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Hon. Marco Tulio Mendez, “No Mas”
posted (November 11, 2014)
And while the cane industry is at a crossroads unlike any it's seen before - so too is the PUP of Orange Walk East. That's because today Area Representative Marco Tulio Mendez formally announced that he will not seek re-election and is stepping down as standard bearer for his party.

Much like the PUP's Joseph Mahmud in Cayo North - though he's stepping aside, Mendez will stay on as Area Representative and serve out his term.

He held a quite somber press conference at his divisional office in Orange Walk East today to explain that he is doing it based on the advice of doctors:..

Dr. Marco Tulio Mendez, Area Rep. - OW East
"I've made up my mind that yes I will be stepping down as the Standard Bearer for the Orange Walk East constituency because of the recommendations that have been given to me. And of course being a doctor considering the risks factors that are involve with this, with the activity that I have been doing, I have definitely made up my mind. I am deeply honored I would say to have been supported by the people of the Orange Walk East constituency. I have been honored to be serving them this period, but for the best interest of my people because of the activities that will be coming; the campaigning and of course being out there constantly for them I think that there is a another person that supposed to be having that role and there are people that definitely will be moving this area in the best way for the party."

Armando Valdez, Senior Advisor - PUP OW East Cmte.
"At the moment we are hearing about Josue Carballo. I am beginning to hear about Dave Burgos and maybe there are more, we don't know/ But all of that has to come through the executive committee and we will recommend it."

And so while the internal jousting to install a successor now begins, for Mendez who is only 51, his political career has been forced to end prematurely. He retires after only two and a half years into a five year term. We asked him if he ever considered toughing it out - as has the Prime Minister who has an advanced back problem. Tulio Mendez says because of the severity of his condition (herniated disc) it was never an option:..

Jules Vasquez
"Now we know the Prime Minister for example, has been living with his own back situation, yours is, I don't know and you've seen him in the House, can hardly stand up."

Dr. Marco Tulio Mendez, Area Rep. - OW East
"Well, I am a neurologist, I am a doctor and I know what the question why you are addressing it in that way. It is a total difference in having disk herniation down here than having it up here. The spinal cord is up here, here they don't have spinal cord, so basically the symptoms would be much less. What the doctors did recommend to me is for me to slow down my activities because of the location where the disk herniation is and the prognosis supposed to improve, but if I persist in this high activity there are consequences that could come along and that is the reason. Of course I would say that is a personal decision that I have made."

Jules Vasquez
"You will be keeping your professional services as a doctor and the head of a clinic?"

Dr. Marco Tulio Mendez
"Yes, that is not much activity, but it's going up the road up and down that really provides me with a higher risks."

Jules Vasquez
"If you want to be honest and fair to your voters, shouldn't you go all the way and let's have a bi-election, elect a new representative right now and release me from this taxing responsibility?"

Dr. Marco Tulio Mendez
"Well I think that having the office and coming over and really serving the people I'll be doing what is needed for the area."

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