Faber’s Fall From Grace and Parliamentary Leadership of U.D.P.
Patrick Faber
The public spectacle that has become Patrick Faber’s fall from grace continued on Wednesday when he abruptly ended an interview and walked off the set of a weekly talk show. On January nineteenth, a violent incident at his home resulted in charges being brought against him by his fiancée, Dr. Shanikka Arnold. She decided to seek no further action, but the blowback has been intense and Faber has signaled his intention of resigning. Nonetheless, a house meeting has been scheduled for next Friday, and with Faber’s pending resignation from his leadership roles, the United Democratic Party is once again left to pick up the pieces. Here’s News Five’s Isani Cayetano with that story.
Isani Cayetano, Reporting
A meeting of the House of Representatives has been called for February fourth. The Briceño administration is going about its business, superintending the Government of Belize, but the leadership of the United Democratic Party is once again in question. Collet Area Representative Patrick Faber has indicated that he will be demitting office as Party Leader and Leader of the Opposition. His pending departure, however, is yet to be made official with the tendering of letters of resignation to U.D.P. Chairman Michael Peyrefitte and Governor General Froyla Tzalam, respectively. His colleagues in parliament, those in power, have weighed in on Faber’s staggering fall.
Cordel Hyde
Cordel Hyde, Deputy Prime Minister
“It’s sad. It’s a tragic situation all around. You know, it’s always immensely sad and immensely tragic when you see humans fall from grace. I think that is sad, no matter who the person is and it doesn’t matter which side of the fence they are. You don’t want to see that, you know, but a lot has been said, a lot more will be said, a lot has happened.”
In the intervening time between Faber’s public statement on Monday and his forthcoming exit on January thirty-first, a lot has indeed transpired. The embattled politician walked off the set of a talk show on Thursday and News Five has been made to understand that he is presently out of the country.
Dolores Balderamos-Garcia
Dolores Balderamos-Garcia, Minister of Human Development
“Mr. Faber is being brought down by friendly fire. I mean, he was on Channel 7’s Uncut, Mr. Jules Vasquez and I don’t give Mr. Vasquez wrong in putting to him, “Look, you are an abuser and you have not owned up, you have not taken responsibility.” And that is one of the points, for my own part as a woman, would like to stress, not wanting to take responsibility for one’s actions. I mean that is just unbelievable. I take no pleasure. I don’t want to see the man fall down, but he’s bringing about his own downfall with his conduct.”
The political nose dive that Faber has been experiencing over the past week, part of the blistering fallout in the wake of another allegation of domestic abuse, has raised the question of a need for urgent intervention. It’s an opinion that is shared by Deputy Prime Minister Cordel Hyde.
Cordel Hyde
“I think an intervention is urgent, an intervention is urgent, a serious intervention.”
Duane Moody
“Do you believe that he should resign from the house?”
Cordel Hyde
“I haven’t gone that far. All I say is that in many other countries, he would have had to resign from the parliament entirely but those are personal considerations; one, but there are also national considerations because, you know, at the end of the day the man was elected by constituents so constituents will have a say in that. But I think right at this moment, with all that is happening, an intervention is needed.”
Fellow parliamentarian Dolores Balderamos-Garcia, who also issued a recorded statement denouncing gender-based violence, is calling for his resignation from the National Assembly entirely.
Dolores Balderamos-Garcia
“He is unfit. I believe he should resign altogether from the National Assembly and get help. But more important, more important, let us give the support to the women and survivors of domestic violence that we need to give. The question was asked to me earlier, why is it that so many women get to the court and say, “I don’t want any further actions.” First of all, it’s not a bad thing to report on an incidence of gender based violence for future reference. That is not a bad thing; however, it is disheartening that so many women find themselves in a position of not wanting to pursue the evidence.”
Shyne Barrow
Going back to the issue of his replacement as Leader of the Opposition ahead of next Friday’s house meeting, we are also made to understand that Corozal North Area Representative Hugo Patt, Deputy Party Leader of the U.D.P., is once again endorsing Shyne Barrow as the fifteenth Leader of the Opposition.
Isani Cayetano reporting for News Five.
