And now, back to the biggest political news of the week - and probably the next month: Ivan Ramos has stepped down as Area Representative for Dangriga, Hope Creek and Sarawee - and that has triggered a bye election in the next months between Anthony Sabal for the PUP and Frank Mena for the UDP.
But, we're not there yet. Right now, Ramos's departure is what's taking up all the news space - and that's because he stepped down very publicly - not like Joseph Mahmud the former PUP Representative for Cayo North who stepped down in silence last year.
Yesterday in Dangriga, Ramos told his supporters and the media that his resignation as area representative was the culmination of a process which started with his own party pushing him out as the Standard Bearer. He says they stacked his committee against him, and then, the National Campaign Manager called and read him the riot act. Here are two sides of that story:..
Ivan Ramos, Resigned - PUP Rep. For Dangriga
"I was called by the National Campaign Manager, Godfrey Smith and said things to the effect that while he doesn't have the authority to force me to make a decision or to resign, but for me to remember that he is the person that is charged with raising finance and that I in effect then would not be a good investment. In other words, don't expect that we will be financing your campaign."
Jules Vasquez
"What he said on the record yesterday was that in fact the National Campaign Manager, Godfrey Smith called him and told him, 'I am the National Campaign Manager. I give out Campaign resources. I am unable to force you to move. However, be advised that if you remain in that position a standard bearer, I will not be able to give you resources.' That is what he says Godfrey Smith told him. Do you accept sir, his characterization that the National Campaign Manager, Godfrey Smith called him and told him, 'move on because I will not fund you?'"
Hon. Francis Fonseca, Opposition Leader
"I do not and I do not because I have said that I made it very clear to the Campaign Manager that this matter had to be handled with dignity, with respect every step of the way. So, I have absolutely no reason to believe that he would defy those instructions and approach the Honourable Ivan Ramos in that manner. It's not consistent with the Godfrey Smith that I know."
Today, Godfrey Smith told us that he did say words to that effect, but only after Ramos's constituency committee expressed a total lack of confidence in him. He said he gave Ramos time to think about it, and after weeks passed, he was still thinking. Smith said he needed to demonstrate that he had won back the confidence of his committee - and then told him those words.
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