The conventional wisdom is that maybe he should hold off - for the sake of what some UDP's are calling party unity. He told us that there's no pulling out now; it's full speed ahead:

Jules Vasquez
"Will you still go ahead and submit your name? We know that it's becoming extremely intense. We know that there's a lot of division amongst your peers and colleagues. We've heard that you've been ostracized to some extent. You said yourself that some aren't taking your calls."

Hon. Patrick Faber
"That's - I think that's over-exaggerating it, Jules. Certainly - well let me answer the first part of your question first. Yes, I am completely in. I don't think that there is anything that can cause me to not put my name forward now. But, while you are saying that it has created division - and yes, people will take one side or the other, but it has not created the kind of division really in our party that some are proclaiming has happened. I watched your newscast last night, as you said, we're not quite singing kumbaya, and that is - I mean that was the headline, but if you saw the story, you saw the deputy and I. And I am sure if you would get the footage of what actually occurred that it was not any kind of antagonistic situation at all. In fact, we continue to sit beside each other in the cabinet room .We work well together, and all of our colleagues work well together. Yes, there are people taking fight in the - it's not a fight; it's not a war in this race. But, we in the United Democratic Party know how to be united, and this kind of democratic practice will certainly not divide us. And whatever division, as you put it, are created, I can assure you, we will mend properly."

Jules Vasquez
"We're told that the Prime Minister - to use a Kriol term - 'Ih di pull haad' for Gapi for the Unity Slate. That is what we are told. He has not so told. Is that something, if it's true, that disturbs you?"

Hon. Patrick Faber
"Well, let me put it this way, Jules. The Prime Minister has gone on record, I believe, on quite a few occasions, and in fact certainly through his actions, to say to people in the UDP, and to people in this country that he has the utmost confidence in my ability to lead. We this, of course when he is out, the Deputy Prime Minister is out, and he leaves me as the Acting Prime Minister in this country, so there can be no question of whether Dean Barrow feels that I am fit to be a leader in this party. In fact, he has gone as far as to say that he supports me to be the next leader of the party."

The convention will be held in Corozal.