U.D.P. to Make Plans in Wake of Municipal Result

Dean Barrow

Going back to Wednesday’s election, Prime Minister Barrow has announced time and again that he is stepping down as party leader and head of government in advance of the 2020 general elections.  The municipal vote was the last election he spearheaded for the United Democratic Party.  Despite the unexpected outcome in Belize City, the PM says that he is reinvigorated by the dynamism in places such as Punta Gorda and Dangriga.  While he is prepared to continue fighting for the party to regain its position in areas where it lost, he is also making room for his successor to be able to implement his own strategy going into the next general elections.

Dean Barrow, Party Leader, U.D.P.

“I, personally, really genuinely, was, I found myself charged up by the outpouring of enthusiasm of energy that I saw in Punta Gorda, that I saw in Benque Viejo del Carmen, that I saw in Dangriga, that I saw in Belmopan and for me, I will continue and give it my absolute best, with no flagging of spirits or energies, until, together with the party, the determination can be made as to the exact time I am to leave.  We know that this is my last election.  We know because I have said that I certainly do not mean to stay until so close to the next general election that my successor would not have a comfortable enough space within which to work his or her own formula, own recipe.  Beyond that I can’t go.  Collectively, we will agree what month, in what year I am to take my leave.  But I repeat, until that day comes, I am determined, I’ve been given really a new lease on life by what I saw, in terms of, as I said, the tremendous outpouring of support that is the bounty of the United Democratic Party and to the extent that we did have this setback, to use your word, with respect to Belize City.  Well there is nothing I like more than a fight, so I am fired up in terms of wanting to get together with my party to ensure that we put right whatever has gone wrong in Belize City.”