And in happier news for the UDP, Peyrefitte also discussed the surprising bumper crop of candidates showing interest in representing the opposition in the city for the upcoming municipal elections. We are told 26 candidates have expressed an interest.
But, in the time of COVID, too many candidates could force a convention which could be a super-spreader event.
Today the Party Chairman said the party hasn't decided yet whether it will have a convention:
Michael Peyrefitte, Senator
"There's been an overwhelming interest to represent the United Democratic Party in upcoming City Council election. Naturally, we have to look at the names. We have a screening committee and by the time we finish with all our internal procedures as a party we should have the requisite amount of people necessary to contest the election in March. We had an election and the last time I remember before the election the current prime minister before the election was saying open up everything and let people go and vote, so I can't see how he would want to put any restrictions on us that are punitive if we were to choose to have a convention. Naturally, if we end up having one, then we will have to take all the precautions necessary given that we are in the middle of a pandemic and then at the same time we have to follow the rules and regulations as stipulated by the government, but we have to have some discussion on it, because democracy has to prevail. I see for example the minister of natural resources having a town hall meeting in Dangriga with people from Dangriga, Hope Creek and Sarawee. So whatever measures they are taking to do that I'm sure we can take similar measures if we need to have a convention for any reason."
