P.U.P. Leader Says Vega’s Departure is a Good Thing

Gaspar Vega

Why did very powerful Deputy Prime Minister Gaspar Vega decide to give up politics? That’s the million dollar question right now. The last time we interviewed Vega he told us that he would be making a play for the top spot when Prime Minister Dean Barrow gives it up at the end of this term. But he won’t, because in a letter to the U.D.P. Secretariat he has made it clear that he will not put in his name as First Deputy Party Leader at the U.D.P. endorsement Convention on March twentieth. And he will not contest the next general elections. So how do you go from leadership aspirations in one month to throwing in the towel the next? P.U.P. Leader John Briceño told News Five he doesn’t know, but it’s not exactly the worst news the Party could get. 

John Briceño, P.U.P. Leader

“It was quite surprising. Yes we know that the Deputy Prime Minister was very upset with the new configuration of the Cabinet, especially when he found out that he had been removed from the Ministry of Natural Resources. Since that day he has been upset and it seems he has not been able to get his way. I believe that he thinks that the only thing he can do is to be able to resign to make sure that the Prime Minister and people in his party understand how upset he is. I haven’t been able to speak to him or to any of his people to find out what really is going on…not that he would tell me.”

John Briceño

Mike Rudon

“How will this change the political dynamic in Orange Walk?”

John Briceño

“Well it certainly makes it easier for us. We need to recognize that the Hon. Gaspar Vega as the leader of the U.D.P. in the North has had some successes and he has been very strong in his division in Orange Walk North. Ramon Cervantes Jr. has made tremendous gain in this election, yet we still have quite some ways to go to get to the finish line, to be able to win. But now with Gaspar Vega out of the way and a new candidate being presented by the U.D.P. for orange Walk North, I have every confidence that the P.U.P. can and will win that division.”