MoHW Says No to U.D.P. Convention in Belmopan

Plans for a U.D.P. convention to select a caretaker for Belmopan have been rejected by the Minister of Health and Wellness who has cited concerns about large social gatherings, amid a third wave of COVID-19 infections.  Former area representative John Saldivar was set to run against former mayor Khalid Belisle this Sunday in an event that was to be held at the University of Belize Gymnasium.  On August fourth, a letter was sent to the Acting Director of Health Services, Doctor Francis Morey, informing him of the upcoming convention.  While constituency chairman Ismael ‘Miley’ Garcia gave assurances that all COVID protocols would be followed, a recent letter from Minister Michel Chebat says the planned convention is not being supported for several reasons under the Public Health Act that deals with prevention of the spread of infectious diseases.  News Five spoke by phone with U.D.P. Chairman Mike Peyrefitte earlier today.

On the Phone: Michael Peyrefitte, Chairman, United Democratic Party

“Apparently, I’m assuming that the chairman of the Belmopan constituency wrote to the Ministry of Health because of the Minister of Health wrote to him informing him that they would advise against having it.  Now that is a letter that’s an important letter and we have to consider it because we have to be responsible and we are a responsible party, so now the party has to sit down and discuss at length a schedule for carrying out our conventions that have to be completed within a certain time.  And so, with that letter we are not going to ignore a letter from the Ministry of Health.  So now we have to, as I said, plan the way forward in consideration of the concerns by the Ministry of Health and we have to work along with them, I would guess, to determine when are good times to have these events.  But like I said, the party has to discuss it some more and once we have discussed it then we will come to a decision on it.”