Will Lev Dermen Scandal Force U.D.P. to Postpone Leadership Convention?

Michael Peyrefitte

February ninth has been set aside by the United Democratic Department for its leadership convention.  As you know, Patrick Faber and John Saldivar are going head to head to become the next leader of the U.D.P; both have been meeting with delegates to secure their vote.  The Lev Dermen’s scandal, however, looms above the Barrow Government and it is expected that by month’s end when the trial begins in the U.S., the name of the U.D.P. minister and government official who received bribes from Dermen will be known.  Whatever is revealed, the U.D.P.’s chairman designate, Michael Peyrefitte says that the convention should proceed as planned.

Michael Peyrefitte, Attorney General of Belize

“I don’t see why we should postpone it. The general elections are due at the latest, November 2020. Pushing back our internal leadership contest I don’t think will make sense at this point. I think we press forward. We cannot assume that any name will be called, or any minister will be called. We don’t know that yet. We have to wait until that trial play out and until then we cannot put the leadership of our country and the leadership of our party on pause because of a case that is going on in the United States. So I think we should just go forward as plan.”