The upheaval continues in the UDP. Three weeks ago - Leader Shyne Barrow, and elected representatives Patrick Faber and Tracy Taegar Panton met with a church leader to try and work out their differences.
But, since then the hostilities between Barrow on one side and Faber and Panton on the other have only escalated. The war is on Facebook where both Faber and Panton have made posts criticizing the moves of Parry Leader Barrow and of the party executive. Last week the Executive wrote to Faber cautioning him to desist from the practice or risk being removed from the Central Executive - where he holds a seat as past leader.
But, he didn't stop and so party leader Mike Peyrefitte wrote to him today - informing him that he was being removed with immediate effect from the National Executive.
As they say, "dat da fight talk!" - and today we asked Peyrefitte how things had gone so far downhill, so fast:
Michael Peyrefitte, Chairman, United Democratic Party
"The letter this morning was just - it is clear he is not going to adhere to the wishes of the CEC, then the CEC is not going to deem him a past party leader in good standing and therefore that was what enable him to be on the central executive committee and so he has been effectively removed as far as the CEC is concerned."
Jules Vasquez
"How can you remove a former party leader and one of the party's 4 elected representatives in parliament?"
Michael Peyrefitte, Chairman, United Democratic Party
"We took a position, or the central executive took a position that no matter who you may be or not be, you're not above the party and if the CEC determines that you're engaged in actions that are deliberately destructive to the party, then it is within their purview to determine whether or not you are a member in good standing. Hopefully it will lead to a conversation in some form where we can agree to some way forward, because the central executive committee made it very clear that once those posts are removed and the negative comments about the party stops, then he will be reinstated. And the executive position is this: if Mr. Faber can accede to the wishes of the central executive committee in that way, in terms of not doing videos that would damage the reputation of the party even further, then they are willing to remove the sanction that they've put on him. I have not heard any talk from the central executive committee that there is any indication or any desire to have him remove from the party as whole."
Jules Vasquez
"But hasn't he reply to the UDP to tell them that he ain't gonna happen, he won't remove the offending post and he will not miss the company of the majority head on the central executive anyhow. Has he not so written?"
Michael Peyrefitte, Chairman, United Democratic Party
"Yeah, i've seen it too."
Jules Vasquez
"Well, it's clear, he ain't going to move it."
Michael Peyrefitte
"Then he will remain where he is at this point."
Jules Vasquez
"But I'm saying he has referred to the members of the CEC very insultingly."
Michael Peyrefitte
"As a matter of fact, that's the tamest correspondence I have seen within UDP personnel in about 2 years, heads. Come on, I've heard worse than that. We've call each other that in jest (laughing). You should see some other comments in the other chats, so that, oh my God, that's a relief."
