And from sports to the political bloodsport of UDP politics, last night, party elder Michael Finnegan appeared on Uncut with a bold proclamation: the party's bitter internal feud is over - and he's the one who brokered the truce. But as Jules Vasquez reports, Finnegan might be calling checkmate in a game that's still very much in play.
Seeing this announcement of a Unification and Reset NPC for the UDP planned for 14th June you may have thought that's the end of a long period of troubles for the opposition, Michael Finnegan sure did when he appeared on Uncut last night:
Michael Finnegan, Former 6 Term Area Rep:
"I set out from last week Friday when I went on KREM to try to lend my weight that I have in the party to bring this party together and to have them call a national party council and set this party and set a date for a national convention."
"Yeah weh I set out fi do, done get done."
But self congratulations aside, there's not quite so. The fact is Tracy Panton, Godwin Haylock Lee Mark Chang, Patrick Faber, Beverly Williams and others will not be invited to the NPC - because they were not Shyne Barrow UDP candidates in the 2025 general election.
It's a realization they have come to within their own ranks as is evidenced by this text message shared from their group chat.
And in fact the only way back for them remains what was outlined in this May 19th press release, apologize, face a convention and then got to a National Convention in October.
And worse than that, the only recognized standard bearers invited to the NPC are the ones who ran for to Shyne Barrow in March, Jose Uk for Albert, Shane Williams for Queen's Square, Samuel Cutheklvin….you get the idea, rejected candidates.
And to become a standard bearer for the UDP once again -for example Queen Square Area Rep Godwin Haylock, or even Lader of the Opposition Panton would have to face a divisional convention.
All this to say their there's no happily ever after for the UDP and the future holds nothing but confrontation.
But his party elder still has hope:
"At the end of June 14th what should be the outcome in your humble opinion? The party should unify on the 14th."
"Unify. Meaning? Everybody deh back eena di party. And date for the national convention should be set. And who should lead the UDP? Tracy Panton, who else deh deh fu lead the UDP?"
"I BELIEVE THE UDP IF it does not reunify in June has a real chance of splintering."
"Nevah bruk that up."
We can only say time will tell.
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