of the party’s trustees to instruct any change in leadership or authorize any transfer of the assets. The letter also asserts that Moses “Shyne” Barrow is the U.D.P Leader, and that Mike Peyrefitte continues to be the party chairman, while Alberto August remains the Deputy Party Chairman, with herself being the Secretary General.
Yesterday, things got heated outside the compound when two of Shyne Barrow’s supporters, Allan Kelly and Ian Jones, refused to budge despite demands from Panton’s supporters to leave. With her picture proudly displayed on the wall at the headquarters, marking her as the new U.D.P Leader, Panton assured the media that no one is being kicked out because, after all, they’re all U.D.Ps. She also clarified that Bailey was never a trustee for the party itself, just for the property.
Tracy Taegar-Panton
Tracy Taegar-Panton, Area Representative, Albert
“She has never been a trustee for the party, but she is the trustee for the land. Her signature appears on the land document. So she has the power to give me access to the land, to the property. We are not trying to also mode of the party. We’re not trying to eject him from the party. There is a new party leader. I will lead the mandate. I will take up the mandate and I will lead the mandate of the people. He is free to run in Mesop as a standard bearer for the United Democratic Party.”
On Monday, Alberto August filed a police report against Panton, Elrington, John Saldivar, and several others with damage to property for breaking open padlocks at the building and for trespassing. So far, no charges have been filed against these individuals. The Commissioner of Police has made it clear to officers at the compound that they should stay out of the U.D.P’s internal politics. He told the media that the police are there to ensure no property damage occurs. Marion Ali for News Five.
As we reported on Monday, a reputable attorney, speaking on the condition of anonymity, provided insights into the unfolding events within the U.D.P. The attorney explained that the U.D.P. Constitution permits a group of dissatisfied party members to gather enough delegates to hold a special convention. However, the Constitution is ambiguous about whether this group can appoint an interim chair to oversee the voting process, as only the party Chair, the Secretariat, or a constitutionally recognized individual can verify the legitimacy of the delegates. The attorney noted that the Constitution does not address what happens if the chairman, like Mike Peyrefitte, refuses to participate, leaving these issues likely to be resolved in court. Another critical matter is Tracy Panton’s influence in the House of Representatives. Shyne Barrow remains the Leader of the Opposition, with the authority to make parliamentary decisions, including appointing U.D.P. representatives to House committees. For Panton to assume this role and lead the party into the next general elections, she needs the support of at least three of the five U.D.P. elected representatives. Currently, she only has the backing of Collet Area Representative Patrick Faber. Godwin Haylock, who has replaced Denise “Sista B” Barrow as the Queen Square Area Representative, was asked if he would leverage his connections to sway her vote in favor of Panton. He indicated that he has not been able to do so.
Godwin Haylock
Godwin Haylock, U.D.P. Standard Bearer, Queen Square
“I have spoken to her before and she’s not at that stage at this point. I personally am completely for the new leadership team. I think it’s the rebranding of the UDP. I look forward to seeing a new UDP united and I can’t do much more at this stage when it comes to the composition of the leadership within the opposition in the House of Representatives.”
We’ll have more from our sit-down with Leader of the Opposition, Shyne Barrow in Wednesday’s newscast.
Some minutes ago, a statement issued by Tracy Panton under the UDP banner said that “The New Leadership Team of the United Democratic Party (UDP) is happy to announce that, having acted on the authority of the Trustee, we are now exercising the full management and control of the entire premises of the UDP Headquarters situated at Youth For The Future Drive. We are also happy to announce that we are also exercising full management and control of our Party organs, the Guardian Newspaper and Wave Radio.”
Panton, recently appointed interim leader during a convention organised by the Alliance for Democracy, urged all Standard Bearers and their executives to unite and collaborate under the new leadership. Following yesterday’s initial efforts, Panton and her supporters gained partial access to the UDP headquarters, including parts of the Guardian Newspaper and Wave Radio located on the upper floor’s right side. Today, they secured access to the remaining unoccupied areas of the building, which comprises of the conference room and additional offices utilised by the Party Leader.
However, the faction led by Moses “Shyne” Barrow issued a statement addressing the Commissioner of Police, Chester Williams, stating that UDP Deputy Chairman Alberto August has filed a police report concerning the ‘breaking and entering’ of the UDP headquarters.
A week after Albert Area Representative Tracy Taegar-Panton was elected as the new interim leader of the United Democratic Party (UDP) at a convention called by the Alliance for Democracy, she and many of her supporters arrived at the UDP headquarters on Youth for the Future Drive, demanding access to the building. Panton said she was armed with a legal right to claim the office after she had received a letter from Phillipa Bailey, the trustee for the headquarters building.
However, following the series of tense events at the headquarters, a statement was addressed to Commissioner of Police Chester Williams. In it, Secretary General Shari Medina on behalf of Party Chairman Michael Peyrefitte stated that Phillipa Bailey “is NOT, and has never been, a Trustee of the United Democratic Party.” According to Peyrefitte, the government transferred the land for the headquarters to the UDP on June 16, 2010. At that time, according to Peyrefitte, Bailey was the Secretary General and the appropriate signatory, but she resigned in February 2013 and was asked to return all party assets.
The faction led by Moses “Shyne” Barrow stressed that they “are the sole owners of the property” and that Bailey cannot transfer rights she no longer holds. Peyrefitte noted that according to the UDP Constitution, anyone managing assets must do so at the direction of the Central Executive Committee, which has not authorised any changes regarding these assets.
UDP Deputy Chairman Alberto August has filed a police report concerning the ‘breaking and entering’ of the UDP headquarters.
Panton told the media yesterday that Medina is no longer the Secretary General and announced that Lyn Ross had been appointed as the new Secretary General after an “urgent meeting” with her central executive committee on Saturday.
If you’ve been following our social media pages, you’ll know about the dramatic and hostile takeover of the United Democratic Party’s headquarters in Belize City. That takeover was led by Albert Area Representative Tracy Taegar Panton and her supporters against Moses “Shyne” Barrow, who we understand has filed a criminal complaint against those who participated in today’s event. It’s another escalation for the battle for the party and its organs, and as we saw today, Panton and her supporters are not backing down. News Five’s Marion Ali was there in the midst of it all and has the following report.
Marion Ali, Reporting
The U.D.P headquarters building on Youth for the Future Drive was the venue of a ruckus this morning when the Albert Area Representative, Tracy Taegar-Panton, along with standard bearers of the U.D.P and about fifty party supporters showed up and demanded access to the building. It came a week and a day after Panton led a convention at the Belize City Centre at which U.D.P. delegates voted her as the new U.D.P. Today she said she was armed with legal right to claim the office.
Tracy Taegar-Panton
Tracy Taegar-Panton, Area Representative, Albert
“We also sought the trustee for this building to have occupation of the building and to use this building for the work of the United Democratic Party – Philippa Bailey, former Secretary General of the United Democratic Party.”
Reporter
“And this morning, what transpired?”
Tracy Taegar-Panton
“We came over and we took occupation of the building.”
Reporter
“Forcefully?”
Tracy Taegar-Panton
“No, it was not forcefully. The door was opened for us. A server from the magistrate court was here to serve the relevant documents and the door was open, and we walked in.”
But while the trustee for the building, former U.D.P Secretary General, Philipa Bailey handed over the documents to Panton’s team, and she met an open office on the lower flat, gaining access to the upper flat proved to be a bit more difficult. The group managed to gain access to Wave radio, housed on the right-hand side of the building, but up to the time we left after four p.m., the keys to the hall and other office area on the left of the upper flat had still not been delivered. It was unclear who had the keys to that door. Panton had with her two attorneys, Orson Elrington and Godwin Haylock. Haylock explained the legalities of the property ownership
Godwin Haylock
Godwin Haylock, Attorney-at-law
“We have a sole trustee of the party when it comes to the property, this headquarters, and her name is Philippa Griffith Bailey. She’s actually a former secretary general for this party, a UDP stalwart a no-nonsense secretariat who reigned during the Barrow era, that’s Dean Barrow era to make it clear to you guys. She has been consulted by our party leader. She has accepted the will of the delegates. We are very pleased that the majority of the delegates are now behind this new party leader. What happens is that Miss Griffith Bailey is aware that she has a fiduciary duty, one that she doesn’t just act in haste. She gave it long thought; she didn’t do it before the majority of the delegates, that is, were satisfied that we were under a new leadership. I know she has now given the nod to the new party leader to say she is in full support of the new party leader taking control of the building itself.”
Panton named Lynette Singh-Ross as the new Secretary General. Marion Ali for News Five.
The ruckus between the two sides saw supporter for Moses “Shyne” Barrow, Ian Jones, who occupied one of the offices on the lower flat, leave momentarily and return. He told the media that the locks for which he had keys were removed, but Lake I Standard Bearer, Cecil Jenkins, who was at the office when the crowd went there. We hear from both men and then from Panton on how she wishes the dispute to be resolved.
Cecil Jenkins
Cecil Jenkins, Standard Bearer, Lake I, U.D.P.
“I personally opened this door that wasn’t locked to leave myself out, to let myself out. It wasn’t locked. It was open. You could have just turned the latch and it’s open.”
Ian Jones
Ian Jones, Supporter, Moses “Shyne Barrow
“If I have the only key for the lock, how did they get in? (Ruckus)”
Tracy Taegar-Panton
Tracy Taegar-Panton, Area Representative, Albert
“Sixty-six percent of our delegates is an overwhelming mandate and they have spoken. We are not trying to oust him out of the party, we are not trying to eject him from the party. There is a new party leader. I will take up the mandate and I will lead the mandate of the people. He is free to run in Mesop as a standard bearer for the United Democratic Party in Mesop.”
Former U.D.P. Minister Anthony “Boots” Martinez was also out to support Panton and told the media that the process that Moses “Shyne” Barrow used to claim he and others were expelled from the party was not the proper procedure. Martinez said he has to support Panton in order to protect the party from dictatorship.
Anthony “Boots” Martinez, Former U.D.P Minister
“The process of expelling any member of the party – the Central Executive meets and must make a recommendation to cause an investigation based on infraction to the Ethics Committee. The Ethics Committee in turn investigates whatsoever you say is the infringement of the Constitution. The Ethics Committee writes the people and say, come before me and explain yourself. And when that happens, then they will make a decision. And when they make the decision, the person could appeal to the National Party Council, which had the authority to overturn or to keep whatsoever it is they were accused of. So there is a process, and that’s what I am saying. That is my fundamental problem – the processes. And where that is concerned, to me, I have a fundamental problem, because that is opening the door for anybody who has a dissenting voice, for you to throw them out of the party and fire them. But by what authority?”
Former U.D.P Minister, Edmond Castro was also in support of Tracy Taegar-Panton. He told the media that Moses “Shyne” Barrow only needed to exercise humility. Now all he needs to do, according to Castro is to step aside for Panton.
Edmond Castro, Former U.D.P Minister
“I was one of the persons that voted and lobbied for Shyne and lobbied my colleagues in the Caucus for Change, lobbied to give Shyne a run. If I and any of my colleagues was in a two percent situation as he was, none of us would have had the opportunity to run for this party or be a representative of this party, none of us. And so Shyne was given a great opportunity and he had all opportunity to humble himself and do right, knowing his past and his background, and the party bend over ethics-wise, backward, and allow him to become the leader – not become the leader – allow him to even run as a member of this party. And so all the brother needed to have done was just humble himself.”
So while both Tracy Taegar-Panton and Moses “Shyne” Barrow claim they are the legitimate leader of the United Democratic Party. News Five checked with a reputable attorney at law who said that Barrow has clout in terms of who makes the decisions for the party in the legislature and that Barrow could argue the chairman of the U.D.P. was not there to approve the delegates list. He said the U.D.P. Constitution says nothing about when there is a U.D.P. event that the chairman does not attend to officiate. He did say, however, that Panton and her supporters had all rights to hold a convention that was triggered by a majority of the delegates. How this matter ends will likely end up in the courts.
