Tonight the UDP is more divided than ever after a partial takeover of their headquarters. A week after a resounding vote at the Unity Convention to remove Shyne Barrow as leader and appoint Tracy Panton as interim leader, Panton's faction today essentially stormed the HQ and sawed off the locks.
It wasn't done by sheer force, however - Panton received permission from the building's trustee, Philippa Bailey.
But less than an hour after entering the secretariat, the cops come to put a pause on the operation- preventing them from taking the entire building.
So, at this hour the building is like Solomon's biblical baby - except this one is literally cut in two - Tracy on the bottom, Shyne on top.
Our news team was on the ground for six hours of infighting, negotiating, and lock-picking. Courtney Menzies has this story.
Tonight the UDP Headquarters on Youth for the Future Drive remains split in half. At 9:30 this morning, Tracy Panton's faction had already gained access to the downstairs, which holds the secretariat and the Guardian Newspaper. They were in the process of sawing off the locks to get upstairs to the leader's office, as well as the conference room, when the police intervened.
But what prompted Panton to lead her supporters to cut open the locks? It was after she received this letter from Phillipa Bailey, the trustee for the building that houses the headquarters, recognizing her as leader of the UDP and giving her access.
Tracy Panton, Interim Leader, UDP AFD
"The formal authority comes from the trustee of this property who signed the document for us yesterday and we got it authenticated by a justice of the peace as well as we had it properly served by the processor."
"There's no need to send anybody home. We are doing everything we can in our power to unite the United Democratic Party. Those people who work here, work here. They are members of the United Democratic Party and there is no need for us to eject them."
Jules Vasquez
"You can't remain with Shari Medina as your secretary general?"
Tracy Panton, Interim Leader, UDP AFD
"Actually, the central executive committee had an urgent meeting on Saturday and our new secretary general is sitting right beside me, Miss Lynn Ross."
"We have dispatched, prepared and will be dispatching this morning letters to the election and boundaries, to the prime minister's office and to the governor general's office."
But officers remained stationed at both the gate the leads to the staircase, and in front of the door to the conference room, despite hours of attempts to persuade them to do otherwise from UDP attorneys OJ Elrington, Sheena Pitts, and Godwin Haylock.
In the afternoon, Panton received the power of attorney from Bailey - which she believes should have put an end to the matter.
Tracy Panton, Interim Leader, UDP AFD
"The trustee of the land who gave me access to the building earlier today via letter and now has provided the power of attorney so that there can be no doubt about the legality of her wishes to give us an opportunity to occupy and utilize the building for the business of the United Democratic Party."
Reporter
"We received reports that Miss Phillipa term had expired already."
Tracy Panton, Interim Leader, UDP AFD
"She is not a trustee for the party, she has never been a trustee for the party, but she is the trustee for the land. Her signature appears on the land document. So she has the power to give me access to the property."
Reporter
"So now that you have this, what happens with upstairs? The police are still guarding it."
Tracy Panton, Interim Leader, UDP AFD
"I really have no idea why the police is here other than to guard the peace and as you can see there's been no need for - there has been no violence and there will not be any violence."
"They have no jurisdiction on this building and so I really think they have overstepped their authority by guarding the upstairs to our headquarters."
Godwin Haylock, UDP Standard Bearer, Queen's Square
"We have been in constant conversation with them in trying to settle this matter, because really what our party leader has said is that the trustee, we have a sole trustee of the party when it comes to the property, this headquarters and her name is Phillipa Griffith Bailey. She is actually a former secretary general for this party, a UDP stalwart a no-nonsense secretariat who reign during the Barrow era. That's Dean Barrow era, to make it clear to you guys."
"She has been consulted by our party leader, she has accepted the will of the delegates that the majority of the delegates are now behind this new party leader."
And throughout all this, the Leader of the Opposition, Shyne Barrow, was notably absent. However, in the evening, Alberto August made an appearance, though he remained in his vehicle. This was following a burglary report that August made against the AFD's members.
Earlier on, another of Shyne Barrow's loyalists, Allan Kelly, attempted a one man mission to storm the staircase:
The only Barrow supporter who remained in the building was Ian Jones, who claims that he had locked the door so he had no idea how Panton got in.
Ian Jones, UDP Member
"I don't know how they took off the lock. They forced themselves into the building."
Yellowman
"Come out of the people's building."
Jules Vasquez
"When will you leave the building Ian?"
Ian Jones, UDP Member
"When I'm ready to leave. I am here because I want to be here."
Later, Jones left, and up to now, a standoff remains at the UDP HQ with both factions saying that they will not be moved.
Patrick Faber was also notably missing.
Just before news time, Panton issued a press release reiterating that she has been given access to the HQ by Bailey. It states quote, "This authorization, provided in writing, reaffirms that this space belongs to the UDP and its rightful leadership... The events of today reflect our commitment to honoring the voice of our members and protecting the UDP's future." End quote.
We're joined now by news director Jules Vasquez who was also out there. Jules what's happening right now - and what will happen next - who will win this power struggle?
