Tracy Taegar-Panton Says She is Now U.D.P.

Tracy Taegar-Panton

Panton comes from a traditionally P.U.P. background, and even worked for years as Manager of the P.U.P.’s Belize Times. She has been affiliated with the very successful Mark Espat era in the Albert Constituency and received her first official tourism posting under the P.U.P. So how does that true blue history get reconciled with the new, bright red United Democratic Party poster girl?

Tracy Taegar-Panton, U.D.P. Albert Constituency Candidate

“I have always been committed and involved in public service, and I feel that the time is right for me to take it to the next level, and to become more involved in political leadership and political involvement in Belize. I think it’s time for women’s voices to be heard, to be brought to the table and to be able to make a difference not only for the people with whom I live and work, but also for the country of Belize. The time was right and the conditions are right.”

Reporter

“Others in the party are saying but she dah P.U.P. How we gwein mek two good U.D.P.s stand down fu bring in wah P.U.P.? It is a criticism being made widely in the party. How would you respond to that?”

Tracy Taegar-Panton

“I assume that you’ve made that judgment based on my father’s bid for City Council in 1979. No one asked me where my affiliation was. No one asked me.”

Reporter

“Well you worked for the Mark Espat camp from 1996 to 2005 at least and thereafter you stayed on as the Director of Tourism when the new Minister came in. I’m just saying your history in public life has been as a P.U.P. It is not a criticism I have Tracy, it is one that I’m hearing from people within the Party who feel that the move is dictatorial, autocratic and wrongheaded because two good U.D.P.s have to make way for someone who has no bonafides as a U.D.P., who has not worked in the trenches for the U.D.P.”

Tracy Taegar-Panton

“There is a history that I do have with the Mark Espat campaign, and there’s no secret about that. I have never shied away from that situation. But not because of that can the assumption be made that I am not committed to the U.D.P. and the work that we will do moving forward.”