The issue of UDP Leadership has been tricky ever since Dean Barrow stepped aside before last year's general election.
Patrick Faber has had an uneasy tenure so far - subject to frequent attacks and undermining. He's going through a period of relative internal calm right now - but how long will it last?
The party faces a national convention next year - and last night on Uncut we asked Tracy Panton if she will challenge him:
Jules Vasquez "Do you aspire to be leader of the UDP some day?"
Hon. Tracy Panton - Area Rep, Albert "Jules, I do have leadership ambitions, so let's get that off the table. I hope that one day when the time is right, I will be able make a more meaningful contribution to the United Democratic Party in terms of leadership and lead this country as the first woman prime minister of Belize, that time is not yet."
Jules Vasquez "Convention is next year."
Hon. Tracy Panton "I don't believe that move will happen next year."
Jules Vasquez "Who do you think is best equipped to lead the UDP to a general election victory? Is it Patrick Faber, is it Shyne Barrow? Is it yourself? Who is best equipped to do it?"
Hon. Tracy Panton "I think we will know that closer to when we're going to rally to take on the leadership of this country again."
Jules Vasquez "That means it's not clear right now, you have the good Patrick Faber as your party leader right now, it is not all together clear to you at this time that he is the person to lead the UDP back to victory at general elections?"
Hon. Tracy Panton "The party leader is the party leader and as you know Jules and this country knows, I have supported Patrick, I believe that the delegates of the UDP the decision makers of the UDP made that determination and until that determination is made again, Patrick Faber is our leader and we continue to enjoy my support."
Jules Vasquez "He continues to enjoy your support but does he enjoy your unqualified confidence as the man who will bring the UDP back from the depths of despair which it currently finds itself?"
Hon. Tracy Panton "At this time he does."
Jules Vasquez "Are you prepared to say to John Saldivar the truth that is obvious to everyone except apparently some people in the UDP that he is bad news for the UDP, he brings too much baggage to the UDP and its time to step aside and allow younger blood to step up? Are those truths not self evidence?"
Hon. Tracy Panton "To some of us it is self evident but the people of Belmopan, they are going to make that determination."
Jules Vasquez "If he is to succeed and there is a good chance that he will succeed because of you understand how constituency committees work, if he is to succeed it would be a stain upon the UDP that they are reanimating the same corpses that cause their ruin in November 2020."
Hon. Tracy Panton "So he lost his seat in Belmopan but I can say that one individual was responsible for the demise of the party, I don't think that's fair to John."
Jules Vasquez "But if there were a convention between the young Mr. Belisle and Mr. Saldivar with all the baggage that he brings, fair or unfair, wouldn't it be preferable for the UDP that the young Mr. Belisle emerge as your candidate of Belmopan?"
Hon. Tracy Panton "The UDPs in Belmopan will make that determination."
Jules Vasquez "How do you feel?"
Hon. Tracy Panton "I would like to see new blood."
