Fonseca’s Leadership is Unchallenged

Henry Charles Usher

The letter signed by twelve standard-bearers focused prominence on a call for a national convention. While it wasn’t exactly spelled out in so many words, the explicit message being sent is a vote of no confidence in the leadership of Fonseca, and the call for a convention is so that Fonseca can be challenged, likely by former P.U.P. leader John Briceño. That’s not going to happen – at least not before the end of the year, and probably not before general elections.

Henry Charles Usher, Chairman, People’s United Party

“The constitution of the Party says that the national executive of the party sets policy. The national executive, the majority that was here today voted in favour—in fact, unanimously—voted in favour of a national convention not being contested.”

Francis Fonseca

Francis Fonseca, P.U.P. Leader

“I want to say on that issue as well. I want to make it absolutely clear that I did this both at the last joint meeting of the standard bearers and the national executive and today again. I want to make it absolutely clear. I am not afraid of any convention. I have placed my leadership on the table; it is a matter for these bodies to then determine how best we move forward in the interest of our party; not anybody else’s agenda, not Mister Barrow’s agenda or anybody else’s agenda. I have made it absolutely clear to everyone in the party who was here today, that my leadership is on the table; they must determine what is in the best interest of the party. If they had decided that we needed to go to a contested convention so be it. That would have been the decision of the party. So I want to make it absolutely clear so that no mischief is made—because I know you’re mischievous—no mischief is made on that issue. That was tabled and the party had a robust discussion about it and the party voted on it. We voted on it twice and that is the decision of the national executive of the party. And I must say that at our very recent national party council in July fourth in Dangriga, that issue was again on the floor a unanimous support for the leadership of the party. So it is these individuals who you see here today who have asked me to continue to leader People’s United Party. I am on no agenda, I have no ego on this matter. I am here to serve the party and I am prepared to do so with the support of the party.”

Henry Charles Usher

“We give them the benefit of the doubt Mike to say that listen, they had concerns, they sent in a letter. There is no special agenda; they are operating and this is what they believe in.”

Pickstock standard bearer Francis Smith and Belize Rural North Standard Bearer Lloyd Jones signed onto the G-twelve letter, were present and accounted for today. In the next few days, the P.U.P. Leader goes on national tour and it is left to be seen if or not those who did not turn up with be part of that.