U.D.P. Chairman Speaks on Saldivar’s Resignation
This afternoon, U.D.P. Chairman Michael Peyrefitte responded to the events of the day by saying that Prime Minister Barrow was duty-bound to request Saldivar’s resignation, but that the beleaguered Belmopan Area Representative only tendered his walking papers because of the overwhelming impact of the scandal on the U.D.P. He says an urgent meeting, including the PM and the newly-elected executives, will take place in the days ahead to chart a way forward.
Michael Peyrefitte, Chairman, United Democratic Party
“The party leader asked him to resign and he chose to resign in the best interest of the party, in John’s view. It had to have been tough for him, we had a full and frank discussion this morning in the Cabinet room. It was tough for everybody but John decided that it was in the best interest of everybody in the party while maintaining his innocence completely in the matter, to step down at this time. Where we are right now, we never had a new leader that took office. Prime Minister Barrow is still the leader, was the leader on Sunday and was the leader today, yesterday and Monday. So, he’s leaving and we have to now think about possibility of having another convention just for leader. We may decide as a party, the delegates may decide “listen, we could choose, we could come to a consensus and choose a leader in the spirit of efficiency.” Anyone of these things can happen, but right now anything can happen in terms of the normal process before Sunday. People can apply to be the leader and of course under the U.D.P. constitution anyone from the National Assembly can express their interest in becoming leader or now maybe the Honorable Hugo Patt or the Honorable Beverly Williams, having been elected on Sunday, could decide that they now want that leadership spot. It’s absolutely wide open. The new leadership of the party, including myself, Alberto August, the Honorable Hugo Patt, the Honorable Beverly Williams and the Prime Minister will have to sit down along with the central party executive committee, the national party council and then we have to decide in what direction we will move. That’s what we have to do at this point.”