LOO and Albert Area Rep Argue Over U.D.P. Constitution

The argument between Leader of the Opposition, Moses “Shyne” Barrow and Albert Area Representative Tracy Taegar-Panton rages on.  They are debating the legality of any vote taken at an upcoming convention planned by the Alliance for Democracy. Today, both sides cited different sections of the U.D.P. Constitution to bolster their arguments. Barrow said that the U.D.P. Constitution designates the specific year and month when a National Convention may be called. He pointed to a section that gives power to the Party Chairman to determine if an emergency exists to trigger an unscheduled National Convention. Barrow reminded that in 2023, over five hundred U.D.P. delegates voted at the National Convention to elect him and other leaders until after the next General Elections. He said there is no provision in the U.D.P. Constitution that allows a minority of the Delegates to renege on that binding majority decision. He also said that the usual term for the Party Leader and other elected officials is two years. It’s only been a year since he was elected to that position. He also pointed out, “if every time a quarter of the delegates petition for a National Convention it was automatically triggered then we would have a National Convention every 90 days and there would be no stability in the U.D.P.” Barrow said that the U.D.P. reserves the right to whatever actions it deems necessary at the appropriate time. Meanwhile, Panton contends that the U.D.P. Constitution does not put any restriction on the delegates as to when or how many times one fourth can call a convention. She argued that Barrow cannot impose a restriction just because he finds it disruptive. Panton pointed to a time when an attempt was made to recall the Collet Area Representative, Patrick Faber and reminded that Faber was only one year into his term as the Party Leader. Panton also vows that the Alliance will “leave no stone unturned to ensure the voices of the delegates are heard. It is absolutely unconstitutional to deny the delegates a National Convention which they have petitioned for.”