Espat calls it quits in run for P.U.P. leadership

He is intimately tied to the discredited acts of the defeated administration but it is now certain that on March thirtieth Francis Fonseca will be elected as the new leader of the People’s United Party. Fonseca’s ascension was made inevitable today with the announcement by Albert representative Mark Espat that he has decided to pull out of the race. Citing reasons similar to those advanced last week by fellow aspirant Johnny Briceño, a statement put out by Espat this afternoon referred to the upcoming convention as being “closed, undemocratic and fixed”. He also accused outgoing leader Said Musa and a “tiny cabal” of party officials of doing everything possible to anoint Francis Fonseca as the new P.U.P. leader. Of course the question now arises as to where Espat, Briceño and fellow representative Cordel Hyde will fit into a party led by Fonseca, presumably under the watchful eyes of former P.M. Musa and former campaign manager Ralph Fonseca. A principled losing battle on the floor of the convention, followed by a commitment to support the winner would have established either Espat or Briceño as a fighter and a loyal P.U.P., qualities that will prove necessary if any one of them hopes to one day lead the party in a return to national power. It is not clear if Espat, Briceño and their respective delegations will even attend the convention in Belmopan.