Email

Print

Indeed, after the May 8th referendum's "yes" vote - many in the UDP are "feeling themselves" - but the PM stressed today that would be a fooling feeling if anyone thinks he should call a snap election:..

Jules Vasquez- Reporter
"The UDP feels prime after the referendum outcome, the position they campaigned for was indicated. Is there any chance of an earlier election that planned?"

Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow- Prime Minister
"No sir. Two things: number one, it wouldn't work in my view but also, number two, I know it didn't end up that way but I was serious in saying: man, you can't see this thing, if there is a yes vote as a UDP win. You can't see it as no vote if the PUP win; well, maybe that one might have been a little different. But it would be insulting to all those PUP's who voted yes and who came out; people like Lisa and Godfrey Smith and G Michael Reed and Glenn Tillett and Joe Coye. You can't treat this as some vote of confidence in the UDP. This is a stand alone thing. This had to do with going to the ICJ and the majority of people were sensible enough to agree that that is what we needed to do. Undoubtedly, politics being what it is, we have gotten what you call sir a referendum bump. But we fool ourselves if we think that that means we can go to the public and say, 'Aha, general elections. Let's use that bump to try and propel us into a fourth term.' No sir, it wouldn't happen and I will not be fool enough to even contemplate such a thing for all the reasons I have said. So, no man; we proceed in the normal course and I believe that we are looking at elections as scheduled- in November of 2020."

And while elections will be in late 2020, the convention for Caribbean shores will be next month! We'll tell you about it later on in the news…