U.D.P. Leader Insists Sunday’s Convention is Not a UDP Event

If the Alliance for Democracy succeeds in naming Tracy Taegar-Panton as “interim leader” and her supporters attempt to storm the United Democratic Party (U.D.P.) headquarters, U.D.P. Leader Moses “Shyne” Barrow says the police will be called in to maintain order. Barrow says that Alliance’s event is not recognised by the U.D.P. He stressed that the party already has an elected leader and executive in place, none of whom support the upcoming convention. Barrow denied any claims of intimidation toward delegates.

 

Moses “Shyne” Barrow, Leader, U.D.P. 

“We have tried to refrain from legal action, but it is not a UDP anything. So, these people are an entity unto themselves, and while they are expelled members, former members of the party, or whatever they are doing.  has absolutely nothing to do with the UDP proper, so it is not an accurate factual description to refer to these people as the UDP. So, whatever the People’s United Party does or the PNP does, or the Progressive Party or the Alliance Party, is of little concern to me. to the United Democratic Party.”

 

Paul Lopez

“Why didn’t you file an injunction to stop this convention? You are the executive of the UDP.”

 

Moses “Shyne” Barrow

“Well, legal advice and political advice – the only injunction that we could have filed was for them not to use the name. But there is no concern of a threat of a viable threat. You can’t stop people from gathering. So the only thing we could stop them from using is the name.  And that option remains on the table going forward to stop them from, you know, using the name.”

 

Reporter

“What makes a convention though, is the presence of delegates. Do you suspect that there will be a number of UDP delegates present there?”

 

Moses “Shyne” Barrow

“We have to be rooted in reality.  s upset as Belizeans may become, if we all decide 100, 000 Belizeans decide to vote and vote, it doesn’t matter unless the elections are actually called. You know, we can’t have a citizens elections. Um, even in the instance where, um, Boots Martinez submitted a recall petition.  to the governor general that was rejected.  Um, he could have a recall election if he wants, but it would have no legal impact. So at the end of the day, the rules are the rules. Constitution of the United Democratic Party is the Constitution of the United Democratic Party. And people don’t exist in an organization in an orbit unto themselves. You have to conform to the rules and the constitution of that organization. And when you act outside of that, then you become another organization and we wish you well.”