Briceño backs Espat in expulsion battle

The effort by leaders of the Peoples’ United Party to expel Mark Espat has met with resistance, both at the grass roots level and among Espat’s colleagues in the House. Today Johnny Briceño, former deputy prime minister and current representative for the Orange Walk Central Division, released a strong statement in support of Espat which flatly condemns the proposal by Leader Emeritus George Price to remove Espat from the party.

“I condemn and reject in no uncertain terms the reasons cited for this recommendation”, said Briceño who went on to refute charges of disloyalty. “The Peoples’ United Party is at a crossroads”, he wrote, “if we refuse to listen and instead try to gag any who dare speak out, I fear for the future of the party.”

As for Briceño’s future, he has clearly thrown his lot with Espat, coming very close to suggesting that if they expel Mark, they may as well give him the boot as well. Assuming that Lake I rep Cordel Hyde will also side publicly with Espat, the stage is now set for a showdown that will determine whether the P.U.P. will embrace reform … or the attitudes that led to their massive defeat on February seventh.