And while it's not what the leader expects of his deputy chairman - there are some in the public who have come to expect this kind of behavior from the UDP. High officials in the party have been dogged by allegations of violence - especially against women. Today, when we asked Shyne about it, he deflected the suggestion of a trend:
Cherisse Halsall:
"There is a, it seems, culture of violence male against female within the UDP we have to say that you only got your break to be the leader of the opposition because of the violent behaviour that Patrick Faber exhibited towards his fiancee. Now, what are you doing to quell this type of culture in your party?"
Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
"I think it's very unfair to restrict the cultural issue that we have to the United Democratic Party because you have an instance here where the Minister is being accused of verbally assaulting a police officer. So, and there's been, she filed a report, she filed a police report so obviously they have an issue too. There have been other members that are in the house right now that have also been accused of violent behaviour towards women. Minister Espat has you know been violent in the house, with a wall, not another human being, but with the wall that he assaulted. So, we have an issue of violence period in this country when we see the murder rate increasing exponentially and we have an issue against violence against women in this country, not in any political party, perse. But certainly what I am doing is I am leading by example on the issue and while I sympathize with Mr August for being in the spirit of battle in the heat of the moment and emotional responses come under those circumstances."
"We can be strong, we can be bold, and we can be defiant without crossing the line and being violent. Even when violence is inflicted upon us. He should have walked away, made a report, come back and stand his ground."
And while Shyne was on the ropes low key defending his deputy chairman - he was also on the offensive in Orange Walk South yesterday - looking for rotting carrots in the field. We'll have that story later on.
