Prime Minister and leader of the United Democratic Party described Wednesday January 21 as a “historic day for the UDP.” That is because it was on this day, in a room filled with elected area representatives, standard bearers, party supporters and media personnel that Hon. Dean Barrow made the announcement that Dr. Carla Barnett has formally joined the UDP as a prospective candidate to contest the Freetown electoral division.
PM Barrow explained that after all that the UDP has accomplished within the past year including the winning of the Cayo North division in the recent bi-election as well as resolving the sugar crisis and the unprecedented infrastructural developments across the country, Dr. Barnett’s coming on board was “one heck of an exclamation point.” And it is an exclamation point because Dr. Barnett is of the highest integrity and PM Barrow explained that this shows that “we have been able to attract candidates of a caliber that does our party proud.” He underscored that Dr. Barnett’s joining the UDP was an energizing accomplishment since it is rare that a brilliant professional with such an outstanding record would be prepared to enter the ruff and tumble world of politics and especially under the UDP banner.
Dr. Barnett during her formal address stated that she has been approached in the past to run for office, and while she did not disclose who it was that had approached her, she said that it wasn’t until now that she found it an opportune time to run. She explained that it has “not been the right time. I am at that place now where I can give attention to the people of Freetown and can give it wholeheartedly without distractions.” Notably, the field of politics is different from what Barnett has been accustomed to, she comes from a professional background having risen to great prominence both in Belize and in the Caribbean Community. In Belize she has served as the Financial Secretary when the PUP administration was at its lowest having been recruited to reestablish credibility to that office. She was also once the deputy governor of the Central Bank among other prestigious offices. In the Caricom region she has held various positions most notably being the Deputy Secretary General of the Caricom Community as well as holding high office at the Caribbean Development Bank.
As she held these positions she said that she has had the honor to do work across the country and across the region but what she has always enjoyed the most is working directly with people. That she will now translate to the Freetown division. “I will be offering my experiences and knowledge to help the people of the Freetown division,” “I plan to get deep inside of Freetown, I meet people in the division and their reaction has been positive, welcoming and exciting,” she noted. While Barnett is not yet the UDP Standard Bearer in the Freetown constituency PM Barrow explained that he would wish that her ascension to that position would be by endorsement and while he would not discourage anyone from contesting he would prefer it to go that way.
For the UDP it would mean that there would now be two women contesting seats in the upcoming general elections. For Dr. Barnett, answering questions of gender inequity in electoral politics she cited that it is not the only area in Belize where such exists. She explained that in her previous work she has focused on women and “If my coming in, shifts the average in the next direction that is good. If I can bring other women in that will be even better.” Having had the opportunity for her to present herself, indeed, Dr. Barnett is a welcomed addition to the UDP Family and having a stellar record of achievement and respect, it will not be too long before she takes up the Freetown seat at the national assembly.
