Ivan Ramos Steps Aside, New P.u.p. Dangriga Standard Bearer Named

Francis Fonseca

The People’s United Party held a press conference at Independence Hall in Belize City to announce the first in what the party says will be a number of changes to be made before the next general elections. But all did not go down as the party expected. We start with area representative, Ivan Ramos, who handsomely won the division in 2012. He will be replaced by the respected retired educator, the former principal of Ecumenical High School and Junior College Anthony Sabal. Just prior to the announcement, the party’s campaign organizer, Godfrey Smith, told the media that the decision to replace Ramos is a part of the process to strengthen the party for the upcoming general elections. The P.U.P. leader, Francis Fonseca, said that Ramos had come to that decision on his own right, but did he?

Francis Fonseca, P.U.P. Leader

“Our discussions in Dangriga have brought us here today to report to the Belizean people in effect the changing of the guard in Dangriga. I want to use the few minutes that I am here to acknowledge the Honorable Ivan Ramos for the tremendous work that he has done on behalf of the P.U.P. Ivan was elected to the national assembly in 2012, but those who know him and especially the people of the south who know him best will know that he is involved in the work of the P.U.P. since 1985; since he was a very, very young man and he still is very young. As I said, over the past few weeks in particular, we’ve had many discussions about Dangriga and how we move forward in Dangriga. I want everyone to know that this decision taken over the past few weeks is a decision that was made by the honorable Ivan Ramos. He, himself, came to this decision and reached this point. He and I had a very, very good discussion a few days ago at which he made it very clear to me that he felt that his future contributions to the party, his future work on behalf of his community, on behalf of the people of Dangriga, on behalf of the people of the south could be made in other ways other than serving as an elected representative for the people of Dangriga. He will of course continue to work with the party and serve out his term as area representative for Dangriga and he will do so as he has always done with distinction.”