Mike Peyrefitte for U.D.P. Chairman!!
Michael Peyrefitte
As the U.D.P. gears up for its February 2020 convention which will elect a successor to Prime Minister Dean Barrow as leader, a number of persons are throwing their hat in the ring. Attorney General Michael Peyrefitte, twice an unsuccessful candidate for the United Democratic Party, is making a third bid, this time for chairmanship in the coming weeks. His intention to replace Alberto August as the presiding officer of the ruling party was made formal this morning to Secretary General Pearl Stuart. Thus far, Peyrefitte’s bid is uncontested and, interestingly, his candidacy is fully endorsed by August, who has submitted his name for vice chairman of the U.D.P. August admits that many would view it as a voluntary demotion, however, he maintains that it is time for new blood to steer the party in a different direction. August told News Five this evening that he has decided to run on Peyrefitte’s slate as second in command. Earlier today, we sat with Peyrefitte who explained the reason behind his running for chairmanship.
Michael Peyrefitte, Member, United Democratic Party
“Well it’s important from a party perspective to listen to what your colleagues and your fellow U.D.P. people are encouraging you to do and want you to do. I was encouraged by one member of the party to think seriously about it. I thought about it over the weekend and by then people started to hear about the possibility of me being the chairman and I was encouraged by a wide cross-section of the party to seek the chairmanship. It is their belief that going into an election year they have every confidence that I could do a decent job to help the party steer the ship into the 2020 elections, so being the U.D.P. loyalist that I am and I am totally in love with my party, I have to heed that call. And so I made the decision then, to inform the secretary general this morning that I am vying for the chairmanship of the U.D.P.”
Isani Cayetano
“As far as you know, are there any other horses in the race, so to speak?”
Michael Peyrefitte
“As far as I know, no. I was informed by the party this morning that nobody else has indicated that they are vying for the chairmanship of the party. So, so far, as far as I know, it’s only me.”
Isani Cayetano
“These are rather fluid times within the United Democratic insofar as it shaping up for the leadership convention next year and a couple months thereafter will be the elections of 2020. Where do you see some of the support within the party shifting? I know you have two candidates vying for leadership of the party, Patrick Faber and John Saldivar. Where do you see things going at this point?”
Michael Peyrefitte
“I would tell you February tenth. We don’t know. There’s a lot of energy all around which is always good for any political organization, any organization. The energy that I see that’s been put into the campaigns for the various positions within the party that will become available February ninth, I mean the energy is just exciting and it’s nice and it’s good. I’m hoping that if I am lucky enough to be elected chairman that my job would be to manage it, manage the excitement, manage the energy to ensure that while we do have an energetic campaign that we are able to heal after that and to make sure that we can come together as one indeed United Democratic Party.”
