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Fonseca Discusses Mass Parties, Mass Crowds
posted (November 1, 2013)
And so what does the PUP Leader have to say about the crowd - or the lack of it. Today after the House Meeting we spoke to him - and we have those remarks, but we preface it with his remarks to the crowd when the PUP walked out of the House Meeting to go to the protestors:..

Hon. Francis Fonseca - Leader of the Opposition
"Dean Barrow and the UDP Government - they can hear you, they are shaking inside because they are hearing the power of the people of Belize. My friends, we thank you for coming out and I want you to know today that this is just the beginning. Today we say to the United Democratic Party, today we say to Dean Barrow and the UDP - it is time to recall the UDP, recall, resign, retire whatever you have to do get out."

Jules Vasquez
"I counted at the height today 577 people. For a mass party that's a disappointing number considering that the Christians say they brought out 4,000 in PG, the teachers brought 7,000 here earlier this year."

Hon. Francis Fonseca - Leader of the Opposition
"I don't know the numbers Jules, honestly. The reports I got from the Secretariat were closer to around 1,000 that actually left from the various destinations. I am pleased with that. I think we didn't engage in a national mobilization and we certainly didn't spend any money to bring people out here today. The time will come for us to mobilize nationally and we are pursuing our own strategic plan. We thought it was important to make a statement here today. We are very happy with the amount of people wjo turned out. The energy was high, spirits were high and obviously we will grow from strength to strength and the next time we mobilize it will be on a national scale where we will bring out people from all parts of the country."

Jules Vasquez
"Is the PUP facing a problem that these things are costly and that it can't afford to bring out the type of crowd that perhaps it brought out in the late 90s?"

Hon. Francis Fonseca - Leader of the Opposition
"Obviously, it's no secret; you have said it many times before. The party is not in a financial position to do many of the things it use to do in the past but the point is and the important point that I want to make is that everything is headed in the right direction. All of those things are improving and in fact every time we engage in one of these activities we are in a much stronger position to do so. I have no concern about resources. I think when we need the resources to do anything we will be able to access those resources."

Jules Vasquez
"Is this what John Briceno was complaining about when he was asking millionaires to bring money to help the party? That's what it comes down to. To run an opposition you need a lot of money."

Hon. Francis Fonseca - Leader of the Opposition
"As I said, I have absolutely no concerns about that. We will have the resources we need to do the work that we have to do. But yes, to answer your question; the day of relying in big donors and big money - those days are truthfully over for the People's United Party and that is not the direction that I want to go."

Jules Vasquez
"Are you concern that the message being sent is that the mighty PUP can't bring out more than 20 people per division because 20 per division is 620 and you had a little less than 600."

Hon. Francis Fonseca - Leader of the Opposition
"When we want to mobilize nationally and bring out (to satisfy you) 4000, 5000 or 6000 people I have absolutely no doubt that we will be able to do that."

Later, Fonseca told us the Police head count on buses was 577 plus 368 persons from Bmp and surrounding communities. Again, at its peak we counted 577 on the ground.

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