Tonight, those closest to 50-year-old Herbert Panton are in mourning after the attorney died suddenly this afternoon. Reports are that Panton was admitted into a private facility last night and passed around noon. The news of his death created a ripple of shock and up to this evening, those in the upper echelons of the UDP have not confirmed what it was that took his life.
And while Panton's wife, Albert Division Area Rep, Tracy Taeger Panton, and their two daughters grieve, those in the UDP join them while reminiscing on the party stalwart. According to the chairman, Michael Peyrefitte, Panton was once a dedicated member of the party, and then later became one of its most loyal supporters. He explained that Panton's opinions were held in high regard and they trusted him to always do what was best. Today, via Zoom, Peyrefitte said that he still couldn't believe the Panton, who - to his knowledge - had no major health conditions could have passed so suddenly.
Michael Peyrefitte, Chairman, UDP
"In terms of UDP, 5 star general. There was no bigger UDP than Herbert Panton, no bigger supporter of the UDP than Herbert Panton. It is a sad, sad day and his passing is a serious blow to the UDP. That's all I can say, I'm still in shock, I still can't believe it, still couldn't believe it when I first heard it and it's going to be a huge loss for us. In terms of a brother, I know Herbie always wanted to be a lawyer, he moved mountains to go to law school, he made all the necessary sacrifices, he was a magistrate even, distinguished attorney, and so we have lost not just a colleague but a UDP brother and also a friend."
"He was the editor of the newspaper at one point, assistant secretary general at the party at one point, he has played so many different roles for the UDP and always one of those people who would be the first to put us right, one of the first persons to tell us what we were doing well, what we were doing wrong, and he was a person you would listen to, a person whose opinion mattered, and so as an overall supporter of the party and an official of the party, his contributions are immeasurable and today we just miss him."
"I'm not aware that Herbie had any issues so it came as a complete surprise to me, like most people that heard it, I could not believe it and so like I said, I am at a complete loss and the details at this point don't even matter for me."
"This has to be a critical day for them, this has to be a day that's just devastating. And if you know anything about Tracy and Herbert, you know that they were each other lives, they were not just husband and wife but they were best of friends, they had each other's backs no matter what and that was a special relationship and so that must be devastating for her, it must be devastating for their children, it has to be."
According to a UDP statement, Panton had once performed as the Clerk of the National Assembly, Temporary Senator, Magistrate, Deputy Secretary General, Editor, and Constituency Chairman.
They add that, quote, "The United Democratic Party registers its appreciation and gratitude to Herbie for his many years of dedicated commitment to the advancement of the principles and ideals of the party he loved dearly." End quote.
