Sanctions are a possibility for key UDP members who posted "I'm with Her" photos on social media in support of Tracy Panton, says Collet Area Representative Hon. Patrick Faber, opining the party's constitution has been used to silence dissent before.
“it's certainly a possibility given past precedents,” Faber said to The Reporter on Thursday.
He added 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 this article has often been used to muzzle party members' ideas. While they initially complied with these mandates, they hoped that the party's internal structures would have provided a recourse for their grievances. However, these structures, according to Faber, have now collapsed entirely.
When members voiced their dissent within the designated internal forums, their comments were met with disdain and threats, often leading to expulsion from these groups. Faber emphasized that such reactions to internal criticism undermine the party's constitutional provisions meant to foster constructive feedback.
Additionally, Faber pointed to their recent attempt to petition for an emergency National Party Council (NPC) meeting, which has been ignored for over five weeks.
This lack of response, he argued, indicates a disregard for procedural rights within the party and reflects a troubling resistance to transparency and open dialogue.
The context for these events includes a recent series of social media posts by influential UDP members, including Faber and John Saldivar, signaling their support for Tracy Panton as leader over the current leader Hon. Moses “Shyne” Barrow.
This support follows a meeting of prominent UDP figures in Orange Walk, where party reforms were discussed. Despite the public support for Panton, current UDP Chairman Michael Peyrefitte denied knowledge of any official meeting, emphasizing that only NPC or Central Executive Council (CEC) meetings are officially recognized.
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