Untitled Document So what went wrong with Shyne Barrow's UDP? Five of his candidates dipped out on nomination, that's Dean Samuels in Pickstock, Melvin Hewlett in Fort George, Norman Usher in Dangriga and Dennis Williams in Toledo East - and one of them Raymond Rivers in Collett couldn't find 6 persons to nominate him.
We spoke to Barrow a short while ago:
Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
"What we saw from at least three of the candidates was, again, the speculation that they were paid off, allegations, paid off by the People's United Party. At least one of them. Mr Samuels provided a medical slip that I sent to your newsroom. You know, I would not want to think that someone would collude with a medical professional to provide a doctor's report that they had a mini stroke or whatever it was that he described."
"So. Mr. Sammuels aside, there was no reasonable explanation to wait until a few hours before nominations that that the allegations of people being brought out is quite credible because I would think whatever issues you had as a candidate, you or your family, everybody would have discussed that the moment they call the elections, maybe a week after, maybe two weeks after you don't come to Saturdays launch and present yourself as a candidate and then Monday don't show up."
Courtney:
"Do you find this a failing of your leadership?"
Shyne Barrow, Leader ofthe Opposition
"You see, most respectfully, Courtney, When it's a failure, then it's my leadership. So what about the person that claims to be the leader?"
Courtney:
"That person is not the leader. You're the leader"
Shyne Barrow, Leader ofthe Opposition
"Yes but to your newsroom and to her, these are her candidates as well. No, don't do that Courtney the lady went to your press briefing and said they have 30..."
"She said she had 31 candidates and that the duly elected and endorsed candidates were her candidates. So I challenge that why did these candidates not say, you know what, Mr. Barrow failed us so we are going with Tracy, and let us try to make it work. Right. So obviously it wasn't a failure on my part. Something happened the hours before it was time to go."
"If it was indeed a failure? Let's be reasonable. Wouldn't they have crossed over because they were courted? I know there were meetings held within the last couple of weeks where they were trying to court all of the people that support me to make their 31. So all I'm saying, definitely we have to look at our vetting process, look at our candidate commitment and oath to ensure that people can't leave us bad hours before nominations."
