Mayor Trapp Writes U.D.P. Chairman; Expresses Concern Over Rift

The U.D.P’s only elected Mayor, Earl Trapp, has also penned a few lines on his opinion of the ongoing internal rift. He addressed his views in the form of a letter sent to the party’s chairman, Michael Peyrefitte. In it, he also expressed concern over, “the worrying instability in our party” and the decisions to install people in positions without adhering to the party’s constitution. Trapp also expressed regret that the chances for a scheduled meeting among Party Leader, Shyne Barrow, former leader, Patrick Faber, and candidate for leader, Tracy Panton have been significantly diminished because of the most recent developments. Trapp writes in part, “Let me place on record my gratitude to Honorable Tracy Panton and Honorable Patrick Faber for giving party unity a chance. While Honorable Shyne Barrow must also be thanked for the overture that enabled the engagement and dialogue, I feel obliged to urge him to do all that he can to ensure compliance with the Party’s constitution and to promote the kind of fair play that would be conducive to meaningful unification”. Trapp goes on to express his regret over a similar appointment that was made in his municipality. He states, “I note with regret the situation here in the Cayo District, where the installation of a new Regional Leader for the Western Zone was allowed to proceed, with the Party Leader’s blessing, despite a petition of protest signed by more than half of the delegates and party officials (including myself) throughout the six Cayo constituencies”. Chairman Peyrefitte said briefly that the appointment in Cayo happened much like it did in Belize City where there was no contest for the position.

Michael Peyrefitte

Michael Peyrefitte, U.D.P Chairman

“It was a similar thing that happened in the west. Only one person indicated that they wanted to be the regional leader for that area, and so that was what happened – the same thing that happened up north and the same thing that happened down south. So I don’t know – when you say “violate the constitution,” violate it how? Because in the letter that I get from varying members of the party, they fail to tell me exactly that their issue is.”