Shyne Barrow’s U.D.P. Wants Tracy Panton Jailed for Contempt  

Shyne Barrow, the Mesopotamia Area Representative, along with four other U.D.P. executives, has taken legal action in the High Court. They’re seeking an order against Albert Area Representative Tracy Taegar-Panton for contempt of court. This follows Justice Hondora’s November eighth ruling, which restored the status quo before the Alliance for Democracy took over the U.D.P. headquarters. The main issue is that Taegar-Panton has allegedly ignored the ongoing court case. There are six instances where she has referred to herself as either the party leader or interim party leader of the U.D.P., despite the pending legal matters. Because of this, the claimants are pushing for Taegar-Panton to face three months in jail for violating Justice Hondora’s judgment. Earlier today, both sides met virtually before the High Court. Shyne Barrow and the claimants are represented by Doctor Christopher Malcolm, while Tracy Taegar-Panton has King’s Counsel Simon Knox on her side. After the session, attorney Sheena Pitts spoke to the media, providing a summary of the applications filed by both parties.

 

Sheena Pitts, United Democratic Party

“On the twenty-sixth of November, counsel for honorable Panton filed applications for various court orders and the most important of those applications is that there be a speedy trial.  Other orders sought were to add the honorable Faber, Ms. Beverly Williams, and John Saldivar to the claim and to permit the honorable Panton to act as a representative of the organization and because of that application, for various court orders, the court gave today’s date for the hearing.  And so, to characterize it as only a CMC, I mean that’s the end result, but initially it was instigated by the application from honorable Panton’s attorney.  In addition to that application, a further application was filed, by the attorney for honorable Panton for an interim injunction and that interim injunction sought several reliefs which include, one of which would be to stop the honorable Barrow from firing anybody at the UDP secretariat and to stop the appointment of standard bearers.  This morning, what his attorney filed was an application.  I take it that yesterday it was filed, but it wasn’t served until this morning, filed an application for contempt.  Now that application, not having been served nor heard, it was only discussed and application for interim relief, not having been served, also wasn’t heard or discussed.”