P.U.P. gets election petition against Mark King

Anthony Sylvestre

Chief Justice Benjamin also heard the motion for an election petition against Mark King, area rep for Lake Independence on Tuesday.  Arguments presented by Attorneys Lisa Shoman and Denys Barrow started at three and ended at six-thirty.  Shoman, who represented Martin Galvez, argued that King should have been disqualified because he did not disclose contracts that his company, Brint’s Security Services, had obtained to provide protection for the Charles Hyde building in Belize City and the Sales Tax Office in San Ignacio. Barrow attacked the procedural errors presented by Shoman. Both attorneys were not present in court today when the decision was handed down and Attorney Anthony Sylvester received the ruling on behalf of Shoman. Martin Galvez was not present today either but his sister Yolanda Schakron, who also wanted to run for Lake Independence, was there to receive the news. But does she want to be the candidate for Lake I and replace Galvez? She said it was still his show. Sylvestre explained the ruling.

Anthony Sylvestre, Attorney for Martin Galvez

“It’s just a preliminary hurdle, but a very important preliminary hurdle as the attorney for the respondent, Mr. Barrow had argued that it is the court’s duty in this regard to act like a constitutional filter so to speak—to filter out cases that were unmeritorious, were frivolous, vexatious. So clearly it is vindication in some respects that clearly the case does have merit and the issue to whether in fact that contract signed by Mark King with the Government of Belize—whether that in fact is a contract which is on account and for the public service. That is the issue which will be determined in the trial and it is a very important issue. The issue hasn’t been adjudicated on; there is no judicial precedence wit it specifically in Belize so it’s a win situation for not only the applicants, but for the country as well because from here on, we will be able to have some judicial guidance as how to deal with these the issues. And post election we will know how to approach matters of this nature when they arise again.”

Rowland Park, Reporter

“Mister Sylvestre, the P.U.P. indicated that they more petitions to file. Can you say more or less how many more petitions are to be filed?”

Anthony Sylvestre

“It’s not a situation that there are more petitions, but clearly there are issues which do exist in other constituencies, but we have a timeline. Let me answer it this way; if nothing is filed by next week Tuesday which is the tenth of April that then that will be the end of it nuh.”

Jose Sanchez

“On behalf of your brother, why you felt this was necessary?”

Yolanda Schakron

Yolanda Schakron, Sister of Martin Galvez

“This was necessary because obviously in the constitution it says that Mark King should have made it public about his company. So we believe that we had the right to come to court and ask for this leave and we won it today and I want to say thanks to all the people who were out there praying for us and all the support that we have gotten. I’ve talked to people of Lake I. We still have hope. I’ve gotten a lot of complaints; [that] they have not seen their Area Representative Mark King. So I want to tell them and assure them that there is still hope and we will continue the fight.”

Jose Sanchez

“Do you think this can go as far as a by-election? Do you think you could muster votes if it should ever reach that stage?”

Yolanda Schakron

“Yes, we belief that if it ever reaches there, we will work and we will ensure that we will win this seat for the People’s United Party.”

Adele Ramos, Amandala Press

“So do you see yourself being a candidate if there is a by-election?”

Yolanda Schakron

“I’m not sure about that yet. Right now this is my brother and it is still his show and we will see as the time comes, we will see what happens.”

So tonight there are two election petitions from P.U.P. to proceed to hearing and one set into motion by the U.D.P. No date has been set but the P.U.P. has indicated that it may file more petitions by the deadline which they estimate to be Tuesday April tenth.