UDP Rejects Calls for Leadership Change

The United Democratic Party says that its National Party Council has confirmed decisions made at the National Convention on August 13, 2023, and reiterated in an April 7, 2024 resolution. This statement comes as October 20th nears—the date when the Alliance for Democracy led by Albert Area Representative Tracy Panton has scheduled a “UDP National Convention” in Belize City.

The UDP says that “The Party Leader, Shyne Barrow, Deputy Party Leader Hugo Patt, Party Chairman Michael Peyrefitte, and Deputy Party Chairman Alberto August are elected to serve until the National Convention to be held immediately after the next general election.”

It added, “The National Party Council makes it emphatically clear to all delegates, party members, and supporters that the United Democratic Party is not conducting a national convention until it is due immediately after the next general elections.”

“The National Party Council condemns the lies, defamation and personal attacks against our duly elected Party Leader, Shyne Barrow, Deputy Party Leader, Hugo Patt, Party Chairman, Michael Peyrefitte, Deputy Party Chairman, Alberto August, and other Party Officials.”

The statement also says that the party supports Peyrefitte in rejecting petitions to alter these decisions and backs the Central Executive’s resolutions regarding John Saldivar, Tracy Panton, Patrick Faber, and Beverly Williams, as well as Phillip Willoughby and Andrew Bradley, to align with their reform plans for the upcoming elections.