This was confirmed today in a mighty odd Cabinet press release. The release makes it clear the politics - as much as matters of state - dominate conversations at the highest executive level. The release says, quote, "Cabinet… today…discussed the UDP's current trajectory heading towards the 2020 general elections." End quote.

And from that opening, this official release blurs the line between party and government completely and starts to read more like something that the UDP would send from its party headquarters. The release says, quote, "Ministers expressed great satisfaction at the evidence of support for the UDP, as measured by the large voter turnout at the…standard bearer conventions taking place every weekend since November 4th….Cabinet felt that once the standard bearer conventions conclude in mid-December, there should be a break in the remaining convention schedule to allow for healing and an organizational reset to take place at the individual constituency level."

So, Cabinet has decided that the UDP delegates' conventions which were to begin in January 2019, and be followed by the UDP leadership convention - should both be postponed. The release says, quote, "Cabinet revisited this proposed timetable in view of its conviction that it would be too rushed in the circumstances. Accordingly, Cabinet agreed to recommend to the UDP National Party Council a revised calendar that would stick to the Party's Constitution, which states that the next UDP leadership convention cannot occur before January of 2020…the delegates' conventions that must take place before the leadership convention, will also now be moved back." End quote.

So, you heard right, Cabinet is now making decisions in Belmopan for the UDP National Party Council. But here's where it comes back to being a matter not only for the party, but also one for the state.

The release continues, quote, "the notion of having the leadership convention (early) was precipitated by Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow's declaration…of his wish to retire before the end of the term…But in light of what Cabinet sees as the exigencies of the situation, the Prime Minister has, on the urging of his Cabinet, agreed to stay on.

Cabinet makes clear that this position is supported by all Ministers, including those not present at the meeting today but who had previously indicated their agreement." End quote.

So, it confirms what we told you last night: Prime Minister Barrow isn't gong anywhere anytime soon. But, we take very specific note of that least sentence. It says, quote, "this position is supported by all Ministers, including those not present at the meeting today." Deputy Prime Minister Patrick Faber is traveling and was not at today's Cabinet meeting - and he was not at last Wednesday's meeting with the PM. But, the statement means he has fallen in line with the decision - even if it means that his dream of ascending to the post of Prime Minister with an early Barrow departure. We asked Faber for comment this evening and he told us he has none at this time.