Two UDP Executive Members Step Down Amid Questions Over Party Turmoil

In other news coming out of today’s presser, UDP Leader Tracy Panton has confirmed that Juliet Thimbriel and Audrey Wallace have stepped down from the party’s executive roles. The confirmation follows reports suggesting their departures were linked to internal dissatisfaction with Panton’s leadership and the party’s direction.  Panton rejected that account, saying the changes were not the result of any internal upset. She explained the circumstances surrounding the departures and maintained that both women remain committed members of the UDP.  Panton also appeared amused by the level of media attention being given to the UDP’s internal affairs. She questioned why the issue had attracted such interest when, according to her, several national matters affecting Belizeans required greater scrutiny.

Tracy Panton, Leader of the Opposition: “Let me say categorically that both Ms. Audrey Wallace and Ms. Juliet Thimbriel are valuable members of the United Democratic Party. They have contributed and they continue to contribute to the rebuilding of the United Democratic Party. For reasons that are both personal and professional they indicated to me that they’re no longer able, they’re not able to take on the substantive role of being the chair of the Public Relations Committee or having to take on the role of National Campaign Manager respectively. But make no mistake they continue to work very closely with the leadership team. In fact, tomorrow morning, I will be on Wave Radio along with Ms. Thimbriel. She continues to lead the charge in terms of the unraveling of the misuse of the public purse and public resources by the kind of work that she does, investigative work she’s doing and on Wave radio and Wave television. So let’s not get distracted by those whose only intention is to try and create disruption or who try to undermine the efforts of this party to rebuild and to stand on its strongest leg and to be ready to govern this country whenever the next elections are called. I was just about to say, we sat here this morning and we spoke of the very serious national issues facing this country and members in the independent media want to dive deep into the personal affairs of the United Democratic Party.”

Panton did not announce who would permanently replace Thimbriel and Wallace on the executive.