Ian Jones Bows Out of Collet Race; Is Faber Still a U.D.P. Candidate?

Ian Jones

There’s a National Party Council meeting scheduled for this Saturday where executives of the United Democratic Party, as well as the broader membership of the organization, are expected to discuss a range of political issues.  On Tuesday, Collet Area Representative Patrick Faber indicated that he will be seeking an audience with the N.P.C. to discuss his future as a candidate under the red umbrella.  Viewers would recall that the five-time area rep was replaced as a U.D.P. standard bearer in that division by Ian Jones, a newcomer to electoral politics.  Jones, who is considered a son of the soil in Collet, was endorsed by the party, following a letter from the Nominations Committee on October twenty-first, 2022, in which his application for standard bearer had been approved.  That decision effectively froze Faber out of the constituency as a U.D.P. candidate ahead of the next general elections.  The news tonight is that Jones has opted to step down and will be submitting his resignation as standard bearer in the coming days.  Earlier today, via a social media post, Jones wrote, “I believe it’s only fit and right that prior to making any public pronouncements that I first inform you all that effective today, with consultation with the Party Leader, I will be tendering my resignation as standard bearer of the Collet constituency.  Kindly know that much consideration was taken before coming to this decision, but in the grand scheme of things and with the ultimate objective being the unity of the party as we move into an election season.  I believe this to be the best decision for the party”.  Jones’ decision to withdraw his candidacy now paves the way for Faber’s return to Collet as the U.D.P. standard bearer.