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Today we also asked Ramos to address the touchy issue of the state of his personal finances. His difficulties are a matter of public record since his properties were published in the papers and he is a public figure. He said it is something that his opponent sin the party did try to use against him:…

Jules Vasquez

"We have seen in the papers couple of your properties. You're a public figure, is your personal finance issue factor at all into this decision?"

Hon. Ivan Ramos - PUP Representative – Dangriga

"Jules, that - and I want to be very clear about that. That's a personal business. In this party, nobody had asked me about that. I know some of them has used that as a reason to justify what ever but if I lose anything it's me, it's me."

And so while Ramos leaves in a cloud of uncertainty both personally and politically, his replacement has the backing, we are told, of a man who should have no financial problems: Dr. Henry Canton – the former Director and CEO of Citrus Products of Belize Limited. Today we asked about his role in the southern manoeuvres.

Jules Vasquez

"Is this the instrumentalisation of Dr. Henry Canton or the suggestion, the promotion, the sponsorship of Dr. Henry Canton?"

Godfrey Smith - PUP Nat'l Campaign Manager

"Is what the sponsorship of?"

Jules Vasquez

"Is this change over being pushed by Dr. Henry Canton?"

Godfrey Smith

"I will tell you quite plainly that part of the process that we're engaged with of strengthening the party includes reaching out to all our friends, past and present. As you are aware, Dr. Henry Canton is a formidable force in the south - and yes he is involved in the process of helping us to deliver 4 seats, maintaining the 4 seats we currently have."

Canton did not attend today's event – and, in fact it's been a very long time since we have seen him at Independence hall. But one more prominent PUP personality from the south whose absence was far more noticeable was Mike Espat, the representative for Toledo East.

So, to keep count, the PUP has announced two new standard bearers in just over a week – and we are told one more change is in the making. We wait and see which division it will be in.