Arthur Saldivar: “I Am Not a Petulant Child”

Arthur Saldivar

The meeting took place at the party’s headquarters on Queen Street where we found Saldivar waiting for the decision of the national executive. He says he is standing up for his right to contest the P.U.P.’s Belmopan Convention. Saldivar asserted that the P.U.P.’s Vetting Committee did not follow due process.

Arthur Saldivar, Political Aspirant

“I am not a petulant child, Hipolito. I am a mature, seasoned attorney at law who is aspiring to represent a constituency in Belmopan comprised of persons of various political ilk; PUP, UDP, VIP and whatever other ‘p’ I may not remember to mention. In that regard I must exhibit the level of maturity expected of a leader or a person aspiring for leadership. I was I invited to come and attend a meeting with the executive. I did so in good faith. This was done after the so called Vetting Committee had met and issued a letter, which came from the executive, denying my application. So there is no change in that position but that position was come to by way of a defective process. I was not afforded due process. As an attorney at law I advocate on behalf of my clients. Anyone who has their rights infringed on or violated, I cannot in good faith hold myself out in that capacity if I do not recognized what my rights are and stand up for my rights. I was asked to give a presentation to why I seek candidacy for Belmopan which I did for five minutes. I was asked to wait until they deliberated and gave a decision. The media was invited up. I am still here waiting and I will not wait any longer. I am leaving now as I have been given clear indication where this is going. There is no need for me to be here.”

Hipolito Novelo

“This is after the Vetting Committee rejected your application. This is after the Leader of the P.U.P. said that you were not fit. This is after many people in the P.U.P. said you were not fit that they would call you to make a presentation on your candidacy again?”

Arthur Saldivar

“Yes. It is kind of model, I understand. It is kind of confusing, I know. This is how this leadership operates. There is an old nursery rhyme from back in the day, the Grand old Duke of York. He had ten thousand men. He marched them up to the top of the hill and march them down again. When they were up, they were up. When they were down, they were down. When they only half way up, they were neither up nor down. That is the John Briceño leadership, neither up nor down.”

The confirmed candidates are Oscar Mira, Pat Weizman, and Michelle Rodriguez.