Court Hears Case Over Legitimacy of UDP’s Leadership Convention

The High Court is currently hearing the claim involving Leader of the Opposition Tracy Panton and former United Democratic Party Secretary General Philippa Bailey. The claim was brought by former Opposition Leader, Moses “Shyne” Barrow. This court hearing comes days after the general election, in which Barrow lost his Mesopotamia seat to his UDP opponent, Lee Mark Chang. 

Barrow’s attorney, Christopher Malcolm, argues that an extraordinary general meeting held by the UDP lacked proper authorisation. Drawing from a similar Jamaican case, Malcolm contends that the meeting’s notice and the subsequent appointment of a new committee were invalid due to lack of executive authority.

According to Malcolm, no evidence has been provided to validate the voter eligibility for the October 20th “unity convention” that named Panton as the new interim leader of the party, along with a new executive committee.

The defence, represented by King Counsel Peter Knox, focused on the delegates’ rights to vote, asserting that this right cannot be denied.

The case is expected to conclude with Justice Hondora reserving a ruling at a later date.