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Last night at 6:10 pm - the Elections and Boundaries Commission issued a statement settling weeks of speculation: all 41 persons who nominated as members of the UDP will get the traditional red - which means that in 14 constituencies there will be two candidates carrying the color red, and in at least one constituency, Port Loyola, three candidates will carry the color red.
Sounds like a voters nightmare to this newsroom - but today Tracy Panton - who leads one of the UDP factions - embraced it. She says the final decision is fair and that the candidates know her name:
Tracy Panton, UDP Albert Standard Bearer
"I think that the Elections and Boundaries Commission took the high road. I am sure it was not an easy decision but in my opinion it was fair. I consider myself a member of the United Democratic Party I do not accept that I was purportedly expelled from the party for the two terms that I have ran for political office I ran under a UDP banner, I am running under a UDP banner in this election and it has been traditional that the UDP candidates are assigned the colour red. I know we have 31 legitimate UDP candidates in this race, Mr Barrow has foisted some candidates on the party in various constituencies, mine included and in my opinion they should not be afforded the red, however that's a matter that we need to solve internally. It should not be a matter for the elections and boundaries commission and so I think that the final decision is fair and then it is up to us and candidates to do the relevant voter education that is required. For example in Albert, where there is going to be two red blocks on the ballot, and not one, and to educate my voters that they need to look for the red but they also need to look for my name so that they don't make any mistakes in casting their ballot on election day."
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