Protest in Wake of Saldivar’s Suspension from P.U.P.

On Wednesday, Belize Rural North Standard Bearer, Arthur Saldivar, was suspended from the P.U.P., pending the outcome of an internal investigation scheduled for conclusion on September twelfth. Saldivar, an attorney, has been accused by former client Melonie Coye of misappropriating nine hundred and four thousand dollars. The suspension has angered Saldivar’s supporters, and today the members of the Belize Rural North executive held a peaceful, but not quiet protest in front of P.U.P. Headquarters. They demanded to see the party leader, Francis Fonseca, who wasn’t at Independence Hall, but told them that the face-to-face would not happen. According to PR for the Belize Rural North executive, Oswin Blease, the National Executive does not have the authority to suspend Saldivar.

Oswin Blease, PR Officer, Belize Rural North Executive

“We do not recognize the suspension that they claim to have given to Mister Saldivar, our duly elected standard bearer and our constitution under article twenty-five clearly states under discipline that only the constituency executive has an authority to suspend a candidate.”

Mike Rudon

“But isn’t it the executive that did that?”

Oswin Blease

Oswin Blease

“No, no, no. it is the national executive that did that; not the Belize Rural North P.U.P. executive. And that is why the Belize Rural North Executive of the party is right out here.”

Mike Rudon

“You all are here obviously defending the standard bearer, what’s your response to the allegations against him?”

Oswin Blease

“Well there is no basis to the allegations. The people of Belize Rural North look at it differently. Melonie Coye to me is a liar. Arthur Saldivar worked for her for over five or six years without any kind of rewards. At the end of the day, she is the one that owes Arthur Saldivar money and that’s how the people of Belize Rural North look at that.”

Mike Rudon

“So what would you want the party to do ideally right now? Don’t you feel that especially after what happened with Mister Penner, when the U.D.P. was accused of not doing anything against him, don’t you think that the P.U.P. felt an obligation to act swiftly?”

“Yes, I believe that there is an obligation to act decisively, but do not disrespect the executive of the Belize Rural North. It is only through the executive that that suspension should have folded. So that’s our position on that and we are here to roger that to the party leader.”