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In other news, yesterday, Gilroy Usher said it was "ovah" for Anthony "Boots" Martinez, but tonight Martinez said it's far from that.
In a press release Usher issued, he celebrated the failure of the recall petition, since the signatures were supposed to be handed in on September 8th. However, while that was the deadline that Martinez had set for himself, he held a press conference today to clarify that the petition is still very much alive - and even has a catchy new jingle.
Courtney Menzies was there and has this story.
If former Port Loyola area rep, Anthony "Boots" Martinez, seems a little hyped up, that's because he is.
While his successor, Gilroy Usher, claimed that the recall petition Martinez launched back in June had failed, today Martinez said it's not "ovah" yet.
Anthony "Boots" Martinez, Former Area Rep, Port Loyola
"I will be honest with you, that is the most dunciest representative I've ever seen in the National Assembly. You're a lawmaker, sir, how will you be taking a victory lap on something that you have no control over, as the law speculates."
"We have reached the threshold, a little over what we believe to be the threshold but because of the misinformation and because of certain things happening in the constituency, we have decided to move forward until we get at least 50% of the constituency."
"It's a little over the threshold."
Reporter:
"But no specifics?"
Anthony "Boots" Martinez, Former Area Rep, Port Loyola
"No, it's a little over the threshold. See them here."
"A matter of fact, I brought it out casually and I need to make sure that I had extra security where I brought it from my stash pot, so they don't rob it."
And Martinez explained why he decided to extend the submission date to October 2nd, despite being adamant on a September 8th deadline two months ago.
Anthony "Boots" Martinez, Former Area Rep, Port Loyola
"The 8th of September or the 9th of September I had promised to delivered the petition and let me tell you this, in the words of the late Mr Lindo, you know what Mr Lindo said? The man that gives his word and cannot take it back, is not the man. Circumstances changed and so we have extended within the law the time frame and so as we speak there is enough, a little above the threshold, but we will go on because the mandate is to get enough signatures, at least to the amount of what Gilroy Usher and Phillip Willoughby get in the last election."
"The deadline is set by law, I made a promise, that is a next thing, that is not law. The deadline is set by law."
Reporter:
"But you said it's a promise. Promises are not supposed to be taken lightly, you were supposed to work extra hard to get it done by then."
Anthony "Boots" Martinez, Former Area Rep, Port Loyola
"But promises are made to be broken too! "
So Martinez is hoping for about 1,000 more signatures in two and a half weeks, and while he claims there are PUP supporters who have supported the petition, he says the UDP standard bearer hasn't.
Anthony "Boots" Martinez, Former Area Rep, Port Loyola
"If it was left to Mr Willoughby and a definitive deadline was slated for the 8th of September and we didn't reach the threshold, he would be a part of not reaching the threshold. We reach a little bit over the threshold without Mr Willoughby signature. Obviously he might be one of the constituents of Port Loyola who believes Gilroy Usher is doing a good job when other people believe differently. So my message to him and Gilroy Usher, take your victory lap, Philip Willloughby, half lap with he, and hug up yourselves and bawl because what you were hoping for won't happen so hug up yourselves and bawl now."
"Listen to me, I will tell you this, this is what the two of them are afraid of… eh, eh, this is what they're afraid for, the paper, this is what the two of them are afraid for, eh, eh."
And Martinez is confident that even without Willoughby, he'll meet his goal - and he's got the marketing to back it up. He launched his new song, appropriately titled "O.W.T," and of course, there's also the merch.
Anthony "Boots" Martinez, Former Area Rep, Port Loyola
"We are launching the song today and of course we will remodel this song to include Mr Willoughby."
Reporter:
"Do you think your expert marketing, that is helping to drive the petition forward so you can get the signatures?"
Anthony "Boots" Martinez, Former Area Rep, Port Loyola
"It's not only the drive get the petition forward, the message is out there."
And according to Martinez, it's not until the recall convention that things will truly be "ovah."
Martinez's them song, named "O-W-T" is penned and performed by DJ Morgan.
