1 month ago
5
When Michael Peyrefitte returned as the UDP Chairman on June 24, it was the hope of many party followers that the internal feud would have ended. Unfortunately, Peyrefitte, true to his word, threw in the towel when he realized that both factions were not fully onboard to reunite. Many are still unclear as to what really transpired, as both Shyne Barrow and Tracy Panton were seemingly on board, but by July 16, Panton had pulled out and the hope of unity was once again shelved. In an appearance on The Morning Show, Barrow explained that there were two components of the reunification that Panton had rejected. The first had to do with an apology, and the second had to do with the inclusion, into the NPC, of those persons who ran in the last elections. Barrow noted that these two factors were apparent deal breakers for Panton and her team.
Moses “Shyne” Barrow, UDP Leader: “Our proposal was reinstatement. Our proposal was that everyone who lost would go to a convention. Our proposal was for an October 5th national convention. But we wanted to follow the constitution to the T. So that would require a public apology from those members that were expelled and a commitment to refrain from further misconduct. That was a deal breaker for them. Also, the National Party Council, the composition of the National Party Council has to be those members who ran for the party as the official candidates. There is no doubt that there was a duplicate UDP. There is no doubt that colleagues took it upon themselves to say that they are the UDP, they are the interim leader, they are the central executive, all things which in and of itself would command expulsion and would command a ban, some people would say in perpetuity but there is no doubt that that happened. So now how do you reconcile? The only fair and just pathway to reconciliation is that those that were the official candidates would be recognized for the purpose of whatever decisions need to be made. And there was nothing nefarious. There was no malicious intent on our part. It was just to follow the rules and the constitution. So those colleagues that officially ran and their chair and their secretary would compose the NPC. And we would have reinstated the members that were expelled, the members that were in bad standing because they absconded. They vacated their positions when they went to October 20th event that was not a UDP event. They vacated their positions when they recognized someone other than the party leader and the party chairman in those respective positions. The Constitution requires a public apology. That’s what the Constitution says. That’s not what Shyne Barrow says. It’s not, oh I apologize to the leader of the UDP. You apologize to the party for your actions. And I think that there many colleagues who feel an apology is in order. But that’s where Dean Burrow came in and he said, listen you know, and he was not advocating for one side or the other but you could accuse him of being more sympathetic to those that had been expelled because he and Michael Finnegan share a old guard view that, well they won their seat winner takes all.”
With an unclear road ahead for the UDP, Barrow noted that hope currently resides in the national convention. It is at that event that is expected to end with a duly elected leader which Barrow says he is sure will happen.
Moses “Shyne” Barrow, UDP Leader: “The constitution of the UDP does not allow for factions. So what we’re trying to do is move towards one UDP when we have our national convention in October. We will have one leader, as we do now. I am the outgoing leader, finishing my term. And it is my prayer that all of the steps that we have taken since March to now will result in a stronger United Democratic Party and I emphasize united within that term of our organization. Politics is not for the faint-hearted and in all fairness to Michael Peyrefitte he did say that if the two feuding factions, I hate to use that word factions, but if the two parties could not comply with the agreement that was brokered by party elders, two of the most senior elders of the party in Dean Bauer primarily as well as Michael Finnegan. I know that they wanted what was best for the party. But what has happened is where they try to find a middle ground you have instances where people want extremities and we can’t have extremes. In negotiation, you have to find the middle and I am satisfied that the deal that was brokered by PM Barrow, that was initially agreed by all parties, is the best way forward. That is the agreement that was adopted by the central executive and the National Party Council. What we see now, we see public attacks continuing. If you notice in my conversation, I’ve tried not to even mention anyone’s name and I will refrain from criticizing anyone other than to point out the constitution of the UDP says once we make a decision at the NPC all members must adhere to that decision whether you like it or not. That is a requirement for being a member. You don’t have to be a member and if you don’t like the decisions that the party is making you don’t publicly criticize the party; you leave and you form your own party. And that has been the problem, from the inception. There’s a majority, the majority makes decisions, the minority doesn’t like it, and they take to the media to win public sentiment which has caused this great controversy.”
English (US) ·