It's been a big week for UDP Leader Patrick Faber - first he took back his seat as Leader of the Opposition - just in time for the Independence day address - after gaining the support of two of his fellow red representatives who'd been giving him the cold shoulder since June. But, the key step before that was making peace with the John Saldivar led "Caucus For Change" - a bloc of anti Faber standard bearers and caretakers who'd tried to have him recalled in early July.
When their best plans to end him failed - the two sides had no choice but to talk - and that has lead to the appearance of a barely used word in recent UDP history: UNITY.
That was on display this morning at the UDP Headquarters when Faber and Saldivar Tok the head table together - a moment that would have been unthinkable a month ago. Jules Vasquez was there with the popcorn for a made for TV reunion:
Patrick Faber and John Saldivar entered the UDP Headquarters together - the former friends turned rivals, then turned enemies - and now, allies once more
Shoulder to shoulder at the head table - two months after Saldivar and his Caucus for Change had done all it could to remove Faber. Today the tone was different - the leader embraced Saldivar:
Hon. Patrick Faber, UDP Party Leader
"My friend and colleague, John Saldivar."
And now, Saldivar and his Caucus for Change, an ally in uniting the UDP - after five rounds of conciliatory meetings between the two:
Hon. Patrick Faber, UDP Party Leader
"And we were able to quickly decide on one thing, that it was time we unite the party, that it was time that we use our efforts to bring the party together, that it was time for us to bring the colleagues together, that it was time for us to say to the wider party let us stop this division and let us focus on fighting against the enemy which is the People's United Party. And I will make clear that on that occasion when John and I sat, all that was promised or all that was requested or all that was discussed is how we can bring the party together."
John Saldivar
"It is just time to unite. Time to put aside our differences and concentrate on being an effective opposition."
But Faber says no special deals were made:
Hon. Patrick Faber, UDP Party Leader
"Saldivar and I when we discussed as well made no request. In fact, it was the opposite. We agreed from the onset that he would not occupy any position in the party that we would not have to give him any senior position as some of the media houses have reported."
Faber's redemption road also involved a Tuesday night meeting with the party's standard bearers:
Hon. Patrick Faber, UDP Party Leader
"We left that meeting however unanimous. There was not one dissenting voice to say that we should not fully unify this party to make a us a strong and formidable force against the People's United Party."
John Saldivar, Belmopan Aspirant
"The unity that we have now forged is predicated on one and only one condition and that is inclusion as the party leader spoke about earlier. No other condition. That's all we ask for in these negotiations. We have not asked for a free pass to any convention as is evidence by I am still being challenge by Khalid Belisle. We have asked though that we be allowed to contest to lead our constituencies without interference from the party hierarchy."
Hon. Patrick Faber, UDP Party Leader
"The changes that people want to see in this party will still come. However, all I am saying is let us include everybody in assessing and you may say it is a departure from what I was saying before, but that is the truth; the more you live the more you learn and the longer you are in this leadership position, the more you have to learn."
And while it looks like Faber has learned to eat humble pie - with a side serving of waffling, is he now embracing what is perceived as his party's corrupt wing?:
Reporter
"Aren't you concerned that perhaps the optics in terms of the entire campaign financing that Mr. Saldivar spoke on this morning would perhaps affect your quest for prime minister?"
Hon. Patrick Faber, UDP Party Leader
"The greater optic that I have to be concerned about is the unity of the party. We have tried those ways of moving, that you've describe and it has not gotten us anywhere. The people of Belmopan will ultimately be the ones who decides whether John Saldivar is a candidate for this party again."
John Saldivar, Belmopan Aspirant
"I have always maintained that optics cannot over power truth."
Reporter
"I'll take you back to a comment that you made back in December during a press conference, you said that we try to listen to what the message that the people sent on election day, they said listen we want a party that is vibrant, we want a party that is energized, we want to see some fresh new faces and great ideas from you. Has the message of the people changed, particularly where those fresh new faces are concerned?"
Hon. Patrick Faber, UDP Party Leader
"No, the message of the people hasn't change and my message hasn't change either as you heard me say. I have not and will not depart from this party's response to people. What Belizeans can be assured of is that the UDP now moving forward will not encourage corruption and we will do our very best to fight against that and to make sure that when we present the faces of the new UDP, that it will be one that people can look at and say listen corruption is not one of the watchwords of the party."
He'll have a hard time proving that by embracing his party's old guard - and today's press conference was more remarkable for who was not there - rather than who was:
Jules Vasquez, reporter
"I do not see any elected representatives here. I am saying that I don't see Hugo Patt, I don't see Tracey Taegar-Panton, I don't see Shyne Barrow, I don't see Sista B. You are rolling with losers, sir."
John Saldivar, Belmopan Aspirant
"(laughing) The only problem is there is no consequence to you being wrong. I've said that before."
Hon. Patrick Faber, UDP Party Leader
"I will ignore much of what you've said. Did Hugo Patt and Tracey Taegar-Panton not signed the letter just yesterday of the day before?"
Jules Vasquez, reporter
"I didn't see their signatures."
Hon. Patrick Faber, UDP Party Leader
"Okay, thank you. That speaks to their participation and if it is your question is about my role as leader of the opposition, you know that the required number of colleagues who needed to support to make the governor general act in the manner in which she did yesterday was met."
Jules Vasquez, reporter
"But isn't that saying a lot, sir, that it took you from June to September - 3 months to get 2 people to support you in your party. Two of your colleagues."
Hon. Patrick Faber, UDP Party Leader
"I would prefer you look at it this way: it took me almost 3 months, but lets discount the month leading up to the recall convention. I think the convention was on July 11th, so it took us 2 months to be able to say the only way forward is unification."
And so while he may have rolled with the losers today - right now, loyalty may have a higher premium than electability:
John Saldivar
"Truth be told I examined the field; I looked at our options and I concluded along with my colleagues that Patrick Faber is the best person to lead our party at this time. Party leader, my hands are on deck. The hands of my colleagues are on deck. We are reporting for duty, sir."
One may be tempted to say Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid ride again, but - it's left to seen if this is the ride into the sunset, or a new dawn.
Despite the appearances of today's love-fest Faber insists he will remain neutral in the Belmopan convention between Khalid Belisle and John Saldivar.
