P.U.P. Caribbean Shores rejects resignation

Anthony Mahler

There are many twists and turns on the road to the next general elections. Pundits expect the date to be called very soon, but one particular constituency has seen its fair share of drama on that road to a 2012 general elections. On the United Democratic Party’s side, a shift has started from Carlos Perdomo who would have bequeathed the division to Mike Singh, but was challenged by Sandra Cansino; both whom eventually lost to businessman Santino Castillo.   Those same pundits who had envisioned an early election, thought the People’s United Party Candidate, newcomer who trounced Joe Coye, would be a shoe-in to beat the retiring Perdomo. But Anthony Mahler now faced the head of a well financed and well-oiled business machine called the Santiago Castillo Group of Companies. That wind of change in the U.D.P. camp was rumored to have sent a chill to the P.U.P. Caribbean Shores candidate.  On Friday, Mahler made it clear he was giving up Caribbean Shores for personal reasons. Strangely enough, today the P.U.P. Caribbean Shores Chairman, Steve Mahler, Anthony’s father, sent a press release saying they don’t accept his resignation. Call it a technical error, but they say Mahler sent his resignation letter to the Party and not the Caribbean Shores committee so it is null and void. That has resulted in a meeting between Mahler and the P.U.P. executive. News Five spoke via phone to the P.U.P. Chairman about whether or not Mahler is the P.U.P. standard bearer.

Via Phone: Henry Charles Usher, P.U.P. Chairman

Henry Charles Usher

“On Friday, the party received a letter of resignation from Anthony Mahler as P.U.P. standard bearer for Caribbean Shores and then on Sunday, the P.U.P. Caribbean Shores committee met with Anthony to ask him to reconsider his decision and they issued a press release today saying that they did not accept his resignation. In light of all of that, the party leader and myself decided to meet with Anthony to give him the opportunity to reconsider his decision. We met with him this morning and late this evening Anthony contacted me to say that he had talked over his position—he had talked with his family and friends—but he was sticking by the decision to resign. He is resigning for personal reasons.”

Jose Sanchez

“The rumors about he’s not getting enough money from the party because his good friend John Briceño is no longer the leader; that’s why he is not getting enough campaign funds. That sort of talk has been thrown around the media.”

Via Phone: Henry Charles Usher

“No what I can say is that this morning we had a very frank discussion. And Anthony maintained and maintained to the Caribbean Shores committee that he has resigned for personal issues. It has nothing to do with a change of leadership; it has nothing to do with finances not coming this way. It has been difficult to get finances out to the standard bearers in these tough economic times, but the party has been helping out our standard bearers—Anthony included—to try to get some work done in the constituency, to try to mobilize the force and to put up the flags and the banners; the election machinery ready. Anthony made it very clear in the meeting that he was doing it for personal reasons; that he had consulted with his family and he just thought it best at this time to step down as standard bearer. But he made it very clear like I said that he would continue to support the P.U.P., he will support whoever is the new standard bearer for the P.U.P. in Caribbean Shores.”

Jose Sanchez

“What is the way forward? Will there be a convention or a standard bearer be selected. People expect an early election to be called. What is the way forward for P.U.P. Caribbean Shores?”

Via Phone: Henry Charles Usher

“Well the party will begin the process of selecting a new standard bearer immediately. Of course this will be done in close consultation with Anthony and with the P.U.P. Caribbean Shores committee.”