Faber says a Loss is a Loss

After representing the Collet area for twenty-two years, Patrick Faber lost his seat to political newcomer Devin Daly by just under two hundred votes. Following his defeat, Faber announced plans to refurbish his office to continue serving as Collet’s Community Education and Resource Center. We spoke with him earlier today about his loss. Here’s what he had to say.

 

Patrick Faber, Former Area Representative, Collet

“I conceded I am not the kind that will cry fall. I believe that there are many things that happened and I think that it was very blatant in, in most regards what happened. But a loss is a loss. I understood that very well from the night of the election. And I believe that I still have a place with the people of color. I am not quick to abandon them. They have made it very clear to me that they still want me to be there as their representative. And so I I’m considering that very strongly. Not quick to. To make a decision there, but I don’t think that I’ll be going anywhere in that regard. But I also believe that I have a very huge role to play in terms of helping to put the pieces back together, if you will, of the party. And so that is my primary role in these early days after the election.”

 

Paul Lopez

“How do you assess the criticism that you spent a lot of time away from your constituency? And is it you intend to change that if you find that to be a fact? Over the next four years.”

 

Patrick Faber

“You’ve, I think you’ve asked me this already on your morning show, Paul, and that it was not an intentional abandonment. In fact, I did not live abroad. I live here in Belize. I made very clear to persons even through the National Assembly every chance that I got that I was and still am trying to complete my studies. I intend to finish with my doctoral degree in public administration in a few months time. And so that does not mean that means that I don’t have to any longer do the kind of traveling that I used to do. I take some responsibility of course, for the loss. I, like I said, I’m not one who will cry fall. I’ve never been in a situation where I would have to explain a loss before. But I’m not one who will sit down and cry, fall, and claim that it’s not a loss. A loss is a loss. I had a fair run and with the people of Collet for twenty-two years. I’ve been their representative. I’ve been their leader as the UDP person in the constituency for much longer, maybe not twenty-seven  years. And so for me, it is an opportunity again for me to reassess my position. And to see where we’re going. But that certainly does not mean an abandonment of my people.”