U.D.P.: national convention is preparation for elections
This weekend, activity in San Ignacio will be dominated by the supporters of the United Democratic Party as the party gathers to participate in its first national convention since 2001. This afternoon Leader of the Opposition Dean Barrow admitted the forum is overdue but maintains the hype of the event will be a major momentum boost as the party prepares for general elections in 2008. In addition to endorsing statements on issues such as crime and oil, posts including those of deputy party leader, chairman and deputy chairman are being challenged with plenty of internal political passion.
Dean Barrow, Party Leader U.D.P.
?The contests are fierce but I think fair and knowing the individuals that are involved, I can feel optimistic that once the results are in, there will be a coming back together of the party. I mean these things produce inevitable friction, inevitable stresses and strains but I really am pretty confident that there will be no lasting effects as a result of the hard fought contests.?
?The overarching message to the voter is that the U.D.P. is fully serious and fully intends to demonstrate that seriousness of purpose about one thing above all others and that is the commitment to honesty, to integrity and to good governance. I believe that that is what brought us such a huge victory in the municipal elections and I believe that our job between now and the general elections is not only to continue to hammer home that rhetoric but to produce the positions, the actual concrete positions that support that rhetoric and that stance that we?ve taken.?
?We have our work cut out for us because it?s not any longer a matter of merely being able to say with sincerity and in an ardent fervent fashion that we are the apostles of good governance. It is that we have to demonstrate it at the municipal level and of course there are very many pitfalls along the road to good governance already there was an impression created that there was some slippage in Belize City. We tried to address it almost immediately but that is going to be our greatest challenge. We cannot afford to allow scepticism to develop on the part of the electorate, especially if that scepticism will be born of a perception even if it?s justified to the slightest degree, that we having been given this opportunity, have not lived up to our promise.?
The U.D.P. National Convention will be held at the Macal River Park in San Ignacio. According to the party secretariat, Marcel Cardona, Carlos Perdomo and Gaspar Vega are contesting the post of first deputy party leader, John Saldivar and Douglas Singh are running for chairman and Frank Papa Mena and Gonzalo Rosado are challenging each other for the post of deputy chairman.
