Ralph Fonseca is running; Cardo Martinez and Dolores Balderamos Garcia are not. Last night we told you that Ralph Fonseca confirmed that to a meeting of the Belize Rural Central Committee. That finally straightens what had been one of the longest hanging questions in politics.
Speaking with his party's radio station Positive Vibes today, Fonseca said that he was following the will of his people who asked him to run. But what you get is not always what you see. 7NEWS is reliably informed that up until the middle of this week, Fonseca was decided against running. Reports tell us that he had even recorded a statement explaining his decision to withdraw from electoral politics.
Our reports say that the seat was being offered to Richard "Dickie" Bradley on the condition that Fonseca would endorse His candidacy. But by mid-week it was apparent that Bradley wasn't sufficiently interested, and so Fonseca reversed his earlier decision and decided to dive in.
And while having Fonseca on the PUP slate in 08 may be somewhat of a political liability, many in the party seem to think that it's better to bear that baggage and have a good chance at securing a seat in what is sure to be a close election.
That is just one of the subplots brewing as the party prepares for its national convention on July first and it is a convention rife with its own intrigues.
First, our reports say that Mike Espat will offer himself for a one of the three deputy posts which is seen as an open challenge to present deputy John Briceno. Briceno is the only deputy who no longer has the explicit support of the party leader and the majority numbers that he carries, so he is vulnerable. As a counter-measure, there are indications that Briceno loyalists, may choose to challenge Musa loyalists for their posts.
