Taegar-Panton: I Am the Only Choice for U.D.P. Leader
Tracy Taegar-Panton
Taegar-Panton says that her party is in such dire straits and in her opinion she is really the only choice for the delegates to vote for at the next U.D.P. Leadership Convention on March twenty-seventh. She says the party needs to appeal not just to its faithful, but also the undecided voters.
Tracy Taegar-Panton, Aspirant for U.D.P. Leader
“I am the only decision, in my view, that the delegates can make. The U.D.P. – the credibility of this party – is at an all-time low. I would go further to say we are at rock bottom. And we need to choose a leader that has the experience, and my record of service to this country is unparalleled and it’s proven. We need to choose a leader that can rebuild and heal this party. We can’t choose a leader that is polarizing and divisive. We have to choose a leader that will respect our delegates and stand on principle as to what the mandate of the U.D.P. is as a mass political party. We need to choose a leader that can be inclusive and ensure that there is as much diversity as we can have in the party. You see, we have to appeal to the stalwarts of this party and to the supporters of this party, but they alone will not win us an election. There are lots of independent voters sitting on the fence, waiting to see what we will do in terms of regaining our credibility, in terms of really cementing – inspiring the trust and confidence of the Belizean people in the leadership that we choose.”
Marion Ali
“Then of course, all these comments keep coming up – that you are not a “full-bred” U.D.P., that you…”
Tracy Taegar-Panton
“Was Philip Goldson a full-bred U.D.P. Philip Goldson is a founding member of the People’s United Party. You know, I reject that out of hand! I think it is malicious, and simply meant to try and malign my candidacy, but the delegates of this party and the people of this party know exactly what I stand for.”
Marion Ali
“And then we keep hearing about this third person, who has not come forth officially to say yes, they are in the race. But names are being called – actually one name – and it’s another man from what we’ve heard. So you’d be the only woman. Does this put you, you think, at a disadvantage?”
Tracy Taegar-Panton
“Breaking the glass ceiling is perhaps the most difficult challenge I will have in this campaign, but I have no doubt that I can do it. And the reason I don’t have any doubt is because while I am a woman, and that’s very obvious, I am not running on the matter of gender only. I am running because I am capable.”
