Taegar-Panton went on to explain that a special convention will be held on October sixth to recall the leadership of the party and that it will be done based on the support of delegates whose signatures they have garnered.
Tracy Taegar-Panton
Tracy Taegar-Panton, Area Representative, Albert
“We therefore wish to denounce the fraudulent and unconstitutional rejection of 232 signatures of duly elected delegates who are the trustees of the United Democratic Party and decision makers. saying that their signatures are not valid for the convening of a national convention. You know the story, but I think it is important that we make it implicitly clear that on the 12th of August, a letter was sent to the chairman with the requisite signatures For an NPC meeting to be convened to discuss, among other things, the breaches and blatant disregard to the party’s constitution. Now let me say that the constitution is the most important institutional tool that we have available to us as members of the United Democratic Party. And should be treated in that regard. This letter of August 12th was the second request we shared with the chairman for an NPC meeting. And these requests have gone unanswered and obviously have fallen on deaf ears. The members of our alliance agreed to engage in a mediation process so we could air our concerns and determine collectively how to move forward in the best interests of the United Democratic Party. A meeting of the mediation team was convened by the national campaign manager on Friday, the 23rd of August. We discussed the issues as it related to the breaching of the party’s constitution, included, but not limited to, the removal of the standard bearer for Port Loyola, the unconstitutional removal of the standard bearer for Caribbean Shores, and the unconstitutional removal of the standard bearer for Port Loyola. For Belize rural south. The Alliance for Democracy has, is making a call, will be making a public call for a special unity UDP convention to be held on October 6th of 2024. This allows us the 30 day notice. That is required by the constitution. The special convention will seek to do a few things. One, to look at the executive appointments to the party. Two to pass a motion on the floor to recall the party leader and also to seek to, to, to, a second motion that will seek to appoint an interim leader of the United Democratic Party until these matters can be straightened out at the subsequent convention to be held.”
Collet Area Representative, Patrick Faber said that while the Alliance members want unity in the U.D.P., they want to restore democracy to the party as well. He explained that that is what the white paper proposes to do. He used the scenario of former U.D.P. elected member, Marcel Cardona, who spoke against his party’s budget in the House and was deemed as constructively resigned from the U.D.P. That scenario he said, differs greatly from the present situation.
Patrick Faber
Patrick Faber, Area Representative, Collet
“It is a comprehensive strategy for reforming the UDP at a time when our party faces unprecedented internal challenges. Challenges that threaten our ability to effectively represent the people of Belize. The Alliance for Democracy recognizes the urgent need for this change, and this document outlines our vision for that change, and it will focus on three main areas. The first is restoring our democratic processes. You’ve listened as the Honorable Panton outlined a number of infractions that have been dealt to members but the wider party as well by the current leader and leadership in general of the party. We’ve heard about the practices having to do with just haphazard decision making. They take something to the central executive. And they put the question, and they determine how they are going to put that question first of all, whether it is in the positive or negative. And then they decide whether they are going to count the people who support or don’t support, or they count those who participate or don’t participate. But it is a total flawed process. We have seen where they have carried decisions at this level. And if we are lucky, we get a shot at it at the National Party Council level, as is the case with the four of us now. That didn’t go anywhere. And for context, I want to, while we talk about these processes, revisit for the benefit of those who may not have known. I noticed that in the letter, the communication that was passed, having to do with the, as they deem it, the constructive resignation of the four of us. They used as precedent the situation with Marcel Cardona. Well, let’s look at that. And, of course, they called my name in that, in that I was the chairman of the party at the time. Well, let’s look at that situation for a minute. Marcel Cardona’s case, first of all, was a decision made by the cabinet. Marcel was a part of the cabinet, and that decision was first discussed and approved by the cabinet. Not that it is national government business, but it is the cabinet’s business. It went to the central executive of the party, and it was carried.”
Faber shared a few instances where he thought the party’s mechanism for communicating with its members is less than effective. He referred to WhatsApp chat groups that serve to communicate among them where members are removed if they do not participate within a certain time frame.
Patrick Faber, Area Representative, Collet
“They cannot constructively resign me, and I believe that that is the process, that is the position of my colleagues as well. These committees need to know their roles and their responsibilities, and we need to set clear guidelines as to what will constitute a decision, how many people have to vote on certain things. There are some decisions that are bigger than other decisions, and maybe we need to set thresholds for various different decisions that are needed to be made. Virtual meetings is another thing. We made accommodation for virtual meetings on Zoom and on other platforms for us to use chat groups when we were in COVID and all understand that there is a time when you might have to do a quick, in fact in the traditional business world, you call us are Round Robin. You send out an email and you ask people for their opinion and their views, but this party is run by chat group. And if they don’t like what you’re saying, they kick you out of the chat group.”
The United Democratic Party has officially stated that Tracy Panton, Patrick Faber, John Saldivar, and Beverly Williams are no longer members of the party. This ‘clarification’ comes as the Alliance for Democracy announces a special unity convention scheduled for October 6th, which will address critical party matters, including reviewing executive appointments and voting on a motion to recall the current leadership and appoint an interim leader.
In response to UDP Chairman Michael Peyrefitte’s claim that several members had “constructively resigned,” Tracey Taegar-Panton declared, “We have not resigned; we will not resign from the UDP!” Taegar-Panton accused UDP Leader Moses “Shyne” Barrow of violating the party’s constitution by appointing new standard bearers to replace the current ones.
Collet Area Representative Patrick Faber, Second Deputy Leader Beverly Williams, and former Belmopan Area Representative John Saldivar, who joined Taegar-Panton at the press conference, have been vocal in their opposition to the current UDP leadership.
The application period to fill the vacancies for UDP Standard Bearers in the Albert, Belmopan, Belize Rural Central, and Collet constituencies will close on September 6, 2024.
The Alliance for Democracy has announced a special unity convention set for October 6th, focusing on critical party matters. The convention will review the party’s executive appointments, vote on a motion to recall the current leadership and appoint an interim leader.
During a recent press conference, Tracey Taegar-Panton declared, “We have not resigned; we will not resign from the UDP!” This was in response to United Democratic Party (UDP) chairman Michael Peyrefitte’s claim that several members had “constructively resigned” from the party. Taegar-Panton accused UDP Leader Moses “Shyne” Barrow of violating the party’s constitution by appointing new standard bearers to replace the current ones.
Collet Area Representative Patrick Faber, Second Deputy Leader Beverly Williams, and former Belmopan Area Representative John Saldivar joined Taegar-Panton at the press conference. These members have been vocal in their opposition to the current UDP leadership.
The United Democratic Party appeared before the Belize City Magistrates Court today to challenge just over sixty voter transfers in the Cayo North constituency. We spoke with U.D.P. Chairman, Michael Peyrefitte who contends that in one case, fifteen persons were registered in a single bedroom apartment. Peyrefitte argues that most of these transfers are from the Belize Rural Central constituency. He says it should be concerning for Belize Rural Central Area Representative Dolores Balderamos-Garcia. He also described it as a desperate move by Cayo North Area Representative Michel Chebat. Ultimately, the challenge was unsuccessful. Peyrefitte told us more.
Michael Peyrefitte, Chairman, U.D.P.
“Well, it was very simple what was being tried, challenged. You know, July and August, that’s the transfer period. So, if you were once living in one constituency, but you recently moved to another constituency, the law allows you in the months of July and August to transfer to where you now live, right? But just like first registration, when you transfer, it has to make sense. For example, if you have a one-day rule, the evidence led by our person who led the evidence in one of the situations goes to the host once a week, friends with the chief occupant, then what you have then is that person testifying. That you have a small living room, a small kitchen and one bedroom, but yet between July tenth and August tenth, fifteen people claim to have moved into that property. I mean, that’s just, that doesn’t fly. I mean, that’s ridiculous. And I know the law says that the law puts no limit on it in terms of as long as the chief occupant says they live there, then, you know, it’s kind of hard for the magistrate to say, well, you know, I don’t accept that because that’s the law, but that is completely and utterly ridiculous. And I hope the court would have made the chief occupant and the registering officer come under oath and testify that when she, as a registering officer went to check to see that these people actually live there, that she found them there, that she found evidence that they lived there, and we believe that she could not have said that, because then there’s no way that 15 people could live in some of these places. And then they, it felt to us like it was never going to reach that stage, because shockingly, amazingly, the magistrate allowed a no case submission in a civil matter. What should have happened in our view since in a civil matter, while the burden was on us, it’s a balance of probabilities. You hear our side. And then the registering officer and the people who were being objected to would come into court and testify on their side of the story. It didn’t even reach to where the registering officer had to explain how it is that she registered these people.”
On Monday night, we told you that the Alliance for Democracy, a faction of the United Democratic Party led by Tracy Panton, is seeking to mend fences with party leader, Moses “Shyne” Barrow. The party recently took a decision to deem four of the alliance’s members, including Panton and Patrick Faber, constructively resigned. The alliance is now looking to have that declaration rescinded. When reporters asked Peyrefitte about all that has played out to date, his response was that the U.D.P. is not worried because the party will be fine.
Michael Peyrefitte
Michael Peyrefitte, Chairman, U.D.P.
“I know of the United Democratic Party. And I have seen a couple side shows over the past years and I won’t entertain or dignify any of that with any response. I think the internal matters of the UDP can easily be left in UDP. We will figure it out. We have always figured it out. We have had situations where when you compare that, this, this is nothing. I mean, we’ve had a national hero of this country belonging to the UDP break away from the National Alliance for Belizean Rights and then join with the UDP a couple of months before a general election and we win. So, I’m not even concerned about that.”
Reporter
“Okay, so are you going to retract this? They’re calling it an effective expulsion. Is that what it is?”
Michael Peyrefitte
“Me? I think you already are aware of what the central executive decided, but like I said, things can, I’m always the hopeless romantic in the bunch. I always think that things can work out and we can talk through things, and we can unite and we can heal. I will always want to believe that up to a certain point. And I could also want that, but it takes two to tangle. So, let’s see how it progresses from here. But what I’m saying, what I will maintain is this, the internal business of the UDP in comparison to what’s happening in this nation right now, and the PUP always sorts itself out. The PUP always, the UDP always figures away. The UDP always sorts itself out. And so, I’m not worried about that, we’ve seen bigger problems than this and we worked our way through it. So, I think it is proven that nothing and no person can destroy the UDP. Nobody ever will. So, we’re not worried about the UDP. The UDP will be fine.”
And, while the U.D.P.’s central executive committee says Panton, Faber, Beverly Williams and John Saldivar constructively resigned, those four view the move as an expulsion from the party. In fact, requests for applications for standard bearers in these constituencies are already out. But what does this move mean for those constituents who voted for Panton and Faber under the U.D.P. banner? Do they still have U.D.P. representation? We asked Peyrefitte.
Paul Lopez
“They voted for a United Democratic Party era representative, which they still have, but them being expelled. I’m interested in getting your take in terms of how that works. They’re no longer members of the United Democratic Party, but yet they’re representatives, doesn’t that do sort of a disservice to those residents?”
Michael Peyrefitte
Michael Peyrefitte, Chairman, U.D.P.
“Show me where the UDP has taken a position where we see they were expelled.”
Paul Lopez
“Constructively resigned.”
Michael Peyrefitte
“Show me where the UDP has stated that anybody has been expelled. Show me where. You said expelled.”
Paul Lopez
“I mean, so, so that is to say that there are still members of the United?”
Michael Peyrefitte
“No, no, no, I’m saying, show me where I’m saying. We’re wasting good time worrying about things that will work itself out. It will work itself out. It’s always happened.”
Paul Lopez
“But what do you say to the residents in that area?”
Michael Peyrefitte
“We’re asking people in not just those two areas, we’re talking about two out of thirty-one. We’re asking the country to have the fear that they always have in the UDP to bounce back and form the government and deliver for the good of the people. That’s how we’re focused on. All those other internal issues that we have we will always work them out the way we’ve always worked them out, which is as a family.”
Reporter
“When you as the party chairman stated that these four people had effectively resigned, does that mean that the UDP considers it can do without them and whatever consequences after that be done? Because You have a stronghold in Patrick Faber and also in Tracy Panton. I don’t know if you can find other people who would be able to win those constituencies for the UDP.”
Michael Peyrefitte
“You’re trying to bait me into saying something, but this is what I will say. I will say this and you take what you want from this. No one person nor few persons are bigger than the United Democratic Party. The UDP is bigger than Shyne Barrow, it’s bigger than me, it’s bigger than Hugo Patt, it’s bigger than Beverly Williams, bigger than Alberto August, and that’s the executive leadership. The UDP is bigger than all five of us individually and all five of us together.”
The Alliance for Democracy says it wants peace with U.D.P. Leader Moses “Shyne” Barrow. On Friday, the alliance called a press conference for today, after the U.D.P.’s central executive expelled Tracy Panton, Patrick Faber, John Saldivar and Beverly Williams from the party. The U.D.P., thereafter, sent out a request for applications for standard bearers in those four constituencies. Well, the Alliance for Democracy backed out of that scheduled press conference. We spent the day reaching out to the alliance to get information on the status of that press conference. Late this afternoon, a release was issued stating that it has been actively working behind the scenes to secure a retraction of the central executive’s decision. The alliance says the retraction is viewed as a crucial step, a conditional precedent, to returning to the mediation table and addressing the current impasse. The release says that considering this, the alliance has decided to stay its next course of action to give the process a fair chance to succeed. We will continue to follow.
On Saturday, the People’s United Party held a convention to endorse four standard bearers for the Orange Walk North, South, East, and Central constituencies. They are Ramon Cervantes, Jose Abelardo Mai, Kevin Bernard and Prime Minister John Briceño, respectively. The district is currently dominated by the P.U.P. as all four standard bearers are current area representatives. News Five’s Britney Gordon was at the event to capture the nominations.
Britney Gordon, Reporting
The Sugar City was a spectacle of blue and white on Saturday when the People’s United Party hosted a convention endorsing four candidates as standard bearers for the Orange Walk district. Prime Minister John Briceño was once again nominated as standard bearer for Orange Walk Central.
John Briceño
John Briceño, Area Rep, Orange Walk Central
“I humbly accept the nomination to be the standard bearer for Orange Walk Central once again. And yes, we have been winning election after election since 1993, Orange Walk Central haven’t lost a single election, because even when we don’t win town council in Orange Walk Central, we deliver for the People’s United Party. But that is only possible, I am only a small part of that work.”
PUP Orange Walk North standard bearer is Ramon Cervantes. He took the platform to thank his supporters for recognizing the work he has done for the constituency.
Ramon Cervantes
Ramon Cervantes, Area Rep., Orange Walk, North
“Thank you especially to the beautiful people of Orange Walk North for renewing their confidence, their confidence in me as their candidate for the next elections. I love you all a lot. Thank you to God for giving us life and the strength to be here today for this grandiose moment. Its been ten years since we started the march towards victory for the People’s United Party in Orange Walk North. In those times I remember myself. And I think we all remind ourselves that many thought that we could never win, that we were never going to win. The atmosphere was discouraging and the future was dark, but with the encouragement, rigor and support of you, the northern people, we began to see victory.”
Following Cervantes’s nomination, former mayor and incumbent Orange Walk East Area Representative Kevin Bernard highlighted the progress his constituency has made during his term thus far.
Kevin Bernard
Kevin Bernard, Area Representative, Orange Walk East
“Three years ago, when you visited Santa Martha, you couldn’t even make a phone call from that village. Today, Santa Marta now has access to internet, can make proper phone calls, and can communicate to the people. Three and a half years ago, Santa Martha didn’t even have access to healthcare in their community. But today, we can boast that Santa Martha now has a head clinic to serve the people of that community. Ladies and gentlemen, from the day Tower Hill was made a village, and it was always under the UDP. But today, with the last village council elections that we had and we won, we made a commitment to the people of Tower Hill. They were always depending on the Carmelita water system. But now, Tower Hill residents have their own water system. have done a lot of major works, but there’s much more to be done.”
Up next was Jose Abelardo Mai who is running for Orange Walk South. Mai explains that he plans to continue the work he has been doing to improve the livelihoods of farmers.
Jose Abelardo Mai
Jose Abelardo Mai, Area Representative, Orange Walk South
“The people in Orange Walk South continue to show support for what I’m doing. And that has motivated me to again be the candidate for the next elections. We still have a lot of work to do. When we inherited the government, I think you all know the state of the country. Today, we’ve made significant steps improving the country, but as a total country, there’s still a lot to do. I’ve decided to again, make that giant step another five years. Under the PUP of course, under the leadership of John Briceño. I believe that with his leadership and if he feels it proper to make me a minister of cabinet, I will again do my job to the best of my ability.”
Prime Minister Briceño has no plans to call an early election. He reiterates his confidence in his party, maintaining that no matter when the election is held, they will have the votes.
John Briceño
“We still have a lot of work to do. For instance, we, in the Orange Walk district, we still have to run electricity to San Carlos. We expect to get that done by the end of December. We are looking at starting to pave the road to Guinea Grass, we are going to do it in two phases. So the first year is supposed to start before the end of the year. And like that, there’s so much work that we do, we have to do. I know it is tempting to call an election right now because, well, the UDP continues to implode. But we were elected for five years, and we still have a lot of work to do. So I think that we should continue to do the work. And we believe that if we continue working the way we have over the past three years and nine months that whenever we call elections, next year that the people are still going to support us.”
