Shyne Responds to Being Left Off UDP Former Leaders List

Moses “Shyne” Barrow has pushed back after his name was excluded from a list of former party leaders “in good standing” during a recent United Democratic Party (UDP) press conference. He described the move as divisive and procedurally flawed.

Speaking with News Five, Barrow said he was shocked and disappointed by the omission, especially given his long service to the party and to the people of Mesopotamia.

“I’ve served my country with all that I’ve had… as leader of the opposition, as leader of UDP, as member of parliament for Mesopotamia, and I’m still committed very much to the people of Mesopotamia,” he said.

Barrow argued that the UDP Constitution requires due process before anyone can be declared in bad standing. “If they want to say I am in bad standing, thus I don’t qualify, they would have to have a meeting, which they have not done.”

He also accused current party leaders of hypocrisy, saying the same standards were not applied when he previously disciplined members for public criticism.

“When we were holding people accountable for undermining the party, they said you can’t expel people because of freedom of speech. So I would like to see what their position is now.”

Barrow’s history of disagreements with UDP’s Oppostion Leader, Tracy Panton, could be a factor in why he was excluded from the list of leaders in good standing. In 2025, he challenged the Elections and Boundaries Commission over the use of the UDP’s signature red in the general election, arguing that candidates aligned with Tracy Panton’s Alliance for Democracy were not legitimate UDP members. The Supreme Court later dismissed the case as moot.

Tensions resurfaced at the start of the year when Barrow included his name on a flyer as “Shyne Barrow, Mesopotamia, UDP.” Panton quickly issued a statement rejecting any suggestion that he represents Mesopotamia, stating that Lee Mark Chang remains the only duly elected area representative. Barrow responded, insisting that while Lee Mark is the elected representative, he was never appointed as standard-bearer or caretaker.

“He was never officially endorsed or won a convention to be caretaker or standard-bearer. Thus, they would have to go through the process,” Barrow said. He added that the proper procedure would require either his resignation or a formal vote by the party’s Central Executive.

Barrow said the dispute should not have reached the public and warned it risks deepening internal divisions. “We could have worked this out internally. They could have called me. We could have discussed it,” he said.

Whether in good or bad standing, he maintains that a procedure must be followed. 

News Five reached out to Tracy Panton who told us, “I am not aware that Shyne Barrow has been declared in “bad” standing.  In fact the NPC has not as yet met.  Our first NPC Meeting is scheduled for Saturday, 31st January 2026 at our UDP HQ.”