2 months ago
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The United Democratic Party (UDP), this morning, hosted its first official press conference under the leadership of Party Leader Tracy Taegar Panton, at the party’s headquarters on Youth for the Future Drive. The event opened at approximately 10:30 a.m., bringing together party executives, area representatives, and supporters as the UDP outlined its renewed direction as the official Opposition. In her opening address, Panton announced the formation and establishment of several working groups within the party, each tasked with intensifying the UDP’s role in holding the Government accountable and ensuring greater scrutiny of what she described as the country’s most pressing national issues.
Tracy Panton, Leader of the Opposition: “Our reform agenda is built on several pillars that modernize and will seek to solidify our institution. The first pillar, restoring our democratic integrity. You see, there are some of us who believe that integrity doesn’t have any currency, or integrity doesn’t have any value. But I will tell you that the future of the UDP will be built on the currency and value of our collective integrity. There will be standardized procedures that allow for fair play in decision making and accurate record keeping for institutional memory, something we severely lack. A modern party cannot operate on improvision. A modern party must operate on systems. Pillar number two, strengthening our party’s organs. Under our reform plan, every committee will have a clear mandate, defined responsibilities, reporting obligations, and access to training and support. We are now in the process of reappointing our Central Executive Committee and the first order of business in the new year is to convene the first meeting of our National Party Council, the highest decision-making body of the party outside of our National Convention. We will also be convening the Constitutional Reform Committee. I have asked and he has graciously accepted the Honorable Patrick Faber to serve as the lead on this important initiative that will include legal and technical expertise as well as representation from our four regional of caucuses. Pillar number three, embracing the digital and hybrid governance. We will develop clear protocols for virtual meetings, a secure online voting mechanism, digital archiving, and technological support for all 31 constituencies.”
Addressing the press thereafter, Godwin Haylock spoke on the controversial Deep-Water Port project, referencing the reported but unconfirmed involvement of Mexican businessman Raúl Rocha Cantú. Haylock stressed the need for transparency and clarity surrounding any investors connected to the project, particularly where issues of national sovereignty and environmental impact are concerned.
Godwin Haylock, Area Representative, Queen Square: “He’s under investigation for fuel and armed trafficking and drug smuggling. He was previously associated with organized criminal elements tied to the tragic Casino Royal Attack in Monterrey which claimed the lives of 52 people. Ladies and gentlemen, this is not just me saying it. This was reported in the Millennia newspaper in Mexico on November 20th this year. Yet, Mr. Raul Rocha Cantu has been able to enter Belize’s investment ecosystem as a strategic investor and position himself in the major port in Dangriga, dubbed the Dangriga Deep Water Port Project. Belizeans, ask yourselves this, why would any responsible government knowingly engage with an individual who is being sought by the Mexican authorities? Why would a government, being aware of the investigation, the allegations, the arrest warrant, still proceed to welcome this man in our ecosystem? The answer is simple. The government is so hungry for new foreign investment that no due diligence is being done. Nothing turned up from the FIU, nothing turned up from Special Branch, nothing suspicious turned up from anywhere. And that’s because this government does not care who you are, they only care how tall your pocket is.”
Meanwhile, Patrick Faber, in his remarks, spoke about the reinvigorated state of the UDP, expressing confidence that the party’s internal consolidation and outreach efforts will result in a stronger, more unified opposition moving forward. He also spoke on the loan motions and spending being carried out by the Briceno administration. Faber particularly highlighted the buy over of the Fortis dams.
Patrick Faber, UDP Senator: “In the five years of the PUP, they celebrated five years in November in case you missed it. This is their second term but they completed five years. November 2020 to November 2025, five calendar years. And in that time, the People’s United Party has borrowed close to $600 million. For those who like it, like the former prime minister Said Musa, that is $0.6 billion with a B. And the point of this is that that money is now gone. That money is now gone. But the stench that remains from borrowing all that money remains for our children. And as one of our speakers said this morning, for our children’s children and even our children’s children children to pay because that is how the People’s United Party has operated. The BEL buy back and the buyout of Fortis Belize where loans were made in the name of this country, local domestic borrowing and I’ll call you out Mr. Vazquez from Channel 7 because in the story that you ran with me you claim that I was wrong in my facts because I said that the House of Representatives and the Senate approved $330 million dollars, and you fact checked Faber, saying you know what it’s not $330 million Faber is wrong. That it was $256 million, the cost of paying Fortis and the cost of buying back the BEL shares. And I pointed out to you…but you didn’t pick me up, you didn’t take me it’s like you all don’t feel that $76 million dollars important. It’s not a mistake Faber made, the fact of the matter is the Prime Minister said it was, the whole deal would cost us 3.9% or 3.7% of GDP. Now the last time I checked with the Central Bank and the SIB, the GDP is at $9 billion. So if it’s 3.9% of $9 billion you know it’s $330 million ? The man told us you know ? It’s not nobody adding up, it’s not Faber is wrong, the man told you the debt that this is going to incur is $330 million in code. He told you the percentage of GDP and like we’re slow and we can’t do the math. That is $76 million not gone to Fortis, not gone to BEL for the shares, that went into the transaction. That is the kind of hustle that this People’s United Party government is in.”
Other party members also made presentations during the conference, including Deputy Leader Hugo Patt, who focused his commentary on developments and ongoing concerns within the sugar industry, particularly as they affect cane farmers and the wider northern economy. The UDP indicated that today’s press conference marks the beginning of a more active and coordinated phase of engagement with national issues under its new leadership
English (US) ·