Taegar-Panton Presents Fifteen Candidates for the U.D.P.  

Nomination Day is set for Monday, and today, U.D.P leader and Albert Area Representative Tracy Taegar-Panton officially introduced a team of fifteen candidates for the March twelfth election. Taegar hopes to win with her entire team and at least one more candidate from Moses ‘Shyne’ Barrow’s faction. While she is counting on Barrow’s slate to help secure a win, she is confident that Lee Mark Chang, nominated under her banner, will replace Barrow in Mesopotamia. Taegar-Panton also reached out to Barrow’s supporters, expressing her desire to work together in unity after the election. News Five’s Marion Ali was at the presentation and filed this report.

 

Tracy Taegar-Panton, Leader, U.D.P

“We are running as one United Democratic Party.”

 

Marion Ali, Reporting

This morning, U.D.P Leader and Albert Area Representative Tracy Taegar-Panton officially kicked off her party’s campaign and introduced the candidates for the March twelfth general election. While she has presented fifteen candidates, she insists that the UDP has a full slate of thirty-one to represent all constituencies nationwide. However, she expressed doubts about the candidates aligned with Moses ‘Shyne’ Barrow.

 

Tracy Taegar-Panton

“There are 31 standard bearers who represent the United Democratic Party. They were either contested, they either sat in a contested convention, or they sat in an endorsement convention. Those are the candidates that we recognize as the legitimate standard bearers for the United Democratic Party. I doubt very much and I would be very surprised if any of those handpicked persons who were foisted on us as a United Democratic Party has any chance in winning any seats for the United Democratic Party.”

 

So, how is Panton confident that the UDP will form the next government if Barrow’s candidates don’t win? While she isn’t counting on all of Barrow’s candidates, she believes that with her fifteen candidates and at least one more, they can secure a win. Panton also has faith in candidates like Manuel Heredia in Belize Rural South and John Saldivar in Belmopan, despite their previous losses, because they were chosen by their communities. Regarding Lee Mark Chang’s selection in Mesopotamia, Panton said it was done according to the UDP Constitution after the October twentieth convention she led.

 

Tracy Taegar-Panton

“We consulted with constituents of the Mesop constituency and we consulted with our UDP supporters in Mesop and it was almost unanimous that there was time for a change and Lee Mark. was their preferred candidate.”

 

Despite the nearly year-long leadership feud between Panton and Moses ‘Shyne’ Barrow, she is confident that Barrow will lose his second attempt to win office in Mesopotamia.

 

Tracy Taegar-Panton

“There is no way that Shyne Jamal Barrow is going to win his seat in Mesop. The people of Mesop and I say I bet on the people every time, will make that determination for the rest of us.”

 

So, how does the candidate aiming to unseat Barrow feel about this challenge? He says he takes no challenge lightly.

 

Lee Mark Chang, U.D.P. Standard Bearer, Mesopotamia

“I like to fight as the underdog at all times. I fight and I fight hard. So I will make no premature prediction, just that I will say that I’m very comfortable where I am. If you have time, maybe you should go and speak to some of the people or do your own polling in the division and you will hear a clear and resounding poll of their feelings.”

 

Marion Ali

“In terms of the campaign financing, where is all of that coming from?”

 

Lee Mark Chang

“Well, I mean, the party has their financiers that they get money from. I’ve gotten some from the party. I’ve gotten some from people that I know.”

 

Collet Area Representative Patrick Faber invited the public to stay tuned for their manifesto launch.

 

Patrick Faber, Area Representative, Collet

“Those ideas,  I promise you will be very solid. We are putting our time and effort into making sure that we prepare a very solid agenda for you for the next five years and we will come with very solid ideas. We promise you.”

 

Faber is one of the key seats Panton is banking on for the March 12th election, and he is confident he’ll be elected for a sixth consecutive term.

 

Patrick Faber

“When I go to houses, it’s all love in the homes and people are telling me that I have no worry. Um, that they know the relationship that we’ve shared for the many, many years and they have no intention of changing course.”

 

Taegar-Panton also delivered a direct message of unity to UDP members who support Moses ‘Shyne’ Barrow’s leadership.

 

Tracy Taegar-Panton

“We say to you here publicly that we embrace you as part of our wider UDP family and we look forward to joining hands and hearts with you after we win the general elections on March 12th, 2025.”

 

Marion Ali for News Five.