Ramon Vasquez, Chairman and CEO of Belize Broadcasting Network (BBN), withdrew as the United Democratic Party (UDP) standard bearer for Belize Rural South in the upcoming General Elections to preserve the station’s neutrality. However, Vasquez was recently seen supporting the People’s United Party (PUP) at an endorsement convention in Orange Walk.
He was seen holding signs, supporting Prime Minister John Briceño and Orange Walk East Area Representative, Kevin Bernard. This comes days after Vasquez withdrew his candidacy from the U.D.P.
In a statement, he explained that the decision followed “extensive discussions with the board of directors” at BBN. The statement emphasised that the move was made to maintain the television station’s “identity, neutrality, and independence.”
The United Democratic Party’s divide widens with every passing day. The central executive has ejected Tracy Panton, Patrick Faber, John Saldivar and Beverly Williams from the party. News Five has received information that as of Wednesday, all these individuals were declared constructively resigned. According to this information, all four politicians were removed from the party because they formed a cabal, “Alliance for Democracy” and are acting in violation of the U.D.P.’s constitution. The central executive referenced a March 2011 U.D.P. declaration in which then party chairman, Patrick Faber deemed Orange Walk East Area Representative Marcel Cardona constructively resigned due to repeated violations of the party’s constitution. So, this is perhaps a scenario where Faber is getting a taste of his own medicine. But Faber says he is not going anywhere. He, along with Saldivar, Panton and Williams took to Facebook today to respond. Faber wrote, “The longest serving member of parliament, former chairman, deputy party leader/ deputy P.M. and former party leader, do you really think you can constructively resign me?”. John Saldivar said, “this is hogwash. I am now looking at my colleague’s standard bearers to see who will stand up for what is right, what is fair, what is constitutional. I am looking to them to see who will bell the cat before we self-destruct”. Panton and Williams both noted that they have not resigned and neither do they have any intentions to do so. So, will Belizeans see a united U.D.P. anytime soon? Information to News Five is that a team of mediators was established to intervene in the matter. The mediators have since given up on this mission. The team was comprised of Reverend David Goff, former House Speaker Laura Longsworth, Aldo Salazar and the party’s National Campaign Manager, Lindsay Garbutt. Reverend Goff wrote to both Barrow and Panton saying that they have only met once with both groups, however, given the recent events taking place, they believe that they cannot continue the process. The Alliance for Democracy says has scheduled a press conference for Monday morning. We will continue to follow.
John Saldivars has declared “I HAVE NOT RESIGNED” to the claims of his “constructive resignation” from the United Democratic Party (UDP).
In a Facebook post, the UDP’s Belmopan Standard Bearer criticised the party’s Central Executive Committee for declaring him and three other members—Tracy Panton, Patrick Faber, and Beverly Williams—as resigned due to alleged violations of the party’s constitution.
Saldivar defended his stance by stating that he respects Party Leader Moses “Shyne” Barrow and has supported his leadership. He said that the Party Constitution permits him to petition for a recall of Barrow, a right he insists is being unfairly challenged.
“All of a sudden, because we have petitioned for a leadership convention and a recall convention, and because we have been pointing out the many violations against our Party Constitution removing and appointing Standard Bearers unconstitutionally, we have become members of a fringe party and are deemed to have constructively resigned,” Saldivar said.
The party’s decision to label Saldivar and others as “constructively resigned” follows Panton and Williams’ petition on Tuesday to recall Barrow, which was rejected by Chairman Michael Peyrefitte.
The mediation team assigned to resolve the conflict between the United Democratic Party (UPD) and the Alliance for Democracy has decided to suspend its activities. This decision follows the parties failure to agree on a compromise.
According to an official statement, the UDP, led by Moses ‘Shyne’ Barrow, and the Alliance for Democracy, led by Tracy Panton, have only held a single meeting with the mediation team.
In the statement, Reverend David Goff, who is representing the mediation team, said, “Given the importance of an effective and united Opposition Party to the proper functioning of our democratic system, we readily agreed to undertake the mediation effort. To date, we have held one meeting with each of the two groups.”
Goff continued, “Effective mediation is contingent on the parties’ willingness to compromise. We do not feel that that factor exists at present.”
The mediation team, which also included Bishop Clare, Laura Longsworth, Aldo Salazar, and Lindsay Garbut, has formally announced its withdrawal from the mediation process, stating, “We therefore hereby inform you that by means of this correspondence, we are formally suspending our participation in the mediation process.”
Tracy Panton, Patrick Faber, John Saldivar, and Beverly Williams have been declared “constructively resigned” from the United Democratic Party (UDP) “due to repeated violations of the party’s constitution. Specifically, these violations pertain to Article 5(1)(b)(c), Article 5(5)(a)(b)(c)(d), and Article 7(11).”
A statement from the Central Executive of the UDP says that “NPC Resolutions 8/22 and 5/23 explicitly prohibit the aforementioned violations of the Constitution and calls for immediate removal of any member found in breach.”
The release further says that the individuals in question have been involved in the formation of a splinter party, the “Alliance for Democracy,” led by Tracy Panton. It says that Panton’s various media interviews and release under the ‘Alliance for Democracy’ banner are “are blatant violations of the UDP Constitutional prohibition of factionalism, division and the Constitutional requirement of affirmative support of the Leadership have led to the constructive resignation of Tracy Panton, Patrick Faber, John Saldivar and Beverly Williams as per the precedent set on March 30, 2011 by then UDP Party Chairman PJ Faber and the Leadership who deemed Orange Walk East Area Representative Marcel Cardona constructively resigned as a member of the Party due to his repeated violations of the UDP Constitution in similar fashion as is being done today.”
The Party’s Central Executive says that this decision was made unanimously.
The decision was endorsed by the Party Leader, Deputy Leader, Party Chairman, Deputy Chairman, Regional Leaders, Zone Coordinators, Chairs of Committees, National Campaign Manager, Secretary General, Director of Women, and Director of Youth.
A move has been made by the Alliance for Democracy, a caucus within the United Democratic Party, to recall the leadership of Shyne Barrow. Earlier today, Albert Area Rep Tracy Panton and Second Deputy Leader Beverly Williams delivered a petition signed by as many as two hundred and eight delegates from across seventeen constituencies. The latest attempt by the Alliance is to unseat Barrow as party leader. Citing Article 9 (7) of the U.D.P. Constitution, the press release states that the party leader can be, “removed from office at any time following a petition signed by at least one-third of the registered delegates of the National Convention and a vote of at least two-thirds of the registered delegates in attendance voting at the convention”. Panton appeared as a guest on Open Your Eyes on Monday and had this to say on the matter.
Tracy Panton
Tracy Panton, Area Representative, Albert
“The Alliance has tried to remain and is committed to remaining within the framework of the constitution. We can’t be promoting the constitution and not want to respect it ourselves. Provisions within the constitution which we can use to try and get our voices heard internally, that’s the process we’re on. There will be no doubt at the end of this process that we did everything possible, within the confines of the constitution, to correct the ship, if you will. There are still provisions in the constitution that we can utilize and we have to go there if we are forced to go there. For example, there is an opportunity for a recall of the party leader. We don’t want to go there if we don’t have to go there but unless we can get a response, unless we can find a way forward, we will have to act accordingly.”
This afternoon, Tracy Panton and Beverly Williams submitted a petition to the Secretary General of the United Democratic Party (UDP), calling for the recall of the United Democratic Party Leader, Moses Shyne Barrow. A statement from the Alliance for Democracy says that the petition has been signed by 208 delegates from 17 constituencies.
The statement also says that according to Article 9(7) of the UDP Constitution, the Party Leader can be removed from office at any time if a petition is signed by at least one-third of the registered delegates of the National Convention and if at least two-thirds of the registered delegates in attendance vote in favour of the petition.
The Alliance for Democracy says it is confident that the Party Chairman has no discretion to reject this petition. The Alliance says the Constitution states that the removal of the Party Leader can occur at any time.
On Sunday, the P.U.P. held a convention to endorse Kaya Cattouse as the standard bearer for the Albert Division. Cattouse will go up against the U.D.P.’s Tracy Taegar-Panton, the incumbent area representative. Following Cattouse’s endorsement, Belize City Mayor Bernard Wagner told News Five that Cattouse’s endorsement was the party putting its best foot forward. And as for the public’s belief that Wagner once had an interest in running in Albert, he said that was not the case.
Bernard Wagner
Bernard Wagner, Mayor, Belize City
“Kaya obviously represents our best foot forward and we feel confident that with her representation in Alberts and we put in the work, we will see victory here in the Alberts Division. I can’t be concerned about the other side. We can only control – you only worry about what you control.”
Marion Ali
“Mayor, you yourself had your eyes in this area a couple years ago, or at least that was the interpretation that we in the media.’
Bernard Wagner
“As the mayor of the city, I represent all the constituents in the city, and so I have a definitely some sort of in row in, in the different divisions. But I, I believe that, so, Kaya being a woman gives us our best chance. I believe that we need more women in the midst of our party and certainly Kaya is the best of the best in terms of women empowerment, in terms of women propulsion within the P.U.P., within the People’s United Party. Were you asked to step aside for her? Not really. No, I, I didn’t have no sort of given the fact that I am all over the city, people naturally would think that, um, I have some interests. I was supposed to be in college. I was supposed to be, um, messed up. I was supposed to be in Queens Square. No, I am concerned about serving the city, um, completing my term, ensuring that we leave it in a better place that we found it. But then you don’t just win mayorship for three terms and then disappear into the sunset. Where will you go after this? Um, I have no plans on that at this moment. I know that I want to ensure that we continue to work under the banner of the People’s United Party to ensure that we put our best foot forward to ensure that our city continues to progress.”
Albert Area Representative Tracy Panton also acknowledges Cattouse’s candidacy. This morning, during an appearance on Open Your Eyes, the two-time area rep welcomed the competition and applauded Cattouse for her decision to run in that constituency.
Tracy Panton
Tracy Panton, Area Representative, Albert
“I was elected in 2015, in Albert, for the first time and ever since then, the Albert executive committee and the Albert care team has worked diligently in the division serving the people in government and out of government. I respect the fact that Ms. Cattouse has offered herself as a candidate, it’s good to see young women and women seek political leadership. So I applaud her on that decision. We don’t take any opponent lightly, we’ve never have taken an opponent lightly. We’ve never made broad and sweeping statements against an opponent. We know what our job is and our is to serve the people and when you serve the people, the people support you. That has been my experience and we don’t intend to change our strategy because it has worked and it has worked very well for my campaign and we’ll continue to do so.”
Businessman Lawrence Ellis has been endorsed as the People’s United Party’s standard bearer for the Mesopotamia division in Belize City. The current area representative is the leader of the United Democratic Party, Moses Barrow.
In a Facebook post, PUP Leader and Prime Minister John Briceño urged Mesopotamia voters to embrace a new era of leadership, emphasising the need for fresh energy and representation in the constituency. He is confident that Ellis will bring change to Mesopotamia.
“Mesop needs new energy, new representation and a new leader to breathe new life into this area of our commercial capital. Let’s break 40 years of UDP neglect in Mesop.,” the Prime Minister said.
