Earlier this month, you saw the chaos that erupted at the UDP's NPC meeting, and, following that, the petition for a National Convention that was rejected by the chairman. But the "Alliance for Democracy" - spearheaded by Tracy Panton - hasn't given up. Today, they submitted another recall petition, signed by 208 delegates from 17 constituencies.
But since the chairman, Micheal Peyrefitte, already denied one brought by the Caucus For Change in 2022, and the petition for a convention by the Alliance For Democracy in 2024, what's stopping him from also rejecting this one?
Especially since he has cited the decision of a previous NPC meeting, which stated that they would allow Shyne Barrow to lead the party until the next General Elections. Panton explained that the signatures on the petition trump all.
Tracy Panton, Area Rep. Albert
"The constitution of the party is very clear on the recall of a party leader. There is no leeway or no discretion afforded to any officer of the party to deny such a petition. We are zealous about the fact that we are a united democratic party, and I believe democracy will prevail."
"The constitution allows for members of the national convention and members of the National Party Council to change their mind. It is clear in the provision of the constitution that there is no discretion in a matter where we get the requisite signatures for a recall petition to be triggered."
Reporter
"But then, so in the event that Mr. Peyrefitte does reject it, what would be the next move?"
Tracy Panton, Area Rep. Albert
"Well, we have always maintained that we will look at our legal options available to us, particularly in this case where it is so explicit in the constitution."
"We will certainly examine and move forth with whatever legal action that we can take reasonably. What is going on in the party, as we have said, on numerous occasions is untenable. There has been a complete violation of the party's constitution."
"Now we're at, what, four standard bearers who were previously endorsed or elected in a constitution who have been removed. Four new standard bearers have been appointed. That is not what the constitution of the party says, and we cannot continue to marginalize those persons who follow the rules and became the standard bearers of this party."
"It's untenable, it's just, it is not acceptable. We are moving away from a democracy to a dictatorship and for many of us, we feel very strongly about that."
Reporter
"But one year away from elections and the public already has this perception of an un-united democratic party, do you believe that this move will continue to fracture that perception that the public already has?"
Tracy Panton, Area Rep. Albert
"Well, the only way we can be united, if there is inclusion, if there is a sense of fair play, if there is transparency in our decision -making, if we can hold ourselves to account. And what has happened and what continues to happen unabatedly is a violation of the Constitution."
"And so if we are to get back to becoming united, we have to follow the rules and that's what we've been asking for for months. It has fallen on deaf ears, it has been ignored by both the party chairman and the party leader and we will continue to fight zealously and vociferously for the constitution to be followed."
Reporter
"When do you expect a response for the petition?"
Tracy Panton, Area Rep. Albert
"Well I hope that the chairman will do what is right, what is legally right, what is morally right, what is ethically right and respond to us as soon as he has had a chance to review the signatures."
But a letter dated August 22nd and signed by several standard bearers pleaded with Panton to unite with the current leader and uphold the decision to stick with him until the next elections. We asked Panton about the letter, but she said she still hasn't gotten it, and more importantly, one of the signatories was just sworn in yesterday, and his name was scribbled at the bottom.
Tracy Panton, Area Rep. Albert
"I have not received that letter, I heard that the letter was on Channel 5 this morning, I have not received it and so I'm waiting for it to be properly shared with me."
Reporter
"Okay, it's dated August 22nd."
Tracy Panton, Area Rep. Albert
"It's dated August 22nd and I understand Mr. Harmouche was just appointed and sworn in yesterday."
"Well I don't know if he's written in but I understand that he's also initialled that letter which is again in complete violation of what we believe in, our fundamental values and principles and the constitution that we swore an oath to defend as standard bearers and area representatives for the United Democratic Party."
Reporter
"Would you consider their request?"
Tracy Panton, Area Rep. Albert
"If they can consider our request to adhere to the constitution we can consider anything. We cannot continue to violate the very thing that holds the United Democratic Party together."
"The most important institutional tool that the party has to its disposal and that is our constitution."
If the recall petition is successful, it would lead to a vacancy for leader followed by a leadership convention, which Panton is certain she will win.
However, according to Shyne Barrow - you can strike dozens of those signatures from the petition right off the bat, He says Port Loyola, Caribbean Shores, and Belize Rural South have new Delegates, so if the old ones signed the petition, they would have to subtract about 35 signatures. The threshold is about 172.
