UDP chairman Alberto August & standard bearer John August allegedly asks councilors to step down

Alberto August

While the abrupt resignation of Joseph Mahmud from the House of Representatives has forced a bye-election in Cayo North, internal squabbling within the Santa Familia village council has resulted in the mass resignation of at least four councilors.  According to Chief Elections Officer Josephine Tamai, the Ministry of Local Government has tendered a request to the Elections and Boundaries Department for a similar exercise to be held in the wake of their departure.  Four of the seven elected officers stepped down from their respective posts in November, amid infighting within the politically divided council.  Despite attempts by the ministry to bring both sides together in an attempt to mend fences, the resignations were forthwith.  Irbin Tun, Yuri Obando, Rafael Humes Junior and Juanita Carillo have all handed in their notice, alleging that U.D.P. chairman Alberto August and standard bearer John August asked them to resign since they did not support the mayor’s candidacy for Cayo Northeast.  This evening, Tamai confirmed that while the department is in receipt of four signed letters of resignation, there are indeed five councilors who are stepping down.  A meeting will be held on Wednesday to decide on a date and finalize the process for the bye-elections.