Shyne Barrow, “Hugo Patt is one of my closest Allies.”

Hugo Patt

Deputy Party Leader Hugo Patt has been silent on his views pertaining to the infighting that rocked the U.D.P. since the party was trounced at the last general elections.  He has observed tensions within the leadership of the United Democratic Party and has not spoken openly.  He has also been absent from several house meetings where he sits next to Opposition Leader Shyne Barrow.  But, does Barrow enjoy Patt’s confidence and that of the wider party?  It’s a question that was put to the party leader, who also spoke about the mobilization efforts to bus in five thousand supporters for this weekend’s endorsement convention.

Shyne Barrow

Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition

“Hugo Patt is one of my closest allies and every time I travel around the country I always stop in to see him.  I don’t think I have to take a picture every time I go to his house and eat tamales and his wife cooks black dinner for me.  I mean, where do you come up with these things?  I know there are many people that would like the honorable member from Corozal North to not be one of my strongest allies, but he has proven that repeatedly that he is with me.  So that is nonsense.  The member from Albert has given all her assurances that she is working arduously to bring out her people because it’s not just to come out.  We’re bringing out five thousand people from across the country and so we have the assurances of all the members, even people in Collet.  Uncle Ray, Rayford is working, even though the honorable member Faber is not here, he is working to bring out the people, so. We have been able to resolve our differences and accept that I am the leader that will be the next prime minister in a U.D.P. government and we will do everything to accomplish that and Sunday is not just an endorsement, a national convention endorsement, but we will be marching in protest from the UDP headquarters to Birds Isle for, again, the obscene, astronomical highest cost of living ever that the government, the Briceño government has not addressed. I bet you the five thousand will come out.  As many buses as we need I will take care of.  As many people as we need to feed, I will take care of and the requests keep coming.”