But the Guatemala position is the least of the concerns for the PUP right now. The party’s new leadership has got a breakaway division to rope in, or bring to heel. And they’ve been trying, but Corozal Southeast and its Area Representative Florencio Marin Jr. are openly ignoring directives from the national executive. Marin and his committee will have their convention to elect a new standard bearer on Sunday, a convention at which Marin is expected to be endorsed un-opposed. But he’s staging the convention after the national executive told him not to. At a press conference last week, Party Leader John Briceno explained the official position.
Hon. John Briceno, PUP Leader
“The National Executive has already informed the Corozal Southeast for them not to hold their convention this month, until after the National Executive had decided the window or the time when they can have conventions, as has been the practice, and following the constitution of the party.”
Jules Vasquez,
And will that directive be acceded to?
Hon. John Briceno,
“I think you need to ask them.”
The convention proceeds on Sunday and after that Briceno’s Executive will have to do its next best. The situation is delicate because Florencio Marin Junior’s, Marin Sr., has expressed an interest in coming out of retirement to challenge Briceno loyalist Greg Garcia in Corozal Southwest and from there, challenge Briceno himself for the leadership.
Just before newstime, the Northern Caucus of the PUP issued a release. It says that at a meeting chaired by Valdemar Castillo he called on the Executive of the Corozal South East constituency and the Area Representative, the Hon. Florencio Marin Jr. to respect the decision and directive of the National Executive.
It continues: “the Northern Caucus likewise calls on all divisions not to conduct any standard bearer conventions until the National Executive determines it is appropriate to hold such conventions as has always been the practice.” It concludes: “the Northern Caucus reminds all constituency committees that no standard bearer convention can be valid without the authorization and the presence of a designated representative of the national executive.”
By tomorrow, we’ll know if Marin plans to take the advice.
