Delegate Fired By Beverly Castillo over Vote

There is a backlash to the election of Patrick Faber as first deputy leader, which is being felt across the United Democratic Party.  Ladyville resident Ingrid Hernandez is an avid supporter and had been employed by Area Representative Beverly Castillo as a campaigner in Belize Rural Central.  She claims she worked tirelessly for Castillo to win a seat in that constituency during the last general election and for that she was selected as a delegate on Sunday.  Hernandez alleges that she is being victimized by Castillo who reportedly terminated her employment on suspicion that she voted in favor of Patrick Faber.  As you would know, Castillo is a supporter of the Saldivar camp and his loss over the weekend has led many, including the BRC area rep, to believe that they were betrayed by their delegates.  Disgruntled and frustrated, Hernandez visited our office earlier today to express her disappointment.

Ingrid Hernandez

Ingrid Hernandez, Disgruntled U.D.P. Delegate

“I have been served with a letter from my area representative for Belize Rural Central, Beverly Castillo, to demit office today.  Her reason for doing it is because she believes in her heart that I had voted for the Honorable Patrick Faber.  And all during the campaign leading up to the convention I had been supporting John Saldivar because she is my area rep and she has been supporting John Saldivar.  I have been on tours from north, south, east and west along with these people.  I have neglected my home, my children, my husband to be on tour with them and on Sunday when the convention was being held, and I know that the nation is well aware that the Honorable Patrick Faber has won, and because of the amount of votes that he had received they are assuming that I voted or I have supported Patrick Faber.  Sir, I don’t agree with the way and the strategy that Beverly Castillo has done this because I am U.D.P. supporter for many years, a diehard U.D.P. supporter, and I have worked for Ms. Beverly from the time she was a standard bearer to this present moment.  I have campaigned for her tirelessly day and night, in the rain, in the hot sun, Sunday to Sunday, so she can be where she is.  Village Council Election is coming up, I would have been on the ground working for her and for me to be served with a letter today that I have to demit office is very hurtful.  It hurts me because I have done Beverly Castillo no wrong.  This is a U.D.P. family and I have the right to vote for [whomsoever] I choose and she cannot assume that I have voted for Patrick Faber because she does not know who I voted for.  She cannot assume that or point to me and say, “you have supporter Honorable Patrick Faber.”  We are one U.D.P. family.  Beverly Castillo, along with John Saldivar and Patrick Faber are all cabinet colleagues.  When they are in cabinet I will be right out here still struggling to make my ends meet.  It hurts me so bad what Beverly Castillo has done and she did not have the decency to come and give me the letter herself.  She sent her driver with it this morning to the office and the amazing thing about it is that she was at the office yesterday.  She could have called me in the room and spoke to me woman to woman and told me what was her concern or how she felt and I would have told her.  I would have told her, “Miss Beverly this is what I have done.”  I don’t see what is the bickering.  We are one party, that is what makes Belize.  Belize is a democratic country, we noh live eena wahn communist country weh people dictate to you.  I believe that as a democratic party you have the right to choose whom you want.  This is not against the P.U.P., this is a U.D.P. convention.  What is the problem?  What is the bickering?  It looks so bad and it makes me feel bad sir because I have worked for Beverly in Belize Rural Central and many people in Ladyville could attest to that, that I have worked hard for Beverly Castillo and the U.D.P.  In return this is what I will receive, a letter to demit office immediately because the area representative believes in her heart that I voted for the Honorable Patrick Faber?”