Shyne Barrow Says Hernan Riverol “Has No Chances of Winning”

The United Democratic Party (UDP), led by Moses “Shyne” Barrow, has thrown their support behind Elvia Vega, an independent candidate and former People’s United Party (PUP) Area Representative for Corozal Bay. Barrow’s move makes it the first time a UDP leader has endorsed a former PUP candidate.

Earlier today, Barrow told News 5 that he’s confident that Vega has a better chance of securing the seat. “We believe that it is better for Elvia Vega to win that seat than Thea Garcia,” Barrow stated.

Barrow went on to criticise the former UDP candidate, Hernan Riverol, who is now running under the leadership of Tracy Teager-Panton’s UDP. “We will not just put somebody there because, as you know, the gentleman we had there betrayed his party, betrayed his oath, and defected to a third party,” Barrow said, referring to Riverol’s defection.

Barrow added that Riverol “has no chances of winning” and that the decision to endorse Vega comes so as to not “complicate things in that constituency.”

Meanwhile, Prime Minister John Briceño expressed disappointment over Vega’s decision to run independently. “She knows she can’t win… If she is a good PUP as she claims to be, then she and her supporters will support the candidate of the PUP. That’s the oath that she took,” Briceño told News 5.

Despite the endorsement and growing tension, PUP’s Standard Bearer for the constituency, Thea Garcia Ramirez, remains confident in her campaign. When asked if Vega’s candidacy could impact the race, Garcia Ramirez stated firmly that it does not affect her campaign “at all.”