Boots Says Threshold to Unseat Port Loyola Area Rep Has Been Met
Anthony ‘Boots’ Martinez
Anthony ‘Boots’ Martinez represented the constituents of Port Loyola for several terms in the National Assembly. Tonight, he is a man on a mission, intent on ousting his political successor from office. On Wednesday, Gilroy Usher Senior issued statement in which he said that a recall petition led by Martinez failed to meet the minimum number of signatures necessary to trigger a recall mechanism that would ultimately see Usher’s office being challenged. The release goes on to say, “now that the residents of Port Loyola have soundly rejected the recall petition of “Boots” Martinez against Honorable Gilroy Usher, Gilroy Usher and the P.U.P. Port Loyola Committee invite Boots Martinez and his few supporters to join their efforts”. But Martinez says, not so fast, it’s now over. News Five’s Isani Cayetano reports.
Isani Cayetano, Reporting
Former Area Representative Anthony ‘Boots’ Martinez is back to his old antics, complete with a spanking new theme song for his ongoing campaign. Despite the humor and seeming lightheartedness of his approach, Martinez is relentless in his attempt to unseat his successor in Port Loyola. Having defeated Gilroy Usher Sr. twice, before losing miserably to Anthony Mahler in another constituency during the last general elections, he is once again canvassing his old stomping grounds for signatures.
Anthony ‘Boots’ Martinez
Anthony ‘Boots’ Martinez, Former Area Representative
“The prime minister, in his own words, labeled Gilroy Usher, the honorable Gilroy Usher as very confused. He put it casually and in my view, and in my view, ah wah be honest with yoh, that is the most dunciest representative I have ever seen in the National Assembly. Ah wah be honest with you, you’re a lawmaker sir, how you wah di tek a victory lap on something that you have no control over.”
On Wednesday, the incumbent Port Loyola area representative issued a release stating that Martinez’s petition failed to meet the minimum threshold, ten percent of signatures from the total registered voters in that constituency.
Anthony ‘Boots’ Martinez
“As a former member of the National Assembly, we are lawmakers and you wahn tell me, simple thing like wah law weh wah affect you or weh noh wahn affect you, you noh read, sir? Something is wrong with you. You see this recall petition ya, it’s more powerful than a national referendum because a national referendum is not binding, by law. This specific recall referendum is binding by law once you reach all the necessary threshold.”
Gilroy Usher Sr.
Since we last spoke with him on July twelfth, Boots has been busy collecting the signed names of as many registered constituents. Today, he provided an update on that campaign but stopped short of presenting the actual numbers.
Anthony ‘Boots’ Martinez
“We have reached the threshold, a little over what we believe to be the threshold, but because of the misinformation and because of certain things happening in the constituency, we have decided to move forward until we get at least fifty percent of the constituency. To start with, Mr. Usher, I don’t know who prepared him with the statement because ah noh know if ih noh understand the law. If you are saying in your statement that Port Loyola exists with over five thousand residents and the petition failed to gather fifteen hundred signatures, then fi staat wid you’re wrong because if the constituency has five thousand and one registered voters, the threshold wahn be fifteen hundred and one.”
As members of the United Democratic Party, one would have thought that Martinez and UDP Standard Bearer Philip Willoughby would have formed an alliance to recall Usher in Port Loyola. But that’s not the case. Instead, Boots has choice words for his colleague.
Anthony ‘Boots’ Martinez
“I will not. My mandate is not to collaborate with Mr. Willoughby. I met with him a couple times, but my mandate from the people is to launch the recall petition and then we will see fu go from that. Mein, you da di official standard bearer fi di United Democratic Party, you noh sih wahn light ya soh? You noh sih wahn light? Well now, guess weh di go ahn now, you and Mr. Usher, one di do wah whole victory lap and you di do half a lap. So unu muss hug up one another and bawl because that, definitely di fus stage will be initiated when the people of Port Loyola recall.”
Contrary to what Usher put out in his statement, Martinez is confident that the area rep will be recalled.
Anthony ‘Boots’ Martinez
“I am sorry fi di poor lady who gaan to Gilroy Usher and said, “Gimme wahn hand and help me wid school,” and Gilroy Usher said to that lady, “You know weh happen, I have to wait fi di result ah di [petition]. I cyant do nothing fi nobody because I have to wait fi di result a di paper weh Mista Boots have people di sign.” The lady came here and she asked me what is the paper about and I explained to the lady that it’s about a recall petition. Well di lady signed immediately, yoh know, ih seh mek ih get di result quick and fast. So ah sorry ah even delay di lady that di result noh come because ih not even submitted to the governor general yet.”
Isani Cayetano for News Five.
