Support for Marco Tulio Mendez Despite Legal Drama

The political, professional and familial demise of P.U.P. Orange Walk East area representative, Doctor Marco Tulio Mendez, continues to unravel.  On Tuesday, the pediatrician, who was elected in 2012, was arraigned on four counts of aggravated assault and two counts of common assault of an indecent nature.  Those charges succeed allegations by two minors that he inappropriately touched them.  While the matter is now before the courts, the fallout is undoubtedly affecting Mendez. The P.U.P. issued a release following his arraignment removing him as chairman of the northern caucus and suspending him from political activities.  But Mendez has the support of Orange Walk Central colleague, John Briceño at this difficult time for the doctor.  This morning, Briceño reaffirmed his support for Mendez and spoke highly of the doctor’s replacement in the constituency.

John Briceño, Area Representative, Orange Walk Central

“Marco Tulio is my friend, he is my colleague and that we need to think about the human element about this.  We need to think that here is a family, the entire Mendez family, they are going through a trauma, it is a very difficult time for them and that I think that all of us, including you journalists should also be praying for them, praying for Doctor Mendez, praying for the children and praying for the entire family that hopefully someday soon that whatever troubles that they have, whatever hurts that they have that they can mend and that they can heal the hurt that they are going through.”

John Briceño

Isani Cayetano

“As someone who has been on the ground here in Orange Walk Town, a seasoned politician at that, what do you foresee can be the political ramifications of what is happening with Dr. Marco Tulio Mendez and the Orange Walk East constituency?”

John Briceño

“Well I don’t think I’m in a position to answer that at this time.  I can tell you that Dr. Mendez decided on his own not to run for reelection and because of that decision of his the party decided that we needed to find a new standard bearer.  We had a convention, I think it’s going to about two weeks and a half ago in Orange Walk East.  Over two thousand, one hundred and fifty people came out to vote for a new standard bearer in record time, in less than a month of campaigning during the Christmas and the New Year’s season.  The U.D.P. was campaigning for about six months and they spent an obscene amount of money to try to get two thousand, three hundred people to vote.  Us, with less than a month, with very little money, got two thousand, one hundred and fifty people to come out and vote and that goes to show you that the People’s United Party is strong in Orange Walk East and that whenever the prime minister decides to call the general elections that the people of Orange Walk East they are going to vote for our new standard bearer which is Mr. Josue Carballo.  I have every confidence that he will be elected whenever they call the elections.”