Disgraced Politician Melvin Hulse Still Has a Place in Stann Creek West

Melvin Hulse

Melvin Hulse stepped down as standard bearer for the U.D.P. less than a week ago after apologizing profusely to the Prime Minister for allegations made against his boss. In a resignation letter ending his political career in a less than spectacular way, Hulse put forward the name of a likely successor in the constituency in the person of Nathan Young. But by the weekend, at least two other hopefuls surfaced to fill the void. One is Walter Garbutt, a former Independence school principal and the other Delroy Cutkelvin who once aspired to represent the constituency, but pulled out of the convention race at the last minute. It is not known when a convention is to be held or if there will be one, but from the looks of it, the field is getting crowded. But Hulse is not exactly out in the cold because on Friday, the PM said, that there is still a place for Hulse in the U.D.P.

Dean Barrow

Prime Minister Dean Barrow

“You know, it’s a real pity.  As I said to you on Monday in Dangriga, everything that Melvin said could have been forgiven.  We all bad talk one another and it’s a real shame that what he said privately was recorded but in terms of the tape recording, everything, as far as I am concerned, was fair game and fair comment except for the allegation in terms of Mahmud and Ivan Ramos.  And Lord mad, Melvin said it with such authority and as he conceded afterwards, he knew that that was absolute nonsense.  But I know Melvin Hulse and I’ve known him for years and years.  There’s not a mean bone in his body you know.  There is no malice where Melvin is concerned, he loves to mouth of and when he is disgruntled he will mouth off even more and so I certainly hold absolutely nothing against him for what he said.  He took the decision; his executive people in Stann Creek West were upset.  He took the decision that that tape would come back to haunt him during any campaign that he would pursue for Stann Creek West and so he decided that the best thing was for him to resign.  I can tell you that, he and I have spoken and we will meet and going forward we will find a role for Melvin to play in the constituency in support of whoever was chosen to be the new standard bearer.”