Shyne Barrow is celebrating tonight after Justice Tawanda Hondora this afternoon handed down his decision on the battle for control and legitimate leadership of the UDP.
The judgement found, damningly for Panton, quote, "The 20 October 2024 meeting was not a UDP National Convention, and the decisions and resolutions adopted at that 20 October 2024 meeting are not binding on the members of the UDP in their capacity as members of that party."
So, that means that Panton's convention - which resolved to remove Shyne Barrow as party leader and install Tracy in his place - was all invalid.
But the judge also issued a split ruling, finding that the move by Shyne Barrow's executive in August 2024 to expel Panton was unlawful and in breach of the UDP's constitution.
But, very importantly, the judge, quote, "decline to declare that Mrs Panton is or remains a member of the UDP." End quote.
And, so tonight in the UDP, chaos once again prevails and Shyne Barrow is calling it a victory. He told us why at the party headquarters - where he maintains control - and holds that he is the one true leader of the UDP:
Shyne Barrow, Leader - UDP
"So the most important decision that was rendered is the fact that I remain party leader, the central executive, the National Party Council that is in place remains. All of those people that abandoned the UDP for the Alliance for Democracy, and we ran other candidates, those are our candidates, those are the NPC, the people in the central executive that they dismissed, that is the party."
"So we will meet and we will talk and see how colleagues feel about moving forward, and if there's any room for reconciliation. What I believe now is a moment of reflection for Tracy and Co. They need to atone, they need to be contrite."
"And all along, I kept saying to everyone, kept saying to the media that these people were not the United Democratic Party. They had no basis upon which to make those claims to the legitimacy of October 20th."
"And I am very grateful that Justice Hondora saw things our way. I am not interested in being petty. I am not interested in being vindictive and vicious. I am interested in rebuilding the UDP. I am interested in unity."
"But as I had said all along, it will be on our terms."
Jules Vasquez
"You are in a celebratory mode. You have one-upped your opponent by your interpretation of the judgment."
Shyne Barrow, Leader - UDP
"I just can't believe how, no matter how.... you are the one that pointed out what was in paragraph 46."
"Can you say that, or are you going to share that with the public, that the judge, that the judge said he is not going to declare whether or not Tracy is a member of the UDP. So there is no power struggle."
"Now it's going to be clear who the UDP is as far as who the leaders are, who the executives are."
Jules Vasquez
"And Tracy Panton is a UDP."
Shyne Barrow, Leader - UDP
"That's not what the judge said."
Jules Vasquez
"The judge said that she was wrongly expelled."
Shyne Barrow, Leader - UDP
"The judge said that he will not declare whether or not she is a member."
Jules Vasquez
"So who determine if she is a UDP?"
Shyne Barrow, Leader - UDP
"We determine that."
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