Will Mark Espat step down from Albert?

Mark Espat

So tonight the People’s United Party is in search for a new standard bearer for the Lake Independence constituency, a party stronghold in the past three elections. Fonseca says it is likely that Mark Espat will also step down.

Francis Fonseca, Party Leader, P.U.P.

“There was some level of anticipation regarding this decision.  I had heard from other people that he had been considering it.  He and I had an exchange last week that I think reflected some of that thinking and I knew about his son’s illness and I knew how grave the matter was and how conflicted he felt about it.  So yes, I think, certainly for the past ten days or so I personally have been anticipating this decision.”

Isani Cayetano

“The electorate and the public at large, whenever the name Cordel comes up they think Mark Espat as well.  The two go hand in hand one may think.  Are you at all concerned as the leader of the People’s United Party that another such resignation is forthcoming from the Albert area standard bearer?”

Francis Fonseca

Francis Fonseca

“Sure.  I think I have to expect that that may very well happen.  It has not happened as yet but I have to anticipate that it may happen.  Certainly I got no indication from Cordel Hyde that there was any direct relationship or contact with respect to this decision with Albert [standard bearer Mark Espat].  But certainly, I will certainly have to anticipate that that may happen and that we have to prepare for that.  We have to prepare for that eventuality, you know, so if that happens we will likewise have to take deliberate action, take decisive action.  I certainly hope it does not happen.  I would very much like for Mark Espat to be a part of our team, thirty-one, going into the elections.  Again, he has been a very strong and effective representative for the people of Albert and certainly would have delivered and would deliver and will deliver, I believe, a very strong victory for the People’s United Party in the Albert Division come March seventh. I’m very confident and my confidence lies not only in the work that has already been done.  We have done a lot of work in terms of groundwork at the constituency level putting in place our constituency campaign infrastructure and our machinery for Election Day.  But also my confidence really comes from the people because everywhere we go the sense is that people are waiting.  People are waiting, people want change.  Yes they want to have confidence in the People’s United Party.  They want to know that we are going to be an effective, credible government and when we have these setbacks that doesn’t help us in that regard but my confidence rests in them, the Belizean people because they are the ones hurting.  It is clear that they want change and so our mandate over the next five weeks is to take that message very clearly to them one of change.”

Various names are being called but from what we know, there is still no decision on a successor in Lake I.