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Not so for Orange Walk East. Last week Elodio Aragon wrote a letter urging Barrow's leadership to recognize the formidable support behind the Panton convention and seek a reconciliation. At that time, he did not, however, recognize Panton as leader.
But today he and his delegates did do that.His letter says, quote, "we have come to the conclusion that the Party will be better under Tracy Panton's leadership."
In a Zoom interview this evening we asked him why:
Elodio Aragon, UDP OW East Standard Bearer
"At this point in time, I truly believe that we need to have one direction. And if I would support anybody at the end of the day, one has to be somebody that I believe can take us and lead us into that general election and give us the best possible chance to winning that election. Two, I also believe that we must be respectful of the delegates of this party and here in the immediate future, where this general election is looming upon us, the question remains who do we want as leader to lead us into the next general election?"
"And for me, I have to listen to the delegates that are out here. I have to listen to my committee. I have to listen to the people on the ground. And if my delegates overwhelmingly are telling me that they prefer Tracy Panton then I must respect that."
Jules Vasquez:
"However, you know, Tracy Panton's chief strategist is John Saldivar, with whom you have not enjoyed a great relationship historically. Was that something that gave you pause?"
Elodio Aragon, UDP OW East Standard Bearer
"Definite, Definitely Jules. I think, you know, politics is not an easy business, you know. And I think with whichever party we talk about, whether it be the UDP or the PUP, of course, there are always some people in there that you look at them and you feel that maybe they are not best for the party."
"But listen, this is politics at the end of the day. They say politics makes for strange bedfellows. And I have to be a realist as someone who is looking to put his name on the ballot."
Jules Vasquez:
"Your letter correctly, you are sort of urging other standard bearers to follow your and come over to Tracy's side to recognize Tracy as a leader. Am I correct?"
Elodio Aragon, UDP OW East Standard Bearer
"Yes. Yes. Well, I want the standard bearers to go through their process in their constituencies, because the reality, Jules, there is a lot of standard bearers older who really their delegates are not supporting them in the decisions they make."
Jules Vasquez:
"You're moving over to or declaring support for Tracy Panton really brings the party no closer to unity once Shyne Barrow, Hugo Pat, Michael Peyrefitte and Alberto August remain most prominently on the other side. What is your best case scenario? Since many of these people have irreconcilable differences with Tracy Panton's leadership."
Elodio Aragon, UDP OW East Standard Bearer
"It's obvious that this party, this faction, will not come together. You know, I have spoken to Tracy, have spoken to the party leader, and and it's obvious that there's no insinuation or or what I would put there is no course of action that will have the strength to bring us together. I have done my thinking Jules and I will tell you, that is why I've chosen Tracy Taegar Panton."
In their letters, both Aragon and Figueroa urged their other standard bearer colleagues to do the same.
This afternoon, Panton's leadership put out a release saying, quote, "members, supporters, and standard bearers are encouraged to join in this mission."
We'll keep monitoring to see if there are other high profile defections later this week.
