Former P.M. says UDP will win on the issues
The United Democratic Party continued to present candidates seeking to be standard bearers in the next general elections. This morning, at a press conference at party headquarters, Glen Leslie was unveiled as a UDP aspirant in the Lake Independence division. Leslie, a businessman and lecturer in U.B.’s engineering department, is a newcomer to politics. If he does succeed in winning the nomination he will face an uphill battle against the incumbent area representative and Minister of Education, Cordel Hyde. Introducing Leslie was former Prime Minister Manuel Esquivel. News 5’s Stewart Krohn asked the former leader what his party’s strategy will be in view of the PUP’s current twenty-six to three majority in the House.
Manuel Esquivel, Former Prime Minister
“Obviously we recognise the obstacles ahead. And really, I don’t think we’re that worried about the twenty-six to three. I don’t think that’s a major problem. I think the major problem that we’re seeing is the humongous accumulation of wealth of the other party in these last few years, which is something that we’ll have to fight. Obviously we cannot fight it dollar for dollar. We’ll have to fight it on the issues, more importantly we’ll have to fight it in specifics of what this party as the government is going to do. We have to be realistic, we have to be believable, we have to be practical, and we have to be able to prove to the voter that what we say we will do to correct the situation is achievable. “
Stewart Krohn
“It appears that money is growing increasingly important in the electoral process. While you can bemoan that fact, you still got to deal with it. What is the UDP strategy for amassing the war chest that it will undoubtedly need to effectively contest the elections?”
Manuel Esquivel
“We have no plans to match the PUP dollar for dollar as I said. That is impossible. We’re talking about millions of dollars here and you’re not sure if it’s individual members or the party. Well it’s both because what the individual members are amassing is to use in the next campaign.”
Stewart Krohn
“What role will Manuel Esquivel play in the next elections?”
Manuel Esquivel
“Manuel Esquivel will help the party to win the next elections in any way he can?”
Esquivel was substituting this morning for party leader Dean Barrow, who was tied up in court.
