Shyne Barrow is Sworn-in as Leader of the Opposition

For the latest news across Belize, visit: http://edition.channel5belize.com/ The Central Executive Committee of the United Democratic Party, led by Chairman Mike Peyrefitte, is meeting virtually at this hour. During that discussion a date will be decided upon for a recall convention to be held where delegates will vote on the fate of party leader Patrick Faber. For several weeks, Faber has been embroiled in a scandal that threatens his office as head of the U.D.P. Among his colleagues in the opposition, three fellow parliamentarians, including Shyne Barrow, had written to Governor General Froyla Tzalam earlier this week informing her that Faber no longer enjoys their confidence as Leader of the Opposition. That brings us to a few hours ago, when Barrow, the area representative for Mesopotamia, was administered the oath of office to become the new Leader of the Opposition. It’s the first of two decisive actions taken by members of the party to unseat Faber, to be successfully completed. The second is the aforementioned recall convention. We will have the date for that meeting in our subsequent newscast, but we begin tonight with an interview from Shyne Barrow following his swearing-in this evening. Earlier this afternoon, Faber’s political nemesis, former Belmopan area representative John Saldivar, issued a statement via social media in which took direct aim at the embattled party leader. In that post, Saldivar said about Faber, quote, he was emboldened to treat members of his party with wanton disregard to the point of not holding any meetings of the party’s executive organs and more recently rebuffing a suggestion that he take a leave of absence to deal with his anger issues. He felt untouchable and this made him arrogant. His removal from the post of Leader of the Opposition clears the way for person or persons to be appointed to the Senate who would challenge for the leadership of the party along with any Member of the House who so chooses. So, while some appear uncomfortable with the sudden shift in the Leader of the Opposition, it is in my view a move necessary to prevent anarchy in our party and allow true democracy and freedom of choice to prevail as we seek to rebuild, unquote. In speaking with the media this evening, Shyne Barrow continues to put into perspective the issues surrounding the leadership of the U.D.P.