Barrow Says Panton Had Her Chance

Barrow’s oath of office is now recognized by the Governor General of Belize. Albert Area Representative Tracy Panton, who is also vying for party leader, this week cited the constitution of the U.D.P. as the basis upon which she should be the one to become Leader of the Opposition.  After all, she is the most senior politician on the opposition bench following deputy party leader Hugo Patt who has passed on the opportunity. Here’s Shyne’s response to that question.

Shyne Barrow

Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition

“The Belize constitution is the supreme law of the land and the Governor General has spoken and I don’t think that there is any merit to that unfounded, desperate claim. I think it’s very bad for the honorable Panton to stoop so low when history would record that when she had the opportunity to stand up for all G.B.V. victims, when she had the opportunity to stand up for women, when she had the opportunity to stand up for the United Democratic Party, when she had the opportunity to stand up for the country of Belize [which] definitely needs a viable opposition, she refused. She stood up for the accused. She made a deal with the accused who, unlike me, that was not the first instance.  That was the third instance that we knew of and she chose to be an apologist, she chose to be a sympathizer rather than stand up. So she should be the last one to talk about those issues and it is really shameful to use such a serious issue as a political tool.”