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She’s made her foray into party politics in 2015 and you could say that despite challenges, her rise has been meteoric. Tonight, the Leader of the Opposition and Albert Area Rep is poised to become Belize’s first woman leader of a mass party. Ann-Marie Williams has the story.
Ann Marie Williams, Love News: In the 77 years of existence of the ruling People’s United Party and the 52 years of the opposition United Democratic Party, there’s never been a woman to take over the helm of any of the two mass parties. A change has finally come because Tracy Panton is poised to take over the leadership of the United Democratic Party. On November 30 she will be endorsed as the party leader for the UDP when the UDP holds its long-awaited national convention at Bird’s Isle in this fair city. A history-making moment that sure is not lost on Panton.
Tracy Panton, Leader of the Opposition: “Not just for me, for women in this country. The fact that I am a competent woman, I am a capable woman, the fact that my integrity remains intact, that I lead with a great deal of compassion for the concerns and needs of a Belizean people, is a victory in itself.”
Ann Marie Williams, Love News: And Panton is hoping that her slate will be victorious. The chair is Sheena Pitts, first deputy leader, Hugo Pat, hailing from the north. Miguel Guerra is the second deputy leader from the west. The vice chair will be named in short order.
Tracy Panton, Leader of the Opposition: “As the party leader in waiting, I will be endorsed. The other positions of chair and vice chair likely will be challenged and so they’ll be voting on that day. I’m encouraged by the number of people who are ready to get on the ship to help us to steer the ship because there was a time when everybody stayed far away from the ship. But now…..”
Ann Marie Williams, Love News: But the win is in sight.
Tracy Panton, Leader of the Opposition: “But now there’s certainly renewed energy, renewed excitement, renewed focus, which is a good thing for the United Democratic Party. So we do believe those two positions may be challenged. But the team that I have assembled, in my view, has the requisite skillsets that we need at this time. And so it’s important for me that that slate, you know, takes control and if for some reason that doesn’t happen, certainly I have the ability to work with whoever our delegates decide.”
Ann Marie Williams, Love News: And a little over 500 delegates will indeed decide. 16 per constituency. Members of the Central Executive, about 30 members and the municipal slate in the twin towns of San Ignacio and Sant Elena who won their seats. Anne Marie Williams, for Love News.
English (US) ·