Faber Says Saldivar Can Bring It in 2020

Patrick Faber

Shortly after the Convention results were announced, John Saldivar posted a note of congratulations to Patrick Faber on his victory. And then shortly after that, another post in which Saldivar pointed out that his dream lives on, a clear indication that in 2020 he still intends to contest for the post of U.D.P. leader when Prime Minister Dean Barrow steps aside. That’s interesting, since Faber has maintained that the clear understanding is that whoever won this Convention would be groomed for the post of leader, kind of a natural ascension. Still, Faber told us this afternoon that Saldivar can come if he wants, but that won’t change the inevitable result.

Patrick Faber, Deputy Party Leader, U.D.P.

“He’s perfectly free to do so. I believe that all know that we will in fact have a leadership convention in 2020; that is no secret and at that time, nothing is promised to anyone. But we all agreed some time ago that in fact when we had this deputy leadership race that it would be a sure sign, a sure mark that the winner would naturally start working and probably assume very much some of the skills and the strategies that you would need to have as the next leader of the party. So we all agreed that this was in fact the transition. But there is no guarantee. And the only thing that comforts me in that regard, as Minister Saldivar makes that point that he does intend to run, is that I believe that in this position of deputy party leader now, I will not sit on my hands. And it will be obvious in 2020 who will lead this party. So it doesn’t matter who decides to run in 2020, the democratic process will once again take its course. It doesn’t matter who in the cabinet, which minister support or don’t support as I’ve been saying. What matters is what the people want; what those delegates that will vote in 2020 will want.”