And right now the UDP is looking ahead. With a protest scheduled for Friday, Panton is calling on every citizen to support the rally as a fight for democracy.
Panton says it has nothing to do with politics, but everything to do with the issues Belize is facing:
Tracy Panton, Leader of the Opposition
"The rally is to bring visibility to the very issues that we are talking about to ensure that there is a space and there is a platform for the voices of our ordinary citizens to be heard on these issues. So yes, it is being led by the United Democratic Party and we have a political prerogative which we make no excuses for. But it's not strictly a political ploy. It is an opportunity and we invite all Belizeans. We invite all our partners to join us, to come and be in that space with us, to send a message to the Prime Minister and his cabinet and his government that it has gone way too far and we need to be sure that the voices of the everyday person can be heard as part of this process."
Reporter
"We know that when it came to the Smart Acquisition, the UDP was able to mobilize persons to come out from across the country with our representation from various areas. Can we expect that the same showing will be out on Friday?"
Tracy Panton
"Well, let me say that we have extended an invitation to anyone who shares these concerns with us and who would like to be counted, who would like their voices to be heard, who would like to bring greater visibility and awareness to the issues that are crippling this nation."
Reporter
"When it comes to the unions, we know that the president of the NTUCB said that they try to refrain from these political rallies. What's your comment to that?"
Tracy Panton
"This is not a political rally. I think the, In fact, I have extended a formal invitation to both the President of the Public Service Union and the President of the NTUCB to join us, if not for the march, the protest march, certainly for the rally at the Battlefield Park. Because I think these issues affect everyone. And we all have a particular bias, We all see these issues through a different pair of lenses, but they are all issues that are affecting our nation in a way that we have never been affected before."
