Francis Fonseca
The grand old party, that once supremely powerful political entity, is on the verge of a decision to not contest the Dangriga bye-election set for July eighth, following the resignation of Ivan Ramos as area representative. Now that would be a first in Belize for any of the mass parties and today, the topic was a source of very heated discussion at the P.U.P. headquarters. Sources say that Party Leader Francis Fonseca and Campaign Manager Godfrey Smith are among those who support throwing in the bye-election towel. Those sources say that a significant number of standard bearers and executive members are against the P.U.P. giving in without a fight. In the end the decision was postponed until the weekend pending an assessment on the ground in Dangriga. These are not happy times in the P.U.P., and nobody was sending out happy vibes when they finally emerged at close to five this evening.
Francis Fonseca, P.U.P. Leader
“We had an internal meeting of the party and there is no statement that we are prepared to make at this time. We have some follow up meetings in Dangriga over the next day or two and when we are finished with that, we’ll certainly brief the press on those meetings and discussions.” (Walking away)
Said Musa
Mike Rudon
“Sir, would we be able to get a quick comment from you?”
Said Musa, Former Prime Minister
“I’m not the spokesperson for the party today.”
Mike Rudon
“Nobody is apparently.”
John Briceño
John Briceño, Former Party Leader
“I think we had a frank and brisk discussion today about the bye-elections and the national executive decided that we are going to go down in Dangriga and have an assessment discussing with the executive, with the candidate and other supporters of the party as to how to move forward for the election next month.”
Mike Rudon
“Sir, can you clarify for us…is there actually a discussion on whether the P.U.P. will or will not participate in the bye-election?”
John Briceño
“Well as we said, as the discussion was, is that there is going to be an assessment. We have to go on the ground and find what is the best way forward for the party.”
Mike Rudon
“Is that something unprecedented? You’ve been a politician for a long time…that a party would not want to participate or would maybe choose not to participate in a bye-election?”
John Briceño
“Well we are not saying that the party does not want to participate. I think what we are saying is that it is best to go down and to hear and to listen to our supporters there in Dangriga before we make any decision on whether we move forward or not.”
The sentiment among those we spoke to is that the assessment is likely just for show, since the Campaign Manager and a Committee appointed by him would likely conduct it, and he is firmly against contesting the bi-election.
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