7 News Belize

Saldivar Says He Will Run Independent
posted (September 17, 2014)

So that's the party's decision, and the immediate fallout. But what does the candidate, or former candidate have to say? Well, Arthur Saldivar called Jules Vasquez to the Radisson at 5:15 this evening where he explained what they told him when he went up to Independence Hall:

Arthur Saldivar, Removed as PUP BRN Std. Bearer

"My first reaction to it was simply to rise and leave. If that is the decision then the party has abandoned me. From my understanding of things, the report of the committee was not contemplated, it was not even considered. Because in retrospect, in actuality, the report did not yield anything, there is nothing there. The allegations were baseless and certainly once it was examined by those who were charged with responsibility, they recognized it was not a situation that would have warranted the outcome that came about today. So I'm as shocked as anybody else, but again, my constitution being what it is, it doesn't really phase me."

Jules Vasquez

"What's next for you?"

Arthur Saldivar

"Well, I am the standard bearer, I was elected by the people of the Belize Rural North. They came out, they gave me their vote of confidence to represent them and that vote of confidence is in respective to what ever political banner that may hang over my head at the particular day. I will be the member of a party, come election day and I will run for rural north. Now whether it is the PUP, that is up to the present leadership or what ever leadership takes over after the national convention. That national convention is going to be very interesting because our constitution requires that there must be one and all positions are open for contesting at that time."

Jules Vaquez

"Will you run as an independent PUP as you told as you told one of the reporters and as Oswen Blease has said that are prepared to run as an independent PUP."

Arthur Saldivar

"I'm prepared to run independent of the the PUP. I will be a candidate in the upcoming general elections. I will go firstly to the people of the Belize Rural North to seek a ratification of that decision and I do believe that at the end of the day, with their support I will win."

Jules Vaquez

"They will now go about, they have said installing a new candidate or having that person elected, you will then be an outsider, am interlope, a persona non grata within the PUP in Belize Rural North."

Arthur Saldivar

"It is not about the PUP in the Belize Rural North. Arthur Saldivar's candidacy is for the people of Belize Rural North, not for the PUP."

Jules Vaquez

"Rufus ran independent and he got a small number of votes. No independent will win, you need to have a mass party with you, you will lose."

Arthur Saldivar

"Again, none have yet, history is always there to be made."

Later on, we'll have more form our conversation with Arthur Saldivar. Saldivar says tomorrow he will go ahead with activities in Belize Rural North which the committee had planned to mark former Representative Max Samuels' birthday.

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