On Friday, we told you about the bumper crop of standard-bearer hopefuls who want to run in the next general elections for the UDP.
By our count, 64 candidates of diverse backgrounds have expressed interest in running for the UDP. This even as instability continues to dominate the party's affairs.
But, to get an overview of the party affairs in the opposition, we caught up with the party chairman at midday at the international airport. Here's what he had to say about the many politicians who want to run for the UDP:
Michael Peyrefitte - UDP Chairman
"We had an open process, and people applied to be candidates for the UDP for the next general election. I know the nominations committee will have to vet those candidates and see who qualifies to run for the UDP, And then whoever qualifies, in the divisions where you have more than one person interested, you would have to have."
Jules Vasquez
"Will the UDP look favorably on Mark King this time? I know it has rejected him before. He's expressed an interest in Pickstock."
Michael Peyrefitte
"Well, I am relieved that under the UDP constitution, the only committee got the party chairman is not an ex-officio member of is the nominations committee. So, that is a matter purely for them. They will decide that. They have their criteria, and they will determine who will run and who won't run for the UDP."
Jules Vasquez
"What do you make of the interest shown by Mr. King, and Miss Moya, who are from the same famous 2006 City Council?"
Michael Peyrefitte
"Well, they are free to express their interest. We left it wide open. We didn't put a limit or specific criteria as to who could express an interest. We left it open to see who will be interested. And those were the people who expressed their interest."
Jules Vasquez
"Some people felt that the UDP, under the embattled leadership of "Shyne" Barrow, would not be able to meet the credibility threshold and get persons interested in all 31 constituencies. Do you see that as a sign of health that, in spite of all the infighting and the public warfare, in fact, you all have gotten a bumper crop of candidates?"
Michael Peyrefitte
"Well, obviously, there is a lot of energy, and sometimes the energy is more important than perfection. So we are glad to see the energy. We embrace the energy, and we look forward to seeing what the future holds in terms of conventions and the selection of candidates for the next general elections."
Of course, many candidates creates the space for much mischief in the deeply divided UDP. This evening a letter, purportedly came from the desk of Opposition Leader "Shyne" Barrow started circulating. It lists what are supposedly his 31 favored candidates out of the 64 applicants.
When we checked with Barrow for confirmation about this letter that was supposedly released from his desk, he asserted that the document was completely fake.
He followed up with a press release that says, quote, "Please be advised that I have issued no official or unofficial press release from the Leader of Opposition letterhead or office of the Party Leader letterhead nor any informal notice purporting to declare the 31 Candidates for the next General Elections.
The UDP has 64 Candidate applications that are in the process of being vetted… Endorsement conventions and contested conventions will commence beginning the first week of November 2022 for endorsement conventions until February 1, 2023, at which time contested conventions will commence according to the schedule set by the NPC." End quote.
We briefly turn back to those 64 applicants who want to be standard bearers. On the official list of hopefuls, there's actually a 65th name, Patrick Faber, the current UDP Area Rep., for the Collet Division. Now, the Nominations Committee denied the former Party Leader's application for Standard Bearer, but he is listed as one candidate who wants to run in Collet.
This afternoon, we asked Party Chairman Michael Peyrefitte about that uncertainty in a division that should be a UDP stronghold under the current Area Rep. Here's what he had to say:
Jules Vasquez
"What are we to make of the Collet constituency? The list I received is unofficial. It's a leak, but I see Patrick Faber's name and Ian Jones's. But, Patrick Faber has not taken down his posts. So, I am to expect that Ian Jones, if he remains the only candidate, will then have an endorsement convention."
Michael Peyrefitte - UDP Chairman
"Well, that's the way it looks because the nominations committee has taken the position, and I am not aware that that position has changed. As I said, there are many mercies of God, and that is one of them for me. I am not part of the nominations committee, and so, therefore, I am not aware of any changes in their position. So, if their position remains the same, and Mr. Faber is not allowed to run by the nominations committee, then indeed, Mr. Jones will have an endorsement at this point. But remember, the tone of the letter from the nominations committee was 'at this time.' So we don't know if there will be any chance in that position, or we don't know what the future will hold. But for now, all we have is that last position of the nominations committee."
