Elected U.D.P. Members, Tracy Panton and Patrick Faber Absent from U.D.P. Protest
Former Party Leader Patrick Faber and Area Representative for Albert Division Tracy Panton did not attend the demonstration. Both elected members of the U.D.P. have been at odds with the party’s leader. And, while the National Party Council sought to resolve the internal divide over the weekend, the absence of Faber and Panton was noticeable. One protestor from the Albert Division, Clarence Mckay, informed us that he was present on behalf of Tracy Panton, because she had prior commitments. According to Barrow, Panton sent out a number of her supporters to join the march as a form of support. And, while today Barrow saw questions on the U.D.P.’s internal turmoil as a deviation, reporters still questioned him on how he intends to get his house in order.
Clarence Mckay
Clarence Mckay, Protestor
“Life is hard out here and gas is killing us. We have some of our supporters in the back out here and my boss is in a meeting at the moment and she can’t attend. She is in a meeting so she can’t attend the rally. But, her supporters are out here as well.”
Reporter
“With the Party’s own internal struggles how are you able to mobilize?”
Moses “Shyne” Barrow
Moses “Shyne” Barrow, Leader of the Oppostion
“Lower the gas prices lower the price of living. Stop the corruption.”
Paul Lopez
“There is a scripture in the good book that says a man who cannot put his house in order is not fit to lead.”
Moses “Shyne” Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
“The government continues with failed policies as far as the inflation is concerned. That is why social safety nets are so important, because any government will face fluctuating economic times, financial times.”
Reporter
“Was it difficult to mobilize the party, given you have internal issues?”
Moses “Shyne” Barrow
“The honorable Tracey Panton, you spoke to her secretary I believe, her Chairman. She sent her people out here. As a responsible opposition, we cannot allow distractions to take away from our responsibility to advocate on behalf of the Belizean people and that is exactly what we are doing with the chairman, the deputy party leader, and the grand leaders of this party, which are the delegates, and our party faithful.”
