Alberto August’s Arrest Exposes Divisions Within UDP Leadership

In another angle that surfaced in the detention of Alberto August, the political partisan optics was colored brightly this weekend as exposed noticeable differences within the United Democratic Party itself.  While senior figures including Hugo Patt and Moses “Shyne” Barrow openly called for August’s immediate release, political observers noted that UDP Party Leader Tracy Taegar-Panton issued a lengthy statement condemning attacks on freedom of expression without ever directly calling for Alberto August’s release.  In fact, August’s name was never mentioned in her statement.  Peyrefitte expressed hope that this could have been a trigger to unite, while August says the lack of Tracy’s support was the least of his concerns.

Michael Peyrefitte, Attorney / Former Police Minister: “Hopefully the party sees that if we are not fighting fit at full force they will not only try to take advantage of us individually but it will tell the PUP that without a solid opposition challenging them on a daily basis that they can just do whatever they want.”
Alberto August, Former UDP Chairman:“It might be reason for concern but when you have the overwhelming amount of support from people coming from all corners, you know, it sorta waters down the situation. And I understand the party leader. That was her choice. I appreciate it but I’m not going to sit here and sort of use this to further divide the party because that is not my intention. I appreciate whatever she said. But I am most appreciative, as I said, of Hugo Patt. Hugo Patt issued a forceful statement and a lot of other persons so I appreciate that.”

In a portion of today’s interview, August himself also reacted to the support he received while detained.  As a matter of fact, former minister John Saldivar reportedly began encouraging Belizeans to repost the same statement that led to August being criminally charged under the Cybercrime Act. Soon afterward, public personalities including Alfonso Noble and Brian Lord reposted the comment as a direct challenge to authorities.  The campaign appears aimed at testing whether police are prepared to pursue criminal charges against every individual repeating the same statement online.

Alberto August, Former UDP Chairman: “I acknowledge the former leader of the opposition who came all the way from Belize City to be with us and the Honorable Senator Peyrefitte, Rachel Montero attorney Rachel Montero from the time the bell rang she was there right up until the end. So when you have that kind of support it feels good. And I will not be distracted by something that might have not come the full circle. But most importantly I will not sit here and sort of further the divide that is happening within the United Democratic Party because there are some people who even came forward and John Saldivar. John Saldivar issued a similar text, come for me then. Yellowman, several other persons “come for me” , exact words, come for me then so it just shows that if they do not go for them it is like for example if you slap a policeman and they charge you and then a next one says I will slap a next one and see if they charge me, they will charge you. But this one here now both of them made the same statement they won’t go for them but they will come for me. So it just proves the point.”