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Tonight, Shyne Barrow is parliamentary Leader of the Opposition. The first term Mesopotamia representative was sworn in by the new Governor General Froyla Tzalam at Belize House in Belmopan two hours ago. He was accompanied by his wife Catherine, their child, and her family, the Sanchez's.

In what has been a whirlwind week of political upheaval, Shyne Barrow replaces Patrick Faber who was deposed in a sort of palace coup earlier this week when 2 of the 5 members of the opposition switched their loyalty to Barrow. Those two, plus Barrow wrote to the GG saying they no longer have confidence in Faber. Faber remains UDP Party Leader facing a recall petition.

So, for now, the spotlight is for Shyne and we spoke to him when he came out of Belize House:

Shyne Barrow - New Leader of the Opposition
"I appreciate the gravity of this historical moment and this so much bigger than me, I am merely an instrument, the custodian of circumstance. Certainly I would like to thank my predecessors, Curl Thompson who was the first Mesopotamia area representative to be the leader of the opposition, the Hon. Michael Finnegan who was had guided and I was his understudy before I became the area representative and the people Mesopotamia because I would not be if they did not elect me to be their representative and certainly to all of my colleagues who have offered support as we continue to build the UDP and to try to restore public trust and confidence in our institution."

Jules Vasquez
"Have you spoken with the man that you're replacing, Patrick Faber?"

Shyne Barrow
"No I have not but I would like to take this opportunity to thank him for his service over the last 18 years, to the country and to the institution of the UDP."

Jules Vasquez
"I'm just saying you need Mr. Faber."

Shyne Barrow
"I just told you that I thanked him for this service over the 18 years."

Jules Vasquez
"You only thank someone when you're sending them through the door."

Shyne Barrow
"No but he was the leader of the opposition and so I thank him not just for his time as leader of the opposition but for his 18 years of service."

Jules Vasquez
"Now he's to play second fiddle to you? You are the leader of the opposition, how will you arrange the seating?"

Shyne Barrow
"I can assure you that this not about me, this about the institution of the UDP, the institution of the opposition and us trying to put ourselves in a position where we can have credibility, where we can find a new leader which will not be me but a new leader of the party and I am merely the custodian of the transition period that we're in."

Jules Vasquez
"Sir are you able to say, you thanked Patrick Faber for his 18 years of service but you took him out, he doesn't want your thanks sir, he wants your head, you just took him out, this is politics."

Shyne Barrow
"I don't know that you speak for the Hon. Patrick Faber and I do not act alone but I'm not speaking for him, I am thanking him regardless of how he feels."

Jules Vasquez
"But you can't thank a man when you just take him out."

Shyne Barrow
"When you were interviewing the prime minister, he was stern with you, I think he handled himself well and he told you listen, the two of us can't talk, so allow me to talk and then you can ask the question. Again, whatever other feels I cannot control, I am wiling to do all that I can to advance the policies of the UDP and to advocate on behalf of the Belizean people, what other people do, I cannot control. Furthermore, this was not a Shyne Barrow decision, I do not act in a vacuum, I act with a collective and you've seen there are 290 delegates that signed the petition for the recall of the Hon. Patrick Faber which has never been done before in the history of politics in Belize. So again, this is not just me waving a magic wand saying that he should. The deputy leader of the UDP, the Hon. Hugo Patt signed the letter to the Governor General and that is why I stand here, so this is a collective move to go into a new direction that we believe will enhance our rebuilding process and make us the better choice when the people have to choose who they will vote. I would like to use this opportunity to highlight the fact that we all have challenges, we all have difficulties, we all a path, we all fall short because for the last 23 years, I took responsibility for my actions, I paid my debt, I did not feel sorry for myself, I did not drown myself in tears and sorrow, I continue to go, so I hope and I pray that where I stand right now in this historic moment, it's bigger than me, it is a message to the young people, to all people that have challenges that have obstacles that they can overcome, just remained determined and this is the better path to choose, a constructive productive life. They may be those that want to condemn you to their past as they condemn me to my past because maybe they don't want to see anything more from southside youth than to be in prison or to be in a graveyard but I am proof that you are more than that because I am that special."

Patrick Faber remains party leader of the UDP - even as he faces that recall.

The UDP Central Executive is expected to meet tonight - and Shyne has been kicked out of that group according to reports.

But the power struggle within the party is very live at this time - and we'll keep following it.