And moving on from butane for now, we go to that other hot-button issue: politics. As you'll know, it's convention season for both major political parties and there are a lot of hurt feelings and mashed corns, both from those who lose, and from those who are not given a chance to contest.
In the past two months, we've heard from Rudy Wade and Jerome Wade in the PUP, and Mark King in the UDP - all die-hards, who, for one reason or the other, have been disqualified from running.
Tonight we can add one more disgruntled aspirant to the list: he is Leonardo Chavarria from Punta Gorda who was - as they say - shot down by the PUP's Order of Distinguished Service.
But unlike his colleagues who took it to the media and, presumably, the Lord in prayer, Chavarria today took his complaint to the streets - and not the streets of Punta Gorda Town, he came to the city where his party's headquarters are located. Jules Vasquez was there:…
Jules Vasquez Reporting
At 10:30 this morning, 3 busses with the PUP flag aloft streamed into the city all the way from Punta Gorda Town.
Their message in blue and white letters, "Let Democracy Prevail", and "Who is the leader, John Briceno or Mike Espat?"
It's all in support of this man Leonard Chavarria - he wanted to challenge Toledo East Standard Bearer Mike Espat in a convention, but says the party denied him the opportunity by disqualifying him.
So, with former PUP Mayor Anthony Westby at his side, he brought his protest to the city - an protest conducted without a permit, going right down Albert Street.
They eventually got off the main and unto the pedestrian walk at the swing bridge where the modest crowd of about 100 looked fairly buff.
They then headed east on north front street with signs displaying familiar party mantras and other singling out well known old guard PUP players in Toledo East.
Enfield Moreira
"Jules, from 1989 Mike Espat is running in Toledo East. Something is wrong. From 1989 up to now Mike Espat? No man."
Jules Vasquez
"But when I talk to John Briceno - he boast about all the good things that Mike Espat is did."
Enfield Moreira
"The good things? You know why, he don't have any kind of support up North, no kind of support in Belize District. You add them up and the make over 14 votes that he can't win the party leader, now he is trying to push down everybody in the south down his throat in Toledo."
Jules Vasquez
"You all are PUPs and this is a big embarrassment for the PUP."
Enfield Moreira
"It doesn't matter. I love my party Jules, me. My father builds PUP before John Briceno. How old is John Briceno? My father is eighty something. Ask John Briceno how old is he?"
After cutting through Handyside Street the crowd then marched up Queen Street to pass right in front of the party headquarters with a spontaneous exclamation
Enfield Moreira
"This belongs to Toledo East. I call on Leonardo Chavarria. After two years working hard, now John Briceno has slap him in his face and tells him he can't run. No way after two years. To hell with that. We are PUP, we own PUP."
Now calling the party leader an "enemy of the real PUP" is no small claim
But when they re-convened at Battlefield Park, Chavarria flanked by another jilted candidate Jose Braddick, explained his position to the press:
Leonardo Chavarria
"What is happening here is that we attended a special interview by the ODS, but the ODS (Order of Distinguish Service) is seemingly manipulated by the Party Leader John Briceno. And what has happen is that they disqualified my candidacy base of the fact that they are claiming that I have a criminal record and they are basing this on a common assault charge which I committed in the year 1996 when I was on 15 years old and because of that they are claiming that I cannot run for the PUP. Now I am not here because I want a convention. I am here because I believe that it is a great injustice for the people of Toledo and especially we PUP. Every single person who is on this trip today is a PUP, we have die hard PUPs out here with party cards. I was a councillor for the People's United Party in the year 2006-2009. I also challenge Mike Espat for the constituency chairman, in 2008 I hit the rostrum for the PUP on every single occasion from since 1998 and no you come to us and tell us that you will push Mike Espat down our throats."
Anthony Westby, Former Mayor - Punta Gorda
"They should be the last to do this, you know why, because they are in opposition. They are not the winning party. The UDPs are giving convention."
Leonardo Chavarria
"I have been in contact with many candidates who have been aspiring and for some reason they have turn them down. In Cayo South for example, they endorse Julius Espat, the party leader along with his crew allegedly paid $40,000.00 to the next opponent who was running there to step aside. All of us know that."
Anthony Westby, Former Mayor - Punta Gorda
"I know that rate the PUP are going, they will lose the general elections because you can't be doing this to people and think that people will accept. This is modern times, come on."
Leonardo Chavarria
"There is one thing that I want to say. Before I attended the ODS interview I was offered on several occasions financial compensation for the year and a half that I have been campaigning, but how could I do that to the residents of PG? How could I do that when you have so many hungry mouths to feed? How could I do that when you have so many single mothers in Toledo."
Jules Vasquez
"Specify the compensation."
Leonardo Chavarria
"The compensation I care not to comment, however I was offered financial compensation to step aside and allow Mike Espat to run with the condition that I support Mike Espat and I cannot do that. I will not comment on the exact figure."
Jules Vasquez "Who offered it to you?"
Leonardo Chavarria
"I will not comment on who offered it to me, I am sorry."
And while this would be candidate held back on that important tidbit, he made it clear, he's pulling no punches on Briceno:
Jules Vasquez
"So moving forward the reality is there will be an endorsement for Mike Espat and if you are a PUP you have to support Mike Espat."
Leonardo Chavarria
"There is one thing I want to say as it relates to that Jules. Yes I am a PUP but the truth is that from today onward we will roll up our PUP flags, our PUP banners and we will not support the PUP as long as John Briceno is the part leader and after this the next move for us; our plan B is to go back to our voters in Toledo East and Toledo West, we will do a survey and this survey will be design to see whether or not the residents and voters of Toledo East and West are receptive to an independent candidate. If they are then I will run independent so from today onward I am no longer supporting the PUP under the leadership of John Briceno."
Jules Vasquez
"Ok now why is it for example Valdemar Castillo - a senior politician face a three way convention yesterday. Why is it that you think that Mike Espat is being especially protected?"
Leonardo Chavarria
"Well it goes back to the Pachakan conspiracy. Mike Espat was instrumental in getting the party leader installed so now John Briceno has a certain level of allegiance to Mike Espat - he owes Mike Espat. John Briceno's leadership is to a large extent dependent on Mike Espat and Mike Espat in Toledo is not wanted man, the voters rejected this man predominantly almost 800 votes. How could you do that? I have to withdraw from the PUP at this point, I am sorry, it is my party and I am willing to come back if the leadership changes. The PUP has a leadership crisis right now and the only out for the PUP in the general elections is to get rid of John Briceno."
Anthony Westby, Former Mayor - Punta Gorda
"I want to call out on some of the other people who should be here supporting us today I believe; that's like Mark Espat, Cordel Hyde, Dan Silva. Anthony Chanona, Cassian Nunez, Jorge Espat and Henry Canton. These were the people when was there was the good PUPs. We have a lot of good PUPs right there now but they are cowards man, they sit back in the back ground and we from Toledo come out here to face them. I say to them that are cowards, come out here and fight the cause."
But without any of those big names, and with only about a hundred supporters in today's event - this is a fight, the PUP can - with some embarrassment - ignore, whether it does so at its own peril will be told in time.
Party Leader John Briceno today told us that he was not involved in any way with the decision to disqualify Chavarria as a candidate. He says he did not speak with any member of the Order of Distinguished Service and had nothing to do with the decision made by the ODS.
As for the claim that money was offered to Chavarria to stand down, Briceno says he never had a discussion, quote, ABOUT ONE CENT WITH MR. CHAVVARIA - and if anyone suggests that he did, it is, quote: "absolutely a categorical lie."
Speaking generally about the situation Briceno said Chavarria should HAVE APPEALED THE DECISION if he was unhappy with it; Briceno says he CHOSE NOT TO FOLLOW THE PROCESS, so that's the end of it. The endorsement convention for Mike Espat is set for Sunday March 6th….
