Patrick Faber says campaign for Deputy Party Leader picking up steam

Patrick Faber

The second highest post in the country is that of the Deputy Prime Minister, which is currently held by Gaspar Vega. The post is usually held by the Deputy Party Leader of the ruling political party but the powerful Vega will face a challenge at the United Democratic Party Convention in February 2013. The Chairman of the U.D.P., Minister of Education Patrick Faber is attempting to unseat Vega and he said today that his campaign is gaining ground in the north, where Vega is from.

Jose Sanchez

“Some people are saying you have a strength in Corozal over the Deputy Party Leader. How is that campaign going?”

Patrick Faber, Chairman, U.D.P.

“Well I have led a very quiet campaign to this point. I have been speaking to the delegates of the various constituencies. Just myself and those committees and it is a big different from my opponent I believe. He has chosen to take an entourage of his supports to speak on his behalf. I have taken a much more low-keyed approach; going to the delegates and speaking to them just myself and I think that has been very effective. I will tell you that I do feel that I do have a great bit of support there in the north of the country—both in Corozal and Orange Walk—where I intend to garner the majority of the votes. But every day is an eternity in politics and we still have a week to go to the convention and so Jose I just keep on doing what I am doing quietly. I may step up the pace a bit after the Christmas, but for right now I just continue on a low-keyed pace; winning support through the delegates who are the people who are going to vote. I think it is one of my colleagues’ favorite line, one of them who likes to say, “Don’t study the noise in the market, check yo change.” And that is what we have been doing. We know that the support can only come from the delegates. The delegates who are going to vote in that convention have been educated of what their role is—not only for the convention, but also as they are members of the executive committees of this party for the next two years. And I believe that when they are faced with that decision that they will make the right decision—not only in the convention in terms of leadership, but in general they will be able to now make decisions in issues facing the party in their constituency and also issues facing the wider party?”

Jose Sanchez

“In regards to your position as it becomes vacant as chairman, are you supporting any of the candidates—Mister August or the other gentleman?

Patrick Faber

“Yes, the current vice-chairman, Mister Roosevelt Blades, is aspiring. Roosevelt and I formed a great team in the last term or in this current term, I should say. We have been in office now for two years plus some months. And I think that all will agree that we have done a wonderful job. I have not heard anybody say that we did not do a good job in terms of organization. Certainly we would not have been able to call an early election had we not done our homework. We had the candidates prepare for an election as early as a year and a half before the scheduled date of 2013 for the elections. And of course if anybody has been studying the history of the U.D.P., they would know that that was a first. So yes, I believe that Roosevelt Blades does have what it takes to become the chairman of this party. And long before I knew of any other aspirant, I had put my support and continue to place my support behind him for the race for chairman.”