Arthur Saldivar to Reapply for P.U.P. Belmopan Convention
Attorney Arthur Saldivar’s application for an injunction to stop the P.U.P.’s Belmopan convention was not heard today. In fact, the application has been withdrawn following the party’s announcement three days ago that Saldivar would be allowed reapply. At a press conference on Tuesday, Party Chairman Henry Charles Usher said that the party had decided to further postpone the convention to the end of August. When he applies, Saldivar’s second application will go before the P.U.P.’s Vetting Committee which will either allow or deny his candidacy. While Saldivar has withdrawn the injunction, he is still asking the court to instruct the party to reimburse him more than two hundred thousand dollars which he says he spent on campaigning. The attorney told News Five via telephone today that he is holding firm to the substantive claim.
Arthur Saldivar, Applicant for PUP Belmopan Convention
“I have opted to take up the offer to re-submit my application and vie for the candidacy for Standard Bearer for Belmopan.”
Hipolito Novelo
“So just to be clear, the claim was not been withdrawn or struck out?”
Arthur Saldivar
“No man. No. The substantive claim is the basis on which the injunction was being sought. But the substantive claim is not being addressed yet. Only the injunction would have been addressed today. There is no need for an injunction anymore. I am still holding firm to my belief that has been deduced to writing in the claim. Today was only to address the interim ready, the injunction which is no longer necessary which is no longer necessary by virtue of the concessions made by the party.”
Hipolito Novelo
“So the substantial claim remains and the request for the injunction no longer exist?”
Arthur Saldivar
“It no longer exists because the convention has been stopped. There is no convention this Sunday. The convention will be held in August and there is an application period open to the thirteenth of July. So for the most part a great portion what was being sought has now been addressed. The only other aspect which is of equal or greater importance is the issue of constitutionality and the respect and adherence to the constitution that is being challenged by virtue of the claim that was launched. This issue is bigger than me. It has to do with what was being expected if somebody else applies that for some reason a trustee or some trustees in influential position does not favor. It cannot be that we have one set of rules for one person and a different set of rules for another person. The constitution is an objection standard that should apply across the board for all persons who are members of the party.”
If Saldivar’s application to contest the P.U.P.’s Belmopan Convention is successful, he will go against Belmopan aspirants Oscar Mira, Pat Weizman and Michelle Rodriguez. The convention is scheduled to take place on August twenty-sixth.
