New P.U.P. expels chairman, strips old guard

There was tough talk today coming from the Opposition People’s United Party in reaction to a convention called by the Corozal Southeast Representative, Florencio Marin, last Sunday and attended by the so called old guard of the P.U.P. And if you thought the U.D.P. was the only one fighting the old P.U.P., well think again because the new P.U.P. of John Briceño came out swinging today at the defiance of the Musa led ad-hoc P.U.P. Briceño and the executive are calling for a review of controversial decisions taken by its past leaders and will be pursuing all legal options relating to the ownership and management of party assets. At a National Executive meeting held today at Independence Hall and attended by twenty-three of the thirty constituencies, which some insiders say was boisterous with calls for quick and decisive action, various other decisions were taken that in essence clip the wings of the Musa led old guard. As we reported in our newscast last night, the southeast convention has been declared null and void and elections for standard bearers will be held following the March elections. But the strongest memo was sent to the Chairman of the Southeast who has been expelled and his committee suspended. Aside from this expulsion, former Toledo East Area Representative Mike Espat was stripped of the chair of the southern caucus. News Five spoke with Party Leader, Johnny Briceño, about these actions.

Johnny Briceño, Leader, P.U.P.
“The decision was unanimous from the National Executive that we should start off by calling that Convention null and void, one. Secondly, that whenever the National Executive decides to set the timeframe from which they should call elections for standard bearers, Corozal Southeast as one of the thirty-one constituencies must hold their conventions and if the Honourable Florencio Marin Junior does not participate in that Convention, he will not run for the People’s United Party.”

“The National Executive has recommended and it was accepted by the floor that we expel the Chairman of Corozal Southeast, that we suspend the entire executive of Corozal Southeast, that we expel Mike Espat as the Chairman of the Southern caucus and that a new chairman must be elected so that he will no longer participate in the National Executive. And strong letters of reprimand will be sent to all those people that participated in the so-called convention on Sunday.”

Marion Ali
“And again this approval comes from?”

Johnny Briceño
“It was unanimously accepted, not majority, unanimously. It was accepted by everyone that was here at the National Executive. For those that were not present we spoke to them and they did send in their support and everybody that was here on the floor, all the twenty-three constituencies that were here, strongly accepted the recommendations and in many instances many of them were asking for even more.”

Marion Ali
“How do you think all of this looks now with Municipal elections just five months away. Is the People’s United Party divided?”

Johnny Briceño
“The People’s United Party is united on a common cause and a common purpose. We’re uniting unity in purpose that we are united to serve the Belizean people, that we are concerned of the direction that this U.D.P. government is taking Belize, that we are concerned of the victimization that’s taking place. We are saying that anybody that is prepared to join us in that cause of serving the people, they are welcome.”

Sunday’s convention was held by Marin to cement his hold on the southeast and avert a challenge from a political newcomer and bolster any chance of a return of the Florencio Marin Senior. The party had taken the position that it was way too early to be nominating standard bearers or the next General Elections, which is not due until 2013, but more than that, it felt that all energies should be focused on the upcoming Municipal Elections. But despite the party’s decision, Marin decided to go ahead.

Late this evening, the ad-hoc P.U.P.s standing against injustice issued a lukewarm five point release on the expulsion and suspensions approved by the National Executive. It denounced the expulsion of the southeast chairman and suspension of the Committee and the removal of Mike Espat as Chairman of Southern Caucus of P.U.P. According to the release, the decision to suspend Florencio Marin as treasurer is also unconstitutional.