It’s Official: Shyne Barrow is Leader of the Opposition

The reins of the parliamentary leadership of the United Democratic Party were formally handed over to Shyne Barrow during a brief ceremony this morning in Belmopan.  Along with his wife and daughter, the Area Representative for Mesopotamia presented himself at Belize House where he was administered the oath of office as the fifteenth Leader of the Opposition.  His ascension this second time around follows the resignation of former party leader Patrick Faber who also stepped down as Leader of the Opposition on January thirty-first.  Barrow spoke confidently of having the majority support of his party, following a meeting of the Caucus for Change this past weekend.

Shyne Barrow

Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition

“I’m humbled and honored that I have the distinct privilege to serve as Leader of the Opposition.”

Reporter

“Explain to me, the circumstances that brought you here are that the party leader and Leader of the Opposition has resigned.  But has he in fact resigned?  Is there a formal resignation?”

Shyne Barrow

“His resignation is effective yesterday and we have moved on.”

Reporter

But you haven’t seen a letter of resignation per se?

Shyne Barrow

“You would have to speak the interim party leader, Senator Michael Peyrefitte.”

Reporter

“Okay, so what, in terms of this moment right now, you know, last time you were Leader of the Opposition for eighty-four days.  There is a convention coming up in about fifty plus days.  Will you be the Leader of the Opposition after the convention on March twenty-seventh?”

Shyne Barrow

“I do believe so. I have the majority of support in the House of Representatives on the opposition benches. I have the majority of support within the thirty-one constituencies as we’ve seen with the massive endorsement from the Caucus for Change and we had fifty-three percent of the delegates that voted to recall in July of 2021, and as you can remember, I led that charge and those delegates remember me very well. I have visited with them just as recently as the holidays and before that, I stayed with them and so they believe that they needed new leadership and they believe that now and anyone that will come and to present themselves as that alternative, that opportunity has already passed.”