7 News Belize

Arthur Vs PUP, The Remix
posted (September 18, 2014)
So, the Saldivar saga continues. After being booted as a standard bearer in the PUP National Executive meeting yesterday he says he is consulting his supporters in Belize Rural North. Things unfolded late in the evening yesterday - so we didn't get a chance to put all Saldivar's choice comments in context. We do so tonight - as we look back at the press conference to announce his removal and Saldivar's entertaining response:..

Jules Vasquez reporting
After the meeting - members of the executive stood and milled around and while you might get the idea that it was a decision lightly taken…

Hon. Francis Fonseca, Leader of the PUP
"It is never easy for anyone to sit in judgment of any colleague of theirs. So it was not an easy decision. It was not a decision taken lightly."

But, it was taken:

Hon. Francis Fonseca, Leader of the PUP
"With immediate effect, Mr. Arthur Saldivar is removed as the standard bearer for Belize Rural North for the People's United Party and is removed as a member of the national executive of the party."

Arthur Saldivar, Former PUP Std. Bearer - BRN
"If that is the decision then the party has abandoned me."

Hon. Francis Fonseca, Leader of the PUP
"It was both in the best interest of the People's United Party and I also believe in the best interest of Mr. Saldivar that at this time, he not be involved in party politics."

Arthur Saldivar, Former PUP Std. Bearer - BRN
"I'm as shocked as anybody else, but again, my constitution being what it is, it doesn't really phase me."

The evidence didn't seem to phase anyone either:

Jules Vasquez
"Were you all convinced that the claim made against him that he made off, or that he took $914,000 of someone else's money - that there was substantial enough grounds in that allegation that made it unsuitable for him to be a PUP candidate?"

Hon. Francis Fonseca, Leader of the PUP
"We are not in a position to make a determination on Mr. Saldivar's guilt or otherwise in respect of that matter."

Henry Usher, PUP Chairman
"The scope of the committees work was not to determine guilt or innocence, it was merely to go a fact finding mission and present those facts as unbiased as possible to the members of the national executive."

Jules Vasquez
"The fact maybe that he did take it."

Henry Usher, PUP Chairman
"That is for a court of law to determine, not us."

Arthur Saldivar, Former PUP Std. Bearer - BRN
"The report did not yield anything, there is nothing there. The allegations were baseless."

Now, Saldivar says he will run independently

Arthur Saldivar, Former PUP Std. Bearer - BRN
"I'm prepared to run independent of the PUP. I will be a candidate in the upcoming general elections whenever it is called."

Hon. Francis Fonseca, Leader of the PUP
"We hope that is not the case that Mr. Saldivar does not run independent, but at the end of the day we will do what we have to do as a party to make sure that we put in place a candidate who we believe can be successful."

Jules Vasquez
"You will then be an outsider, an interloper, a persona non grata within the PUP in Belize Rural North."

Arthur Saldivar, Former PUP Std. Bearer - BRN
"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 Vasquez
"Rufus X 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."

And not many have been removed as standard bearer:

Jules Vasquez
"A former two time Prime Minister was charged for theft in magistrate's court and he wasn't expelled."

Hon. Francis Fonseca, Leader of the PUP
"Obviously that is a consideration Jules and yes fairness is a very important factor."

Jules Vasquez
"Mr. Musa was charged with theft of a substantial amount of public funds, he wasn't convicted of that, but he was charged for theft. You haven't been charged for anything."

Arthur Saldivar
"I am not here to discuss anybody else. The people will decide that."

Jules Vasquez
"The people have decided that. The people is called the executive."

Arthur Saldivar
"No, I am talking about the people of Belize. The executive is only a small set."

Jules Vasquez
"The people who are Belize don't get to decide who runs for the PUP apparently, the executive does and they've decided that you won't."

Arthur Saldivar
"I would not discuss Mr. Musa."

Jules Vasquez
"But sir, what is the standard by which you were ejected then? Is it because somebody doesn't like you, they don't like how you go on, you go on crazy?"

Arthur Saldivar
"I think that is a question for you to ask the Party Leader."

Hon. Francis Fonseca, Leader of the PUP
"I certainly as leader of the party have no agenda. I wish that this matter had not arisen. I wish that Arthur Saldivar was in a position that these problems had not arisen."

Jules Vasquez
"What happened is that you get huff - there are about 25-30 members of the executive and only 5-6 spoke in your favor. The PUP executive does not want Arthur Saldivar - that's the reality."

Arthur Saldivar
"Again Jules, it's not a matter of what 25 persons say around a table."

Jules Vasquez
"Any standard bearer duly elected can say maybe they come for me next because somebody jump up and say x,y,z and although false it may be."

Hon. Francis Fonseca, Leader of the PUP
"I am satisfied that there was due process. We didn't just jump up."

Jules Vasquez
"Isn't it a fact sir that now any PUP standard bearer stands to face the same fate as you."

Arthur Saldivar
"There is a very dangerous precedent that has been set."

And one Saldivar may challenge in court:

Arthur Saldivar "At this particular time the decision made by the executive stands, but the court of law will be given a chance to determine whether or not whether it is constitutional within the parameters of what the PUP has as its governing guidelines."

Reporter
"Do you foresee a legal challenge to the decision of the national executive?"

Hon. Francis Fonseca, Leader of the PUP
"I do not."

And while the party leader breathed a sigh of relief after his secretary General ended the press conference for him, it's clear there will be days ahead in this battle:

Arthur Saldivar
"It cannot be that we have a tyranny in the PUP."

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