Hon. Tracy Panton Voted Deputy Chair of Caribbean Democrat Union

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Hon. Tracy Panton
Hon. Andrew Holness

By Shane D. Williams
Hon. Tracy Taegar-Panton joins Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness and other regional leaders on the recently elected Board of the Caribbean Democrat Union. Two-term Prime Minister Holness is the Chair of the Board while Hon. Tracy Panton is the Vice-Chair.
The Caribbean Democrat Union is an alliance of moderate political parties across the region. These organizations share similar policies in relation to poverty alleviation, social justice and nationalism. It includes the United Democratic Party of Belize, Dominican Freedom Party, New National Party of Grenada, Jamaica Labour Party, People’s Action Movement of St. Kitts and Nevis, United Workers Party of St. Lucia, New Democratic Party of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and the People’s Democratic Movement of Turks and Caicos. Five of the organizations are currently the governing parties in their country while three are the main opposition party.
The Caribbean Democrat Union is affiliated with the International Democrat Union which is currently chaired by former Canadian Prime Minister, Hon. Stephen Sharper. The IDU consists of political organizations from at least 64 countries around the world; including the United Kingdom’s Conservative Party. Canada’s Conservative Party and the United States Republican Party.
These unions provide networking and training opportunities for prospective leaders around the world as well as policy advice and best practices. The new CDU Board includes Holness as Chair, Panton as Vice-Chair responsible for Women and Minorities, Grenada’s Roland Bhola as Vice-Chair responsible for Organizational Support, Dominica’s Johnso Boston as Vice-Chair responsible for External Affairs and Policy, St, Vincent and the Grenadines Nick Francis as Secretary-General and Public Relations Officer, and Jamaica’s Kendron Christopher as Youth Chair. The CDU Board will serve for a period of one year.