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Hon. Collet Endorses Luke, Says It’s Not About His Bills
posted (February 17, 2014)
The PUP is preparing for a major convention in Cayo Central at the end of April. Luke Espat and Dan Silva will face each other in a hotly anticipated contest. Espat has been on the ground for 7 months, but Silva is the PUP's old general in the area. The wild card in this has been Senator Collet Montejo. He represented the PUP in Cayo central in the 2012 general elections and came within a few dozen votes of beating UDP incumbent Rene Montero. First we heard he would support Silva, then that he would run, but today he confounded all observers when he threw his support behind the Espat camp. He made the endorsement at Espat's residence in Belize City today:..

Senator Collet Montejo
"I had to choose between the 2 and decided to come out publicly today endorsing the candidacy of Luke Espat. The obvious question then is why. Let me answer in a nutshell and I will give only 3 direct points: 1.) I have met a man that in our discussion shares the views that I have that the party must return back to its social justice agenda, that we've got to go back to the grassroots, that it's time for poor people to again be able to survive in this country. Not just with cheap food pantry programs, but with programs that will move them from that dependency to independence - to true economic independence. 2.) I believe that Luke has been around the People's United Party as long as I have known him. He has been a true soldier of this party and deserves respect in that fashion and finally 3.) He has been on the ground in Cayo Central for some time now and as I have spoken to people - you have those that will say that we don't know him, but there are other people that have embrace his candidacy and therefore today I take that opportunity to ask those individuals who were so supportive of me and continue to support me and up to today have sent me text messages, have called me and said please don't step aside. I say to them join me in supporting Luke Espat."

Jules Vasquez
"Were you in negotiations with the Dan Silva camp to support Mr. Silva in fact whatever bills you had were paid?"

Senator Collet Montejo
"We were in discussion, serious discussion. As a matter of fact initially and it's no secret, it's nothing to hide here - that we were prepared to support Dan Silva. But again like Luke mentioned just now, politics is a thing that evolves Jules - it evolves. A decision you make today might not necessarily be the decision you make tomorrow. After I evaluated the entire situation I ask myself what will be best for the people of Cayo Central and I honestly believe that Luke brings with him the ability to do so. I look at the situation and I said this is humongous and I so decided would prefer play a supportive role going forward and the option for me was Dan or Luke and this is totally personal - nothing against Dan. I just decided that I would endorse Luke's candidacy."

The convention is set for Sunday April 27th.

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