Who has Legal Rights Over U.D.P.. HQ Property?

On Monday, the property rights to the U.D.P. headquarters were officially transferred to Albert Area Representative Tracy Panton and her faction of the party. This handover was executed by former U.D.P. Secretary General Phillipa Griffith-Bailey. However, a debate has arisen regarding whether she possessed the authority to make such a transfer.

 

Isani Cayetano

“As it stands, there is an argument over who has the actual right to the property in question.  On one hand, members are saying, okay, Phillipa Bailey rightfully conferred the rights to the property to the alliance members.  On the other hand, they are saying now, no, she is not in any capacity to be able to do so, based on her resignation as secretary general of the UDP several years, if not over a decade ago or so ago.  Where do you stand on that in terms of this not being taken up in court as a legal matter, to begin with?”

 

Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition

“Well it has to be now taken up in the courts, but the proper procedure would have been for the alliance to go to court with whatever documents they had and have the courts issue an order, but I believe the reason they did not go to court is because the documents that they have do not support any rightful ownership or authority by Mrs. Bailey to transfer any rights.  The owners of the UDP headquarters are the United Democratic Party.  That is what is written on the land title.  Mrs. Bailey signed as the agent for the UDP in her capacity as secretary general at the time and, as you said, she has retired eleven years ago and so she has no authority to transfer anything to anyone.  In fact, the central executive, as per the United Democratic Party constitution, explicitly states that in 17 subsection  2, that the central executive directs trustees, people who hold anything in trust for the party as to how to manage those assets manage those assets.”