And when he was casting opinions left and right about what the government should and shouldn't do, Shyne was flowing like he was spitting bars on a DJ Khaled beat, but he sort of froze up when we started asking about his least favorite subject: internal UDP politics.
As we've been reporting, the on-again, off-again reconciliation with Collet Representative Patrick Faber is definitely off. His replacement in Collett, Ian Jones seems to be digging in, backed by Shyne Barrow.
But, can that position hold? Is it politically tenable? Let's just say - he wasn't too keen to talk about it:
Jules Vasquez
"Ian Jones has no political track record and you have Patrick Faber significant reputational liabilities. Accepted. However, it's a popularity contest and he is the most popular among all of you all. It is a farce to continue to have a political newcomer in a constituency when there is an established politician who is saying I'm here and I am ready. How do you all move ahead with this?"
Shyne Barrow, UDP Leader
"Continue to consult and try to resolve the matter."
Jules Vasquez
"Are there now attempts to try one more time to patch it up, or is it full speed ahead with Mr. Jones, damn the torpedoes."
Shyne Barrow, UDP Leader
"I continue to talk to Mr. Jones and continue to try to reach out to people that are close to Mr. Faber. I had tried very hard with him personally. You saw how that ended up with our private confidential conversations being shared with all of you in the media via a letter that went to the chairman. But I continue to talk to Mr. Jones and try to get him to a level of comfort to relinquish Collet and let us move forward with Mr. Faber. But there is a level of reciprocity that has to be there."
"What is in the best interest of the party and all involved will happen and I continue to work towards that goal. I have no agenda. I think I have proven to you, to everyone involved that I have no agenda to keep Patrick out of Collet. I try very hard to deliver that. I did not need to do that for the NPC vote. It was 102 to 16. So I did not need it to be 103 and get his vote. I was genuine in wanting to bring everyone together, but I want us to be together. So, just give it some more time and I've heard Mr. Faber said that the matter is being worked on and he is ready to come on board and I just want there to be conditions that will see us move forward together."
