| As we said, Petrocaribe is expected to factor significantly into this Cayo North election. Indeed, it is the driving force behind politics right now - and if you don't believe that, just ask the thousands who were rolled up to Belmopan to defend the programme a week ago.
Petrocaribe is being used principally for infrastructure projects, but it is also used the Christmas Cheer programme. Last year Christmas, the opposition got shared into the Cheer programme with an allotment - albeit a lesser one - for each PUP representative.
But, they took it - one prominent opposition member even asked for it in cash to reimburse himself for toys he had already bought.
But, that was before the Petrocaribe challenge - since then the PUP has gone to court to try and shut down the programme as unauthorized spending.
So, does that mean they will say no to Christmas Cheer? Well, that's a different matter - the leader explained:..
Jules Vasquez
"Christmas cheer is coming up again and that is funded, we are told, through that fund. Will you all accept the opposition money through that or will you all say its irretrievable tainted and refuse it?"
Hon. Francis Fonseca, Leader of the Opposition
"No decision has been made Jules. First of all we didn't get any mother's day cheer and that was the last handing out of funds, so there is no legitimate expectation that we will be participating..."
Jules Vasquez
"But you got Christmas cheer last year."
Hon. Francis Fonseca, Leader of the Opposition
"Christmas cheer we got, but after that the other program has been the mother's day cheer where they decided they don't want to include the PUPs, so I have no legitimate expectation that we will be included in the Christmas program. If we are advised that we will be by the government, then I will take it to the executive and the parliamentary caucus, the representatives, for a decision."
Jules Vasquez
"Shouldn't you just refuse it though, based on the party's position?"
Hon. Francis Fonseca, Leader of the Opposition
"Well you can say. That's a point that can be made, but I want to allow representatives to speak how they feel about it. We've taken it in the past and it's in a sense and accountable program in the sense that it's directly going not to us as representatives, but directly to people. So I think that has to be discussed."
The PUP executive will meet later this week.
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