Is G-11 an Issue for Johnny B in Orange Walk?

John Briceño

Briceño is confident of victory at the polls, and as a veteran of consecutive successful battles there is some justification for that confidence. Still, there are issues which certainly must come up on the campaign trail…like the G-eleven, for example. That body of Standard Bearers agitated for change within the P.U.P. before coming back into the fold. Briceño, who was a part of the G-eleven, told News Five the question doesn’t come up much but when it does he’s happy to explain.

John Briceño, P.U.P. Candidate, OW Central

“It is important to point out to the people that it was not an issue of leadership. It was simply an issue of matters that needed to be discussed within the Party. We felt strongly that there needed to be a National Convention. The Constitution requires a National Convention every two years…the last one was in 2010. We were saying that the National Executive was too big and unwieldy. You have fifty people in a room and can’t get anything done. And thirdly we were saying on the issues of policy…that we have to put more work, more consultation and more openness in setting up the policies of the P.U.P.  So those were the three issues. The Party Leader then met with us in Boom about three, four weeks ago, and it is at that meeting that he fully understood that it is not about the leadership. It is about these issues, about the Party. And he understood where we were coming from and we agreed to do those things…that we needed to do it. Unfortunately the Prime Minister decided to call elections. We had decided that the issues needed to be addressed, let’s work together, we have to win. It is not about the individuals, it is about the people. It is about the country. They come first, and that is why we are working together as a team and we have every confidence that we will be able to form the government.”