Darrell Bradley to be Elected New President of the Senate?

Darrell Bradley

At Tuesday’s special sitting of the Senate, President Lee Mark Chang announced his resignation as head of the upper house to pursue his political ambition of representing the United Democratic Party as a standard bearer going into the November 2020 general elections.  His candidacy in Caribbean Shores, however, is contingent upon a victory at an upcoming constituency convention scheduled for the end of June.  While his departure comes as no surprise, given the six-week timeline for a campaign against fellow U.D.P. hopefuls Santiago Castillo Jr. and Leila Peyrefitte, Chang’s proposed replacement as president is former Belize City Mayor Darrell Bradley.  Notwithstanding a shocking loss to Kareem Musa in that very constituency back in 2015, Bradley has not been a visible force for the ruling party in the division which was recently opened up for other candidates to challenge the post.  According to Prime Minister Dean Barrow in an interview with the media following Monday’s house meeting, Bradley had been informed previously that the constituency would be having a convention and not an endorsement of his candidacy since much hasn’t been done by way of his presence in the area.  Bradley, in turn, took a backseat from running in the convention and reportedly did so by bowing out gracefully.  So, is the proposal to have him elected as the new President of the Senate a quid pro quo for stepping aside in Caribbean Shores?  It’s a fair question, one that we’ve been attempting to have answered, but to no avail.  In that interview on Monday, PM Barrow said that Bradley was bogged down with other personal and professional commitments and did have time to work the constituency.

Dean Barrow

Prime Minister Dean Barrow

“He wasn’t sure that the fact that he conceded that he had not been doing anything in the area ought ineluctably to mean that he must depart.  He said he would have to think about that.  I suggested to him that, look it’s only a recommendation that will go to the National Party Council.  If you come tomorrow and make your case, perhaps the NPC will disagree with the central executive and you might be able to maintain your position but, he didn’t show up.  He had said to me that he wasn’t sure that he was going to come.  I asked him well if you don’t come, does that mean that we can take it that you are not opposed to the course of action?  He wouldn’t go quite that far, but as I said, we parted, I thought, in a way that was extremely civilized.  He explained the demands on his time with the law firm, with the family, with various things.  So, as I said, he was clearly conflicted, not necessarily wanting to simply let go of his candidacy, in quotation marks, but not being certain that given all that he was doing, that he could even now do candidacy the justice that was required.  And that’s how we left off.  I thought he was honest and as I said, he was entirely gracious.  I have to use that word again.”