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It's been 2 year since the last general election, and two years since senators were appointed. And now the PUP is changing their lineup. Senators Collet Montejo and Karen Bodden are being replaced by Anthony Sylvester and Jason Patrick Andrews - who are both candidates in the next general election. Today they were introduced at a press conference at the party headquarters in Belize City:..

Hon. Francis Fonseca, Opposition Leader - PUP
"I am pleased to say that our senators have been we believe very effective. We are very proud of the work that they have done over the past two years, but we believe it is time for us to give others in the Party and opportunity to speak on the national stage."

Senator Lisa Shoman
"I feel particularly pleased today because I feel like I have been given two new sharp shiny swords with which to cut through some of the rhetoric that comes out in the senate."

Patrick Jason Andrews - PUP Senate Nominee
"In time such as these it calls for individuals to rise up and to fight for thr freedom and liberation of our country and we do not take this appointment likely, we realize that it's a great responsibility that the party leader has put on our shoulders to continue fighting for reform of our system in this country."

Anthony Sylvestre - PUP Senate Nominee
"There will be certain new energy and dynamism that would be in the senate. Certainly it cannot continue to be business as usual. Business as usual have the country in the state which it is right now and so we, myself and the other senators, we look forward to at every turn where we see wrong doing, where we see the government is taking the country in the wrong direction - to bring this matter to the attention of the nation."

And one wonders, how will Andrews share the same opposition bench with Lisa Shoman. He's a hard right Christian, who has profound opposition to the UNIBEAM case which is trying to take sodomy lawas off the books. And Shoman is UNIBAM's attorney! He discussed how they will work together:..

Jules Vasquez
"The PUP leader in the senate is in support of UNIBAM. You as her junior are not in support of UNIBAM."

Patrick Jason Andrews - PUP Senate Nominee
"Can't we see what a wonderful democracy we live in for the Party Leader to understand that. Listen, the Party Leader knows my position as the leader of the senate, but at the end of the Jules we are serving on behalf of the Leader of the PUP and at the end of the day I believe the Party Leader makes decisions on behalf of the will of the people of this country and so I don't foresee any problem - it's going to be a wonderful journey."

They will be sworn in at the next meeting of the senate.