Just about the same that the UDP was dropping more bombshells about the financial misdealings within the Musa administration, there was a situation unfolding at the PUP’s headquarters on Queen’s Street. It was a meeting of the party’s national council to decide on the place and date for the party’s national convention. Should have been simple enough, but with the party riven by internal division, and on the cusp of a leadership convention where the battle is not only for the mantle of the leader but for the soul of the PUP, even at this meeting, stakes and tensions were very high.
And according to multiple accounts, it was boisterous and chaotic inside, with shouting, name calling, and disorder as rival factions were openly and demonstrably hostile. Got so bad, that – we are reliably informed from multiple sources – that a gun was pulled between two warring camps. And while we weren’t allowed inside, it was no joke on the street either. Only 7NEWS was in the thick of it on Queen’s Street this afternoon and Keith Swift has the story.
Keith Swift Reporting,
The battle line between PUP supporters was clearly drawn on Queen’s Street this afternoon. Party officials met upstairs in Independence Hall while supporters for Mark Espat and Francis Fonseca held ground in the broiling sun on opposite sides of the street.
Mark Espat Supporter #1,
“We are backbone Mark Espat. You dash away and pick us up but we are for Mark Espat and that is who we want. If they vote in Fonseca, there is no more PUP. We want back our ten million dollars because we didn’t get nothing and that is what we are out here fighting for…Mark Espat is love.”
Mark Espat Supporter #2,
“For Mark and Mark only, not really the PUP – for Mark Espat I am out here…he is my bread winner.”
Mark Espat Supporter #3,
“All Belizeans have to stand up for their rights and I think if we want a democratic party and if the PUP is going to be on the Opposition side we need to have democracy and that is why we need to have Mark Espat for the party leader.”
Mark Espat Supporter #4,
“If Francis Fonseca becomes the leader of this country, there is no coming back for PUP, there is no coming back.”
But Fonseca’s supporters, some still wearing their ‘Believe in Belize’ t-shirts disagreed.
Francis Fonseca Supporter #1,
“Francis is always here for us, Francis is always here for the people and Francis helps out everybody, he never lets down anyone, he is always around.
I know Francis is the best person to be the leader for this party…all of us are one…all of us are one PUP party but we don’t have nothing, we don’t have nothing against anybody else but we are just supporting who we want to support and we who believe in and we believe in Francis.”
Francis Fonseca Supporter #2,
“Francis is the man for Belize and he has always been here for us. I don’t understand why Mark Espat wants to be party leader. He hasn’t stood up for the PUP, he doesn’t believe in the party and all of a sudden he wants to be the party leader.”
Francis Fonseca Supporter #3,
“He walked away when he shouldn’t have even walked away from the party. He should have stood up like Mr. Francis did.”
Francis Fonseca Supporter #1,
“God knows that Mr. Francis will be the leader of this thing because we pray for that. We have positive vibes that Francis will have this.”
The back and forth continued for 2 hours until the meeting’s conclusion around 4 – when leadership candidate Mark Espat emerged to a throng of supporters.
Mark Espat, Candidate for PUP Leader
“We had a National Council Meeting and the issues of the reforms were rejected unfortunately and so we proceed to the convention under the present
status quo.”
Keith Swift,
You will stay in the race?
Mark Espat,
“We will have to consult, as I said from day one I will only participate in a convention if it is free and if it is fair.”
Keith Swift,
So for the record they won’t increase the delegates from 1 per hundred to 1 per 25 votes.
Mark Espat,
“Yes and we still have not gotten copies of the lists yet.”
Keith Swift,
Any reason why the council denied the requests?
Mark Espat,
“You will have to speak to the Chairperson who was the party who chaired the meeting.”
Keith Swift,
Sir did you question the party leader, the former Prime Minister about the Venezuela money?
Mark Espat,
“That matter was not discussed at the meeting…it was not brought up at the meeting.”
Keith Swift,
So what’s the next two weeks going to be like for you leading up to the convention?
Mark Espat,
“Well we will have to look at how we proceed. Obviously it is not a decision I make by myself. It is a decision we make together.”
And that defeat for Mark Espat was also a defeat for the other candidate for leader - Johnny Briceno.
Johnny Briceno, Candidate for PUP Leader
“It is something that we will take a closer look at. We are trying to find a way how we can open up the party so there can be more participation from the party supporters. But obviously the National Party Council is in no mood to make any changes and to open up to the party to the true owners of the party, which are the supporters all across this country from Corozal to Toledo.”
Keith Swift,
You will stay in this party and continue with your bid for leader?
Johnny Briceno,
“I am a PUP and that will not change.”
And when we tried to talk to the third candidate for leader Francis Fonseca - a supporter covered his face with this placard – and we were physically restrained.
And after pushing us away, Fonseca was whisked away. A spokesman says Fonseca was rushing to another meeting and that’s why he couldn’t stop and talk to us.
A press release from the PUP states that the convention will be held on March 30th at the George Price Center in Belmopan. The council also voted on the reformers’ motion to change the party’s constitution to allow a greater representation of delegates. It was soundly defeated as not even Briceno and Espat were reported to have voted for it. And best we can determine, the reason they didn’t is because it was not placed on the agenda and it was another fight just to get it on. A PUP release says that the names of the delegates will be presented by Friday.
One statement from our interview with Mark Espat worth stressing is that he states that he will not participate in a convention for leader that is not free and fair.
