Leader of opposition John Briceño resigns
Orange Walk Central People’s United Party Leader John Briceño resigned today. Briceño became the leader of the P.U.P. in March of 2008. The Orange Walk Central standard bearer brought hopes to his party members that he could win the next General Elections against the United Democratic Party (U.D.P.). But three years and seven months later and just shy of an election, Briceño has resigned as party leader and Leader of the Opposition. Apparently from early in the week, Briceño and his inner circle have been discussing his future prior to an executive P.U.P. meeting which was slated for this morning. The executive meeting was attended by: Carolyn Trench Sandiford, Mark Espat, Cordel Hyde, Francis Fonseca, Luke Espat, and Lisa Shoman, amongst other executive members. The team was meeting to discuss the party’s finances but it seemed that Briceño had already decided to use the occasion to step aside. News Five was there when Briceño announced his resignation as he exited the Lions building located outside of the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital.
Jose Sanchez, Reporting
John Briceño
Leader of the Opposition John Briceno has been addressing issues ranging from the party’s finances to his personal finances. But Briceno says his resignation as Leader is because of health reasons.
John Briceño, Former Leader of the Opposition
“I just have a very short statement. This morning I came and tendered my resignation to the national executive. It is a decision that I made on my known. It has been because of personal health issues and reasons that I have been dealing with for the past few months.”
Not so long ago in June, a sea of blue attended Briceño’s endorsement convention in Orange Walk. The P.U.P. candidates pledged their support for the party leader.
Collet Montejo
Collet Montejo, P.U.P. Standard Bearer, Cayo Central [File: June 27th 2011]
“There is no old guard P.U.P. or no new guard P.U.P.; there is only one P.U.P.! One P.U.P.! Join together in unity standing strong behind Johnny. My fellow Belizeans, my friends, this is our moment now. From today onward, we start that march towards Belmopan; we start that march to make John Briceño our next Prime Minister and to bring in all thirty-one candidates.”
But only twenty-nine candidates were present at the convention. Notably absent were Cordell Hyde of Lake Independence and Mark Espat of the Albert Division. But as one P.U.P., today they flanked in support of Briceno, as hegave his farewell.
John Briceño
“I want to take this opportunity to thank the members of the national executive and the thousands of supporters across this country that have supported me for the past three and a half going to four years as party leader of the greatest political party this country has ever had. It has been a privilege and an honor for me to be able to serve the People’s United Party. We are all convinced—Belizeans now more than ever know that the direction that the U.D.P. has been taking this country is a wrong one: record unemployment, crime spiraling out of control, people losing hope and faith in the future and we believe that only a government of the People’s United Party can turn this around. Later in the week we are going to hold a press conference where we will be able to answer all of your questions. Thank you very much and may god continue to bless this wonderful country of Belize. Thank you.”
Mark Espat
Espat is now interim Leader of the P.U.P. and the Opposition
John Briceño
“The national executive have decided that they have set up a process—they unanimously recommended that honorable senior deputy party leader, Mark Espat, be the interim leader. A process has been set that probably within the next thirty days, the party will hold a convention to elect a new leader.
Reporting for News Five, Jose Sanchez.
While the reemergence of brothers-in-law Hyde and Espatwas expected, the absence of father and son Fort George Area Representative Said Musa and Party Chairman Henry Charles Usher was also duly noted.
If y’all didn’t see this coming years ago, you’ve been blind.
I say Lisa shoman for pm we need a true leader that is not corrupt that will be hard on crime that will bring back Belize to it’s glory days we need someone with some brains and Braun I nominate Lisa shoman for pm after all Trinidad has their first female pm and she is doing a great job so my vote goes to Lisa shoman for pm. Good luck jonny
I believe that Mr. Mark Espat can and will make a difference. Good luck and God bless. May you get the support from your party and the people.
Excellent decision. I foresee massive support for Mark Espat to eventually be elected as Party Leader and Leader of the Opposition. He and only he has the credibility of the dormant PUP supporters all over the country. And we are many; much more than the UDPs.
Now we will see what games Mark & Cordel were playing all along…..STAY TUNED.
I am disappointed. Johnny was the one who followed his conscience and resigned from cabinet when Said wanted to give UHS so much million. The puppet masters in the party did not give him a chance to make his own policies. Said-Fonseca-Marin alliance were always undermining him as they felt that they had a birth rite to lead the party. Johnny was left between a rock and a hard place because those who were opposed to his leadership and those who represented intrests which were not PUP intrests or Belizean intrests controlled the party purse and had a lot of clout. I could see that Johnny was not really all about these anti 9th bogus arguments, but you have to say what the puppet masters say. How can a man who thought it was wrong to give UHS 30 mil suddenly be against nationalization of a key player in the utilitty industry.? A business too big too fail. You cant be a political party and at the same time act as a proxy for a man who is all about business at the expense of Belizeans. I was suprised Johnny allowed himself to lead a party which did not have Belizeans at heart once they were out of power and their treacherous acts had been exposed to the nation. Johnny had made peace with the people of Belize when he resigned from cabinet because it was an admission that that governement was corrupt and he could not keep pretending that all was well. We will see whether those whom feel they have a birth rite to lead the party will show resistance to Espat’s leadership. I still feel that Cordel should not be made a key player by Espat because Cordel has the Scholarship scandal skeletons in his closet. At least Espat does not have that kind of dirt on his name.
Mark should be the next PM!!!
THE PUP IS FINISHED. I have been a PUP all my life but we must accept the fact.
You have to understand this poli game. We all have seen the direction Belize took under certain leadership – wow! there was a time I thought the entire country was going to be sold….when Briceno asked for $$$ to help the camp… what was the response????? Whose pockets are so heavy their pants cannot “stay up” even with a belt? Yr A$$es need to be exposed for the ppl to whip 24/7…… Where is all the $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$? The Belizeans want to KNOW!!! Watch out, as bad as it is right now, we do not want another leader to sell out more of our little jewel. All they want is the $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$….they do not care about the ppl! It’s all about, “What’s in this for ME,ME,ME,ME????? and ME again.”
Part of being a man is to know your limitation! A man that can make a move like this is not seeking to make himself powerful.
I just wish others who are not doing a good job would recognize their short comings and step aside too.
now that we have heard it fron the horse`s mouth, regarding foreign accounts, FIU should start investigating the recomendations of the Social Security and DFC comission of inquiry.
dis aint right
The people of Belize do not know the real purpose of Mr. Briceños resignation. However, I believe that it is timely since his leadership has not offered an adequate alternative as an opposition party for the development of Belize. The death of the R.H. George Price and the celebration of his life should serve as an example to set the principles upon which to sellect the future leader of the party and of the country. In that token, I may add that it is difficult to say who can be an adequate leader, but less difficult to say who is not. I am here referring to Mr. Musa, whose time has passed. We need experienced persons with vision, but most of all, with the sense to SERVE for the betterment of the NATION and not for HIMSELF and cronies.
Hmm now the PUP actually have a chance in the next election. Despite that Espat signed in to endless debt with the superbond, he will be a better leaeder. I wont be suprised if Musa becomes party leader again tho.
All I have to say is this, DEAN BARROW HEAD DI HAT AM RITE NOW. DI LEE UPPITY EDUCATION MINISTER IS NOW DOING A RETHINK ABOUT MASHING UP THE PUP. ALL DIS NO DI HAPPEN FI CHANCE. GO MARK ESPAT GO. AND ALL A UNU SKEPTICS BOUT MARK, JUST LISTEN TO DI RENEWED ENERGY IN DI CALL BEING MADE TO DI PUP RADIO STATION. U CAN HEAR DI ENERGY NOW IN PEOPLE’S VOICES. REALLY BARROW HEAD DI HAT AM RITE NOW
Perhaps Mark Espat will bring the old values of Mr. George Price back into our beloved Country. We all need another Hero!
its the same circus my fellow Belizean, just a different clown…….do u want to joing the existing circus currently in power or the other circus that got voted out….
we need change an we need a complete change not for worse but for better.. we need a real body (wont say party) of honest hard working Belizean that want to see the best for the jewel…..
most of us belizean just wants hand outs….look at spanish lookout! these people came here after us and work their asdfadsfsd out and now look at their community.. like states.. cause they work hard and their leaders are not corrupt. look at the big stores and supermarket and infrastructures…..y? these people sweat and they have/elect honest leaders.
Most of us Belizeans need to wake up and put on our thinking caps…..we need to work and be creative dont depend on the clown that u voted for. if he is a tru leader he will work for the community no matter which colors living there…….
mennonit man raise the chicken. the chinese man fry it and the poor ole lazy asd#@#% Belizean go buy it from the money eh just steal…
Channel 7news was right when they said that a tremor was felt when the announcement was made about Johnny’s resignation and Mark being the interim leader. They were right cause they were trembling like leaf. Seismic shift for real in Barrows tactics against the PUP. Real shaking. Barrow now gat a formidable opponent to speak up to him back. ALL PUP’S …. GIVE FULL SUPPORT TO MARK ESPAT. SEE Barrow cant tie him to anything now. He now have to come up with new moanings about the PUP now under the leadership of Mark. Look how Mark luv up his Albert constituents. Now Mark Espat don’t know me but I am one of the OBSERVERS observing this whole politricking No more bullying of the opposition leader anymore.. U GET U MATCH BREDDA
kudos to johnny for being able to be a man and step down amidst all his revealing hullabaloo’s. no other party leader has done so, all others have clawed and fought to stay in (eg, zenaida), but it takes cojones to resign and admit wrong.
i think johnny was never a leader tho, he never spoke with conviction the way that musa, price, or esquivekl spoke. maybe mark can light a fire.
From the very beginning I wanted Mark Espat to be the next leader of the PUP before they voted for Johnny as the leader after Mr. Musa. Mark is a brave up-front person some-what as our current Prime Minister, Mr Barrow. I know that Mark can blazer a huge fire and not only sparks as Johnny did.
hahaha Rod nominating now? “well i tell u” what a no brainer indeed.
Interesting to note a change in Rod’s tone of voice!!! lol