Is Gapi Returning to Electoral Politics in Orange Walk North?

Gaspar Vega

Is disgraced U.D.P. politician and former Deputy Prime Minister Gaspar Vega mounting a political comeback ahead of the November 2020 general elections?  Over the weekend, Orange Walk North Standard Bearer Homero Novelo stepped down from his campaign and cited personal reasons for that decision.  His resignation comes at a time when Gapi Vega is also increasing his presence on the ground in his constituency.  While nothing has been formalized, his colleague Pickstock Area Representative Wilfred ‘Sedi’ Elrington today confirmed that Vega met him briefly very recently and expressed to him that he plans on becoming active in politics once again.  Vega has been dormant in the House of Representatives since being sacked by the Barrow Administration in the wake of a land scandal involving his son Andre Vega in 2016.  It is also of note that Vega is a strong political ally of leadership candidate John Saldivar who is challenging the seat upon the prime minister’s departure in early 2020. Here’s what Elrington said about the brief encounter.

Wilfred Elrington

Wilfred ‘Sedi’ Elrington, Area Representative, Pickstock

“Actually I have met him, he had stopped in one afternoon at the building where I am at St. Mark Street and he spoke to me very briefly and if I can recall what he said was that he was proposing to become much more politically active.  Which I thought was a good thing.  He’s a young man, he has a lot of competence and he spends a lot of time with those people.  He wants to assist, he wants to continue to assist the nation and so I thought it was a good gesture on his part.  We all have an obligation to try to keep this Jewel pristine and safe.”

Isani Cayetano

“But did you get the sense from him that he would be offering himself for candidacy once again?”

Wilfred ‘Sedi’ Elrington

“We didn’t speak long enough.  He told me he would be coming or going to become active in the constituency and the like, but the specific question as to whether he himself was putting himself forward we didn’t reach that extent.”

Reporter

“It is notable to me that he intentionally stopped in to visit you though, because in the past he’s been deputy leader of the party, perhaps he’s trying to pitch in for leader now that Dean Barrow is leaving…”

Wilfred ‘Sedi’ Elrington

“I don’t know, he didn’t make any pitch to me for support for leadership but he and I have always been cordial.”