Three resignations in less than three weeks and General and Municipal elections is only a month away when. It is unprecedented – but PUP party leader says that the PUP is still strong and united. Three constituencies for the PUP now have new area representatives – Dr. Hoy for the Caribbean shores, David Craig for the Albert division and Yolanda Schkron for Lake I. PUP party leader said the final two were sworn in this morning – and boast the PUP has four vibrant women while the UDP has none. All 31 candidates were presented this afternoon to the media in a press conference at Independence Hall – Hon. Francis Fonseca stated in his open address that he respects the decisions of individuals – speaking to Hyde’s and Espat’s decision and emphasizes that those divisions continues to have excellent representation.

Hon. Francis Fonseca, Leader, PUP
We had a joint meeting with the National Executive and Standard Bearers of the People’s Untied Party this morning. During that meeting, we received a press release from the PUP Albert Committee indicating that the Hon. Mark Espat will not be contesting the next upcoming general elections. We discussed that matter in our meeting and we thanked the Hon. Mark Espat and the PUP Albert Committee for their service to this party and the country. We respect the decisions of these individuals; it is always a difficult decision to make, whether or not you enter politics, you remain in politics or if you are going to leave politics and we have to respect the personal decisions that people make. It is not for us to second guess those decisions. Obviously as I have said very clearly and very publicly that it would have been great for these individuals to continue to represent the party; they are obviously outstanding area representatives who have delivered resounding victories for the PUP in their respective constituencies over a period of more than fifteen years.

Even with a late start Hon. Francis Fonseca announced that the PUP executive has approved the manifesto and should be release within the next two weeks.

Hon. Francis Fonseca
We have to move on and it is with absolute pride and enthusiasm that the National Executive and the Standard Bearers of the PUP this morning, embrace and accept our new candidates in the persons of Yolanda Schkron for the Lake Independence division and David Craig for the Albert division. Both individuals are outstanding members of our community and they are persons who have proved their commitment to our society and have worked with their respective community and they are no strangers to the Belizean people.

In answering questions from the media Fonseca explains that he is confident that the PUP despite the recent resignations – will be able to mobilize the masses.

Hon. Francis Fonseca
am confident, because as I have said, we have been doing our work. Yes, there has been a lot of noise at the national level and we have had a turnover of candidates at a very critical point in the elections process. Certainly if we could have avoided that, sure we would, that would have been great, but this is the reality; we have to deal with it and we have to move on. However, in the meantime, that doesn’t mean that we haven’t been doing our work; our candidates on the ground have been doing their work. We have been spending a lot time making sure that our campaign infrastructure in the constituencies at the constituency levels are operational, up and running and working as efficiently and effectively as it can.

And when questioned if he has any grudges towards Espat and Hyde – Fonseca responded that it is not within him to hold any grudges.

Hon. Francis Fonseca
It’s not in my DNA to harbor any kind of negativity. I was grateful to the Hon. Cordel Hyde; he was very gracious, he called me and we had a long conversation on the phone, I think we spoke for about fifteen minutes about his son’s illness, about the party and about Lake Independence. We had a long and very cordial and very respectful conversation. He sent me a personal letter, indicating his intensions and I was very grateful for that. However, none of that has happened in respect to Albert, but everyone has to choose their own way to depart. I hold absolutely no ill feelings; I wish Mr. Mark Espat all the best; he is obviously a very skilled and competent individual. As I have said, I thank him for his service to the party and my door is always open to Mark Espat.

David Craig for the Albert said that he knows that it will not be race but a sprint and he is willing to pursue the challenge.

David Craig, Contesting Albert Divison, Belize City
Mister Espat, as the party leader made very clear, has done a lot of work in that area. That area is PUP. So we stand on the work on that hard working committee and on the work of Mark in bringing the best possible things to everyone in that area. I will hit the ground running; this is not even a race, this is going to be a sprint. I have the support of everyone in here, I have the support of my family and I have the support of my colleagues at work and you will see what will happen.

The party boast that the Lake I committee fully supports Schkron – even though present chairman of that committee disagrees majority of those members at the press conference says otherwise. Yolanda Schkron says that she has met with most of the members of that committee.

Yolanda Schkron, Contesting Lake Independence Division, Belize City
Yesterday afternoon I met with nine members of the executive from Cordel’s committee. They signed a paper and they endorsed me as their member for Lake I. The party leader has that letter. Today, fifteen minutes before I was coming here, Garnett and Willey called me and told me to have this press conference postponed. I told them this cannot be done because it’s thirty-one candidates. I told them that I will meet with them after the press conference. 

We will keep you posted as to  developments of the political news.