Email

Print

Finally, the battle to see who is the real leader of the UDP is going to court - and Shyne Barrow is taking it there. As we told you last week, the firm of Glenn D Godfrey made a filing for an ex parte injunction.

Well, tomorrow it will be an inter partes hearing that's going before Justice Hondora, claim 661 of 2024. It names the Shyne Barrow, and his executive members as claimants, while the respondents are Tracy Teagar Panton and former Secretary General Phillip Griffith Bailey.

And here's what Shyne's attorney Immanuel Williams is asking the judge to declare: first, that Shyne Barrow is the de facto party leader of the UDP. Second, that Panton has no power to possess the UDP. Property; and third, that Griffith Bailey had no no power to authorise Panton to take possession of the property, and that she has no lawful authority to represent herself as a trustee for the land.

From there, he asks the court to issue an order against Panton, quote, "that she vacate and deliver up possession to the...chairman Michael Peyrefitte, the UDP Headquarters.

He also asks for, quote, "a permanent injunction restraining" Panton and her agents, quote, "from interfering with - slash - unlawfully occupying the UDP headquarters...in any way."

And, for good measure, quote, "A permanent injunction restraining (Panton) from holding herself out to be - slash - passing off as the party leader of the UDP.

They are also seeking damages for for unlawful possession and conversion of property and exemplary damages for Panton's quote, "unlawful possession of the UDP Headquarters (which) poses a threat to the democracy of Belize," end quote.

The filing notes, quote,"The unlawful possession of UDP Headquarters by (Panton) and the resulting disruption of operations have caused immediate and ongoing harm that is difficult to repair without judicial intervention." It alleges that, quote, "(Panton) and her supporters besieged the UDP Headquarters in a clandestine manner...." End quote. It adds, quote, "Given the approaching General Elections, any delay in addressing these issues could lead to continued operational paralysis, justifying the need for an urgent judicial determination."

It concludes, grandly, quote, "Each day the Alliance for Democracyâ€"a faction within the UDPâ€"continues to occupy the UDP Headquarters, poses a significant threat to Belizean democracy."

And while that's a long synopsis, it is just a few extracts from the hundreds of pages of legal fillings made in a battery of court documents.

The hearing is virtual and we'll let you know what came out of it.