Three-Way Showdown for UDP Chair as Party Prepares for Pivotal UDP Convention

In less than two days, the United Democratic Party will face a defining moment. The long-anticipated national convention isn’t just another date on the political calendar, it’s a test of unity, strategy, and leadership renewal. At nine o’clock sharp, the registration of voters will set the tone for a day that could reshape the party’s future. Five key positions are on the line, but the spotlight will burn brightest on the chairmanship race, where three contenders, Roosevelt Blades, Sheena Pitts, and John Saldivar, are vying for influence in a party at a crossroads. While the top leadership roles, including Party Leader Tracy Panton and her deputies Hugo Patt and Miguel Guerra, are expected to be endorsed without contest, the battle for chairperson and vice chairperson promises intrigue and political maneuvering. And as Lady Kathy Esquivel prepares to deliver the keynote address, all eyes will be on whether this convention signals stability or sparks new tensions within the UDP.

 

Alberto August, Acting Chair, United Democratic Party

“In less than forty-five hours, the United Democratic Party will go into the long-awaited national convention of the party. While the program begins at ten o’clock, the actual activities begin at nine a.m. with the registration of voters. This is a time when the UDP either endorses or elects its new executive leadership which is normally five positions. There is the position of the party leader, first deputy party leader, second deputy party leader, chairperson, and the vice chairperson. In this instance, the first three positions, that of the party leader, the first and second deputies will be endorsed in the persons of the Honorable Tracy Panton as Party Leader, the Honorable Hugo Patt as the First Deputy Party Leader, and the Honorable Miguel Guerra as the Second Deputy Party Leader. Then, for the post of chairman, there are three candidates vying for the post of chairman. First, we have Mr. Roosevelt Blades, the Honorable Sheena Pitts, and John Saldivar for the chairmanship position. And then, for the vice chairperson position there are two candidates in the persons of John Castillo from Dangriga and Ivan Williams, also from the south. He comes from Silk Grass Village. So that is where we are in terms of the positions. We begin with ensuring that we have the required quorum in place for us to begin taking the polls. And then, of course, we have the ceremonies, the usual ceremonies with the invocation, the playing of the national anthem, the introduction of our standard bearers across the country, the introduction of our guest speaker. On this occasion, we are happy to inform the nation that Lady Kathy Esquivel has graciously accepted our invitation to address the convention.”