The recent retraction of San Ignacio/Santa Elena Mayor Earl Trapp's call for Collet Area Representative Hon. Patrick Faber to be expelled highlights deep divisions within the United Democratic Party (UDP), while the party's leadership believe a snap General Election will be called in late 2024.
Trapp retracted his call for the expulsion of UDP's Patrick Faber, citing widespread backlash from party supporters who objected to the idea of expelling the long-standing Collet Area Representative.
Trapp initially demanded Faber's dismissal for bringing the UDP into disrepute, but sharp responses from UDP supporters, who, according to Trapp, threatened to withdraw their support from him, moved the Twin Towns’ Mayor to write his retraction letter to Chairman Michael Peyrefitte. This strong backing for Faber highlights the division within the UDP.
Trapp’s initial letter accused Faber of violating the party's constitution by making disparaging remarks. The letter, leaked to the media, emphasized the need for accountability within the party. Trapp, via his letter dated July 26, 2024, had written:
“I write to draw your attention to the violations of our Party Constitution committed by Patrick Faber who on July 25, 2024, on his Facebook page and in The Reporter newspaper, made disparaging remarks regarding the Party Leader and the Party which bring our entire Party into disrepute and violate the Party Constitution as well as the August 20, 2022, and May 27, 2023 NPC [National Party Council] Resolutions which prohibit members according to Article 5(5) from engaging in behavior that is injurious to the Party.”
The Backdrop of the Faber Comments
Faber, via social media and speaking directly with this newspaper, had criticized the party’s internal handling of dissent and accused the leadership of ignoring calls for an emergency National Party Council meeting. He argued that the party's internal structures had collapsed, stifling constructive feedback.
At the time, The Reporter had asked Faber if he expected an attempt at expelling him from the Party for his public comments. He responded, “It's certainly a possibility given past precedents.”
In that earlier interview, Faber opined that Article 5(6)(d) of the UDP's Constitution has previously been invoked to sanction members for voicing criticism. He referred to his own experience in 2022 when he was removed from the Central Executive Committee for not complying with the directive to remove Facebook posts attacking the party.
Faber explained that he and his co-dissenters initially complied with these mandates, hoping that the party's internal structures would have provided a recourse for their grievances. However, these structures, according to Faber, have now collapsed entirely.
He alleged that, instead, dissent was met with disdain and threats, often leading to expulsion from these groups.
The Counter Narrative
Responding to Faber's criticism, senior UDP members, speaking on the condition of anonymity with The Reporter, countered that the leadership, particularly Moses “Shyne” Barrow, has been demanding greater accountability in campaign financing. It is this demand, sources allege, that has led to further dissent.
This call for accountability follows recent electoral defeats, where UDP sources argue that despite receiving funds from the leadership, the on-the-ground work left a lot to be desired.
Also, sources underscored that several ranking UDP members do not share the same dissenting views, arguing that they consider the dissenters' actions as an attempt at grabbing power at a time when the People's United Party (PUP) could call a snap general election in 2024. The urgency to resolve internal conflicts is heightened by the potential for early general elections this year, one official source shared.
Internal sources noted that Faber and other dissenters reacted to Barrow’s demands for accountability.
The internal discord within the UDP continues to play out publicly, with Trapp’s retraction and the continued support for Faber indicating significant party divisions as they approach potential early elections.
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