Tracy Explains the Origin of Alliance for Democracy

Tonight, our in-depth coverage of the Alliance for Democracy continues as we delve into the events that led to the United Democratic Party’s dramatic turning point a few weeks ago. This pivotal moment saw the expulsion of the Albert and Collet area representatives.  Earlier today, we had an exclusive interview with Tracy Panton. The hashtag “I Am with Her” has rapidly gained traction among U.D.P. members, highlighting the party’s ongoing internal strife. In our conversation, Panton shared the origins of this powerful movement.

 

Tracy Panton , Area Representative, Albert

“There were several colleagues of mine who shared a similar view, in terms of the party departing from its own democracy and disregarding the constitution of the party which is, for u, the most important institutional tool that we have in terms of our governance of a mass political party.  And so, we felt that something had to be done so we can put the democracy back into the UDP.  So we got together and it wasn’t an overnight exercise.  It’s not a group of sixteen colleagues who just decided to go rogue.  It was a process of trying to dialogue and trying to find a productive way forward internally.  But when we were effectively removed from the internal communications of the party then we had no other option.”

 

Isani Cayetano

“The Alliance for Democracy includes two individuals who, at one point, were going head-to-head for leadership of the UDP.  This would be Collet Area Representative Patrick Faber and former Belmopan Area Representative John Saldivar.  How do you find this partnership working, notwithstanding the history of these two individuals?”

 

Tracy Panton

“I think the partnership is working quite well.  It’s not a three-person alliance.  It’s an alliance of sixteen colleagues who share a similar view and share similar values and want to do what is right for the party.  In both cases, in both cases, our member for Collet and our member for Belmopan, they voluntarily stepped down when the situation arose that would have caused some kind of harm to the party.  And so they decided, you know what, we are not prepared to that to the party just for our own self-preservation.”