P.U.P. reformers claim increased support for new convention rules

In other political news, representatives of the P.U.P. reform wing are claiming that five more constituencies—Port Loyola, Collet, Caribbean Shores, Cayo North East and Belize Rural South —have committed to request the changes in convention rules proposed by Mark Espat, Cordel Hyde and Johnny Briceño. That makes a total of fourteen divisions seeking an increase in delegates and disclosure of their names at least a week before the convention, with more allegedly to come. It must be pointed out that a request for rule changes in no way guarantees support for any particular candidate for party leader and at present, with the strong backing of the party hierarchy and machinery, Francis Fonseca remains the favourite in a convention fight against either Mark Espat or Johnny Briceño. With Friday as the deadline for submission of nominations, those prospective challengers will be meeting to decide who, if any, will make the run. It is understood that options other than a head on battle are also being discussed between Briceño, Espat and their respective corner men.

And in news from the government side, two more appointments were announced today. Kathy Esquivel is the new Chair of the National AIDS Commission, while Delroy Cutkelvin will serve as the prime minister’s Press Secretary. It should be noted that government’s Press Office will remain under the control of Seth Hernandez.