UDP Truce or Does the Internal Divide Persist?

The United Democratic Party is at a crossroads once again. From all indications, Opposition Leader Tracy Panton is celebrating a big win after the party’s caretaker convention, most of the winners are reportedly her supporters. That could give her a serious boost heading into November’s leadership convention. But, despite the brewing rivalry, Panton and current UDP Leader Moses ‘Shyne’ Barrow were all smiles during the September Tenth parade. So, was that a genuine truce, or just for show?

 

Lee Mark Chang, Area Representative, Mesopotamia

“Well of course, if she did not have the support she would not be the leader of the opposition. We have to make that clear. She has the majority support of the elected parliamentarians. Also, if we will have conventions let it be fair across the board, let us not cherry pick and say you will get a buy and the division that are in support for Tracy has to go to a convention. That is not fair, that is why the leader of the opposition did not agree to those conventions. But I said, we cannot roll over and let them win and beat us. We need to beat them at their own game. The thing is one of their motive is to change the UDP constitution to suit their own agenda. We are not with that. I took the initiative and gathered a team and we are fighting all the conventions. We placed candidates in each division that are like minded thinking. So we are fighting these conventions. There are twelve of them that have been finished by convention. So, we have six more to go. Based on what you talked to me just now about the truck back experience and if your back done against the wall and you are sincere about reaching out and making amends and making the party move forward then hand over the party to the rightful owner, the leader of the opposition. She has the majority, the mandate, after that we can start talking. But if you try to post your own thing and push your own agenda then I don’t believe that is right. That is not right at all.”