The Peoples’ United Party has announced the names of its three appointed senators. They are Hector Silva Senior of Cayo, Stann Creek’s Corona Villafranco and Eiden Salazar of San Pedro Town. A release from the party says the appointments follow weeks of consultation within the party and the wide scope of representation reflects a new […]
While a minister of state was questioning the rule of law in Crooked Tree, in Belmopan Cabinet was meeting to approve a number of constitutional amendments. Among the measures to be proposed at next Friday’s meeting of the House are a three term limit for the Prime Minister, recall mechanism for elected representatives, enhanced referendum […]
It was the first political party since Independence to win two consecutive terms. But in the wake of its crushing defeat on February seventh, the Peoples’ United Party, buffeted by scandals before and after the election, was in crisis. Following a bitter fight for the party leadership, Johnny Briceño wasted no time in calling for […]
Their appeal to party leader Johnny Briceño for the calling of a meeting of the P.U.P. executive having fallen on deaf ears, fourteen members of that twenty-five person body decided to meet anyway without Briceño. It is not clear who chaired the conclave this morning at Independence Hall, but Deputy Leader Godfrey Smith was the […]
When we last tuned in to the continuing soap opera called the Peoples’ United Party, the losing candidate for the party’s leadership, Francis Fonseca, had written to leader Johnny Briceño declining his offer of a post on the new executive unless Briceño first called a meeting of the current executive. When we checked in with […]
To the victor go the spoils. That’s one of the basic laws of war and politics. But some of those on the losing side of last month’s P.U.P. convention are defying that axiom and are now giving the new leader the same kind of trouble he once gave to former party chief Said Musa. In […]
In the meantime, P.U.P. leader Johnny Briceño is meeting with party members nationwide seeking to reassure the old guard of their role while at the same time looking for fresh faces to move the party forward. One former standard bearer who combines experience with a new approach is Cayo’s Orlando Habet. He spoke to News […]
He was elected as P.U.P. leader at the end of March and this Sunday Johnny Briceño will get the opportunity to put his personal stamp on the party’s machinery. The national convention, to be held in Briceño’s back yard at Orange Walk’s People’s Stadium, will elect a new National Executive. That body, which includes the […]
On April Fool’s Day a popular prank was to trick the gullible into believing that former Prime Minister Said Musa had been arrested. But the rumour, which was spawned by the repeated assertions of P.M. Barrow that a team of attorneys is investigating the diversion of millions of dollars in donations from Venezuela and Taiwan, […]
John Briceño was today sworn in as Leader of the Opposition. The event took place at Belize House in Belmopan where the Governor General hosted Briceño, other officials, family members and supporters. John Briceño, Leader of the Opposition “I John Briceño do swear that I will bear true faith and allegiance to Belize, I will […]
In political news, forty-eight hours after the election of Johnny Briceño as the new leader of the Peoples’ United Party, it appears that the vast majority of P.U.P. officials and supporters are prepared to unite behind his leadership. Briceño will be sworn in as Leader of the Opposition on Wednesday and has already begun the […]
The Peoples’ United Party tonight has a new leader. After an intense six week campaign that began with three candidates, and as recently as last week was down to one, a re-energised John Briceño edged out Francis Fonseca in a victory that could only be called an upset. News Five’s Janelle Chanona has the recap […]
On Sunday six hundred and fifty-three delegates of the People’s United Party will gather at the Belmopan Civic Centre to elect a new leader. The campaign has been a rollercoaster ride as initially three men offered themselves as candidates: Freetown Area Representative Francis Fonseca, Albert’s Mark Espat and John Briceño from Orange Walk Central. But […]
In political news, the internal struggles within the People’s United Party continue as word today is that inquiries into the loyalty of Albert area representative will officially climax in two weeks. According to a press release issued by the P.U.P. secretariat today, “after reviewing the letter of complaint … and televised statement by Mark Espat […]
There’s not a whole lot of time but between now and Sunday the two candidates vying to lead the People’s United Party—Francis Fonseca and John Briceño—will be campaigning hard for the hearts, minds and—most importantly—the votes of the over six hundred delegates attending the convention. And while much of the media buzz has focused on […]
Just when you thought that this Sunday’s P.U.P. convention was going to be a boring coronation of Francis Fonseca, along comes a suddenly awakened Johnny Briceño to rekindle his campaign for party leader. News Five’s Stewart Krohn was on hand for the re-launching in Orange Walk. John Briceño, Re-launches Candidacy “Ladies and gentlemen, I am […]
Said Musa and the ruling faction of the Peoples’ United Party raised the stakes dramatically today with an unprecedented attempt to expel Albert Representative Mark Espat from the party. The move came in the form of a letter from Leader Emeritus George Price, in his capacity as chairman of the party’s Order of Distinguished Service, […]
And speaking of political effect, you’d think the Peoples’ United Party would be happy that Mark Espat dropped out of the race for leader, setting the stage for the happy convention of Francis Fonseca on March thirtieth. And while there may be some smiles on North Front Street and Meighan Avenue, it did not stop […]
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 […]
Five weeks after the general elections, today members of the new parliament convened in the nation’s capital to participate in the ceremonial opening of the National Assembly. News Five’s Janelle Chanona attended the event but her report is voiced by Marion Ali. Marion Ali, Reporting This morning’s outdoor ceremonial opening of the National Assembly took […]
As we reported on last night’s newscast, Orange Walk Central area representative John Briceño has dropped out of the race for leadership of the People’s United Party, saying he would not participate in a quote “rigged election”. This morning News Five’s Janelle Chanona asked candidate Mark Espat if he plans to follow in Briceño’s footsteps. […]
Having pursued a month long campaign to replace retiring P.U.P. leader Said Musa, tonight Johnny Briceño is calling it quits. Citing what he called the unfair practices of the party hierarchy as demonstrated at yesterday’s meeting at the National Party Council, Briceño told News Five’s Stewart Krohn that he cannot participate in a contest that […]
The report of the Commonwealth Expert Team that observed our recent general election is out. By and large they gave the process a clean bill of health, albeit with some helpful recommendations for the future. What follows is the verbatim summary of the team’s conclusions. “Having observed the 2008 General Election, the Team has observed […]
As one of the country’s finest lawyers, Prime Minister Dean Barrow is no stranger to the art of courtroom theatrics. But with the kind of case he’s got against his defeated and demoralised political opponents, he did not need the skills of a Johnny Cochran. Today Barrow twisted the knife a little deeper in his […]
In the wake of Barrow’s damning revelations the obvious question is: what’s the other side of the story? Apparently, there is none as the three participants in the affair have chosen to fight the accusations with silence. And if the words of the P.U.P. Secretary General are any indication, the party hierarchy remains in a […]
