No Resignations: Speaker blocks Shyne’s bid to remove UDP members from House

Published by [email protected] at September 12, 2024

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Posted: Thursday, September 12, 2024. 6:50 am CST.

By Horace Palacio: The political tensions within the United Democratic Party (UDP) have taken another turn as Leader of the Opposition Shyne Barrow made a bold attempt to force out Tracy Panton and Patrick Faber from their positions in the House of Representatives. Barrow, in a letter to the Speaker of the House, argued that both members had effectively resigned from the UDP through their actions, despite neither submitting an official resignation.

Barrow’s letter, dated September 5th, claims that the UDP’s Central Executive Committee had unanimously accepted their “constructive resignation” based on what he described as a clear violation of the party’s constitution. He specifically highlighted Panton’s leadership of the splinter group, “Alliance for Democracy,” as a breach of party rules. According to Barrow, their involvement in this faction directly contradicts UDP principles, and he called on the Speaker to declare their seats in the House vacant.

However, both Faber and Panton have firmly refuted these claims. Faber, in an open letter addressed to the people of Belize, rejected the accusations, stating that he has not resigned and remains committed to representing his Collet constituency. He labeled Barrow’s assertions as groundless and accused the Opposition Leader of using his position for personal attacks. Panton echoed similar sentiments in her own letter to constituents, stating that she has not resigned from her duties and will not be pressured to do so. In a sharp rebuke, she made it clear that she will not bow to “bullies or dictators.”

The Speaker of the House responded to Barrow’s letter earlier this week, dealing a blow to his efforts. In her reply, she pointed to the legal framework outlined in the Constitution, which requires an official resignation from members before their seats can be declared vacant. The Speaker emphasized that internal party matters, such as the UDP deeming the members “constructively resigned,” do not fulfill the constitutional requirements. Furthermore, with both Faber and Panton publicly stating that they have not resigned, the Speaker concluded that no action could be taken to remove them from their seats.

As a result, both Faber and Panton will remain seated on the UDP bench when the House of Representatives meets this Friday. The internal rift within the UDP, however, continues to deepen, raising questions about the future leadership of the party as Barrow faces mounting opposition from within his own ranks.

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