He’s 89 years old but the Leader Emeritus of the PUP, George Price is still somehow in the thick of things even as the PUP tries to renew itself. Last night we told you that he was under the threat of a libel suit for accusing Mark Espat of a conspiring with the UDP to arrest Said Musa. And tonight, he’s under pressure from three members of the Order of Distinguished Service, referred to commonly as the ODS.
It all started when Price signed as the Chairman of the ODS in recommending the expulsion of Mark Espat. Well, Belizario Carballo Sr. yesterday wrote a letter to Price saying that he – not Price – is the Chairman of the Order. Carballos’ letter says, “at our last meeting I served as Chairman after being elected to that position. We did not meet prior to the letter regarding Mark Espat.” Carballo adds that he has seen no evidence to back up the claim that Mark Espat has conspired with the UDP.
Also writing to Price is Ciriaco Contreras. His letter is dated Sunday March 23rd and he asks Price if there is any evidence against Espat-and suggests to the Leader Emeritus that maybe the ODS, “should meet prior to making a recommendation for expulsion.”
And if that wasn’t enough of a scolding, Hector Silva – another member of the ODS – wrote to Price on Monday and told him that he would have preferred if the ODS would have met before recommending the Espat expulsion. And in the middle of all this, Price yesterday made the rare public television statement endorsing the candidacy of Francis Fonseca for PUP leader.
And while all the attention – much of it adverse - is on the aged national hero and party founder, it’s clear that Price – his character and reputation unassailable as they are - is being brought into much harness: his unquestioned moral authority used as a battering ram to banish Mark Espat one week, and his credibility cache used as a boon for the status quo the following week.
