Tonight, Tracy Panton and her team are back at the UDP's Party Headquarters on Youth For the Future Drive -and this time they got in without having to break the locks! The new undisputed UDP leader moved in today but what she found surprised her.
The secretariat was in a deplorable condition -needing much more than just a Christmas cleanup.
Courtney Menzies has this story.
This morning, Brian "Yellowman" Audinett was once again dismantling the locks at the UDP's headquarters on Youth For The Future Drive. But this time, it's not because they weren't allowed inside. This time they're taking full undisputed possession.
Newly endorsed UDP Leader Tracy Panton officially reclaimed the headquarters with her team this morning - but a lot has changed since they were locked out- by court order - October 2024. But this time, they didn't have to break in - they were handed the keys. But why did it take them almost a week to move back into a building they once took over by force? We asked her.
Jules Vasquez:
"Why did you take so long to reach?"
Tracy Panton, UDP Leader
"Well, the convention was, Sunday. Was it? I had House committee meetings Monday Tuesday Wednesday. Yesterday it was Thursday. So I'm here today. We, as you know, the new leadership team, the new executive will be hosting a press conference on Tuesday of next week. We wanted to have it Thursday, in fact, but because of the House committee meeting, several of them, several bills should be going to the House and exiting. We had to postpone it for next week, Tuesday. And it's important to our base that the press conference is conducted from this location, and so we have to get it ready."
Jules Vasquez:
"What state did you find the headquarters in?"
Tracy Panton, UDP Leader
"You've seen for yourselves. So, And I'm sure you'll show the pictures. It is in deplorable condition. This is the home, the base of the United Democratic Party. We need to treat it with respect. With some love, care. And that obviously, it's evident that there has not been treated in that manner. And so, this is a place where all our standard bearers in 31 constituencies call home. Our delegates, our party faithful, and we have to get it up to a standard where they can feel welcome."
And though Audinett and Alfonso Noble have begun the initial cleanup, there's a lot to be done before the UDP's first post-convention press conference. The leader's office which once hosted so many solo press briefings by Shyne Barrow is totally bare, the pictures of the past leaders which once adorned the walls, all gone, only Hugo Patt left which a faint smile that in this context looks kind of like a grimace. Even the light bill is overdue and in arrears!
Getting all this back up to presentable levels is not going to be cheap. So how does Panton plan to pay for it?
Tracy Panton, UDP Leader
"What I can say that I have, we have a number of UDP stalwarts who have already indicated their interest to provide some resources, to help us to get this place up to standard or to a level that we can operate from. So I believe that we will be able to find the resources. But since we're on national television, anybody who would like to lend their assistance in supporting us in getting our headquarters back up and ready, we welcome their support."
But the first few bridges have been crossed - Panton is in the building and doesn't have to worry about someone coming to change the locks in the middle of the night. But does she regret the back and forth between her team and the former leader's?
Courtney Menzies:
"Seeing all that went, all that happened with the changing of the lock and changing again and changing again, seeing as though you ended up here. You're here. Do you wish that all of that had not happened, that you would have waited for the convention, as was previously put forward?"
Tracy Panton, UDP Leader
"You know, hindsight is 2020. At the time, we felt compelled for good reason that we needed to speak to the wrongs that was being done. The blatant disregard of the constitution of the party, the blatant disregard of the processes of the party, the fact that senior members of this party were expelled, without any due diligence, without any cause or rhyme or reason. We felt compelled at that time to take action. And we did. So we don't have any regrets. We're here and we move forward."
