In other news about the UDP, a recall petition - the second in less than a year - could be taking shape against Party Leader "Shyne" Barrow.
This one hasn't found its way on any official hardcopy that has been sent to the desk of the Party Chairman. Right now, it exists only as WhatsApp messages that are circulating in private circles. And, we are told, party principals who oppose leader Shyne Barrow are organizing meetings in the districts to garner support for it.
During our interview with Party Chairman Michael Peyrefitte, we asked about the potential instability that could be created by such a petition:
Jules Vasquez
"Have you receive any formal communication?"
Michael Peyrefitte - UDP Chairman
"I have received no formal communication of a petition. I've seen the same note from the Freetown constituency. I don't know if that qualifies as a petition, but I guess everybody is free to express a view, an interest, but until we get what is required for something to be an official petition, then we have to treat it for what it is."
Jules Vasquez
"But as the chairman of the party, it has to grieve you to see that there is again within a year talk of another recall. I mean it's not healthy. Its beyond toxic."
Michael Peyrefitte - UDP Chairman
"Well, I would say it's the opposite, it's extremely healthy. The UDP does not provide for us to have only one recall every 5 year or 10 years. There is no limit on it and we have a constitution that is wide open and people are free. Like I said before, if anybody is not happy with anything that's going on in the UDP or any of the personnel who occupy different offices within the UDP, there is a process. So as long as people follow the process, the process will be respected."
Jules Vasquez
"But sir, politics is built is it not on the organizing principle that we have one leader and everyone must follow that leader."
Michael Peyrefitte - UDP Chairman
"But we also have a constitution and one may think that this is unhealthy or this may cause a problem, but we just saw, we got a robust list of potential candidates for the next general election. So I don't think it's a bad thing, it's a part of democracy and democracy is very messy."
The UDP held a recall convention in July of 2021. Because of the very high threshold of 66% of the delegates which is required to carry it - the recall attempted against Patrick Faber failed.
