Patrick Faber is still leader of the UDP tonight - after he survived Belize's first ever recall convention. But, survive is all he did: The recall petition needed the support of two thirds of the delegates who voted - it did not get that, but it did get more than half.
So, Faber emerged still holding unto leadership - but with less than half of his party's delegates supporting him - which does raise credible questions of legitimacy.
But, as they say, "ugly win better than pretty lose" - and - indeed, it was not pretty, kind of like a slow motion car wreck where the damage keeps piling up. Our team was at the Bird's Isle to capture the day's events and Courtney Menzies reports:
The Bird's Isle Restaurant was a wave of red, much like we've seen at the past two UDP conventions. But this one was different - exactly one year after winning the leadership convention, Patrick Faber's position was called into question and his fate was in the hands of the 521 delegates.
But while only 483 came out to vote, he still managed to win over 1/3 of them. Faber told us earlier in the day that he had no doubts because despite the delegate list being rigged, a number of them still supported him.
Hon. Patrick Faber, UDP Party Leader
"All of those who signed did not intend for the recall to happen, there were various different reasons, including just doing it because they're local leaders were asking them, there were those who genuinely concerned about my personal issue and of course after my public position being made in terms of my press conference and other media appearances, they felt confident enough that that was not reason enough for me to be removed as the leader so I am counting on many of those persons who signed that position to vote in favor of keeping me as the leader today and so it's going to be a win as far as I can see."
"I don't think that if I don't win by an absolute majority today that that means that the party does not trust me. I am confident of a win, I feel at this time that it will be by more than half and the situation was that some of these delegates were not properly selected so you have to understand that that can't be a judgement on whether or not there is love and loyalty for me as leader of the party so we will have to ensure that here moving forward, which is the normal process of the party, that delegates are properly selected and the next time we come to a leadership race that it will be based on having those delegates, those executive committees properly selected for the party."
And while it was his own party and parliamentary colleagues who instigated this convention, he told us that after he won, there would be a lot of hugging up that needs to be done.
Hon. Patrick Faber, UDP Party Leader
"I love my colleagues dearly and so there is nothing that they can do to have me not like them or hate them in that way. I don't like some of what some of my colleagues have done but that is what politics is, that's the nature of this so I can't not get over that and especially as I will retain the leadership of this party today, my next goal is to hug up everybody and try to move forward, that is what is needed so no matter what the outcome, my position is open arms to my colleagues."
And those colleagues came early to cast their vote, along with former prime minister, Dean Barrow.
Reporter:
"Sir who did you cast your vote for this morning? Are you in support of Faber?"
Rt. Hon Dean Barrow, Former Prime Minister
"Private, sir, private, no comment."
And his son, whom many see as the person championing the recall convention, had a few words for the press as well as he chauffeured people in and out of the compound.
Hon. Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
"The two thirds have it."
Reporter:
"Mr Barrow, we saw you somewhat shrug off the party leader, how is your relationship…"
Hon. Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
"How did you see all of that? God bless the UDP, God bless Belize."
But Faber's parliamentary colleague, Tracy Taegar Panton, had more to say, including that she doesn't believe the fight for leadership should have hit the public domain. She was tightlipped about where she threw her support, but it should be noted she abstained from the petition. She told us why.
Hon. Tracy Taegar Panton, Area Rep, Albert
"There are legally constituted organs of the party and there's a constitution of the UDP and I believe that it was important for us to work in accordance with the legally constituted committees of the party. That is the central executive and the national party council and so for that reason I decided that I would not participate at that level."
"I believe this should be strictly an internal matter, it's unfortunate that it has gone in the public domain in my view, the party will sort itself out, we will reconcile, we will heal, we will unite and we will rebuild, whatever happens today, I would like to be a part of that team that helps to reconcile, that helps to heal, that help to unite, and helps to rebuild."
But with all that excitement early in the day, it was around three in the afternoon when it would be revealed that Faber would remain as party leader.
Michael Peyrefitte, UDP Chairman
"483 delegates cast their vote. 226 said yes they wanted the Honorable Patrick Faber to remain the leader of the UDP and 257 said no, they don't want him to remain the leader of the party. The 226 is more than the 161, 162 1/3 that was necessary for Mr Faber to remain the leader of the UDP and so therefore with those numbers, the Honorable Patrick Faber remains the leader of the UDP."
But while he managed to win, he received less than 50% of the vote, and the chairman said that those who championed the petition and lost will get another chance in the upcoming national convention.
And while that still looms over the party's head, Faber was more focused on his win and what that now means for himself as well as the UDP.
Hon. Patrick Faber, UDP Party Leader
"I am happy of course with the results, I would have hoped for a larger margin of course but it's not just the very minimum either I mean 220-something when we only needed 160-add is very convincing to me. And given that everybody knows that these odds are stacked against me because of the way the delegates were selected originally in some constituencies, I think this is a damn good showing and so I'm proud of the results and I'm happy that I get the remain leader of our great party."
Courtney Menzies:
"Sir do you expect to be reinstated as Leader of the Opposition?"
Hon. Patrick Faber, UDP Party Leader
"I will work on that, that's a matter for my parliamentary colleagues but of course I'm going to now try to ensure that that happens. I think the vast majority of people in our party, the masses, but also the wider population of Belize believes that I am the best person to be the leader of the opposition, I believe that is very clear from all that is said from the main stream but also in social media, people are not happy of the situation that was happening with the new leader of the opposition and so I'm going to do my best now that people have re-endorsed me as leader of the party to ensure that I regain my position as leader of the opposition."
As for the other 38 delegates who did not come out to vote, Chairman Michael Peyrefitte explained that they had legit reasons such as sickness, being out of the country, and in one case, giving birth.
Shyne Barrow had left the compound before the voting had ended.
