Panton Faction Rally Sparks Heated Scenes Outside UDP HQ

As Barrow prepared for the NPC that didn’t happen, dozens of UDP supporters were outside on the ground engaging in heated debates and name-calling.  This was the result of Tracy Panton calling a rally at the party’s headquarters, which would have clashed with the NPC.  Saturday’s event also followed the call by Hugo Patt for UDP supporters to boycott the meeting.  Panton and her supporters gathered across the street from the headquarters at nine o’clock.  Things started off relatively calm with the Panton faction lingering around the general area while police manned a barricade in front of the headquarters. For the highlights of the clashes, we join Reporter Benjamin Flowers.  

Benjamin Flowers, Love News: What should have been two separate events on Saturday morning merged into one high tension situation at the UDP headquarters on Youth for the Future Drive. Leader of the Opposition, Tracy Panton, and her supporters gathered at the empty lot right across the street from the HQ at nine o’clock while party leader Shyne Barrow had an NPC meeting scheduled for ten o’clock. Things started off relatively calm in the morning heat with Panton supporters lingering around the general area while police manned a barricade in front of the headquarters. Panton said that her event was aimed at unifying the party, something that Barrow is not making easy.

Tracy Panton, Leader of the Opposition: “We have to be grappling with a disunity in the party rather than focusing on the national issues. There is no better day than today for the people of Belize to understand that we’re standing up for them. We’re standing up against those national issues that affect lives and livelihoods. We have no time for division and we have no time for those who continue to derail the best efforts of this party to unite.”

Benjamin Flowers, Love News: At ten the MC announced that they would be moving over to the Mesopotamia division but that plan was abandoned and they all surrounded the barricade trying to prevent attendees from heading into the meeting. Soon they would breach the barricade and gather in the parking lot. There were heated exchanges as Barrow supporters blocked off the gate ensuring that no one could go upstairs. 

Alfonso Noble, UDP: “I need to go up there. If Uk goes up there he is going to be making decisions which will affect me, which will ultimately affect me and he cannot make a decision for me. He has no standing in this party. He da just dreg up, come up kind of way where his position is not even legal. He went through no convention, he has no committee. I don’t know who thees people are who are coming up there. I need to go up there. These people that are coming up there will no make a decision for me.”

Benjamin Flowers, Love News: Unfortunately for party chairman, Alberto August, he was on the wrong side of the gate when it closed but that gave party members such as Queen Square area representative, Godwin Haylock, a chance to plead with him to bring the party together. 

Godwin Haylock, Queen Square Area Representative: “We are duly elected. Restore unity right now Alberto. You want your party united Alberto. Come on. Brother this is your opportunity.”

Benjamin Flowers, Love News: Before long the agitated crowd found a way upstairs through a door on the right side of the building that led to Wave Radio Studios. The members of Panton’s group began banging on the door and windows demanding that Barrow stop the NPC meeting and let them in. Long standing UDP member Brian “Yellowman” Audinet, said that they were prepared to break down the door and remove Barrow by force if necessary.

Brian “Yellowman” Audinet, UDP Supporter: “We are waiting for them to exit the building. When they exit the building we all are going to take over the building today. There is no doubt about that.” 

Benjamin Flowers, Love News: How far are you guys prepared to go to execute that ? 

Brian “Yellowman” Audinet, UDP Supporter: “We got a permit up to three o’clock. We were hoping that by three o’clock if they have no exited by three o’clock we’ll give them until two thirty to open and exit or will get in the building by force.”

Benjamin Flowers, Love News: But it never got that bad. Apart from some eggs being thrown at vehicles in the parking lot Panton supporters eventually left the area after their permit for the gathering had expired. Later that day Barrow issued a video statement saying that Panton and her supporters showed that they had no regard for authority. Barrow assured that the NPC would happen and that he will see to it that the UDP Is reunited.