U.D.P. appoints national campaign manager

General Elections may be sixteen months away but the United Democratic Party is beginning to gear up for March 2008. According to a U.D.P. press release, a number of decisions were taken at an all day workshop for standard bearers on Sunday. Among them was the appointment of former B.D.F. Commandant Robert Garcia as the party’s full time national campaign manager. A national campaign committee, chaired by former Prime Minister Manuel Esquivel and consisting of a representative from each district, has also been formed. Meanwhile, there are still a few electoral wrinkles to be ironed out as the release mentions that Party Leader Dean Barrow met for four hours on Monday with Orange Walk East standard bearer Marcel Cardona to discuss “problems” affecting the division. For months there has been bad blood between Cardona and deputy party leader Rosendo Urbina, U.D.P. candidate in Orange Walk Central, and it was felt that Cardona’s supporters were undermining the U.D.P. effort in Orange Walk. Cardona today told News Five that he is fully behind the election campaign and has been assured by Barrow that the party leadership recognizes his contributions and will be treated accordingly.