Did Shyne Coerce Faber with Jones Resignation?

U.D.P. Standard Bearer Ian Jones stepped down as the party’s candidate of choice for Collet on Wednesday.  His choice to withdraw as the nominee for that constituency was shared in a social media post on Facebook.  But was there more to that decision than what we were privy, based on Jones’ statement?  Earlier today, Collet Area Representative Patrick Faber wrote to the chairman of the United Democratic Party informing him of alleged infractions committed by Party Leader Shyne Barrow.  In a letter addressed to Michael Peyrefitte, Faber states, “On Friday, March twenty-fourth, in the opposition members’ room, I was approached by the party leader and asked if could support his position for a motion that would be presented to the National Party Council on Saturday, April first, 2023.  The proposal, if passed, would see him continue as leader until the next general election without any contest at upcoming National Conventions.  He intimated to me that he would be prepared to ask Mister Ian Jones, the endorsed standard bearer for Collet, to step aside for my return as Collet’s standard bearer for the U.D.P. in the next general elections, as a quid pro quo for my support of his motion.  He confided in me that he agreed that the process to disqualify my candidacy was flawed and that he was ill-advised and hoping to make it correct.  I made it clear to the leader that I would not support such a position and that any resolution that did not involve a democratic process would not be in the best interest of the party.  I shared with him my view that the party is currently the most divided it has ever been and in times like these, democratic principles needed to be strictly adhered to.  I also expressed that any resolution that involved a quid pro quo arrangement would not be acceptable to me.  However, on Wednesday of this week, the Party Leader contacted me and attempted to coerce me into supporting his resolution by using Mr. Jones’ resignation as leverage.  He informed me that he would only cause Mr. Jones’ resignation to become effective if I agreed to support his resolution in the upcoming National Party Council meeting”.  The N.P.C. meets on Saturday here in Belize City.