So Mena has secured the highest ever percentage of the vote in the Dangriga, and back in January, the UDP's Omar Figueroa got the second largest majority ever in Cayo north with his 66%. Add to that the March municipal election where the PUP won only four of 67 seats nationally - and the overall picture for the opposition is dismal - even as the UDP enters its eighth year in office - and is far from being universally loved.
So what's the problem with the PUP, and who's to blame? We asked Leader Francis Fonseca if he's doing enough as leader - and, beyond that, if his national campaign manager Godfrey Smith is pulling his weight:..
Jules Vasquez
"Are you prepared? You say you have been but I hear that you aren't. Are you prepared to do what is necessary to put yourself in a position to be prime minister? Sir, you were in charge of 14 representatives. You are now down to 12. Do you accept that work needs to be done personally?"
Hon. Francis Fonseca, Leader of the Opposition
"Absolutely, I get up with that on my mind every single morning and go to sleep with the same frame of mind. I do that every day, Jules. I've been doing that since the day I became involve with the People's United Party. I have been working. That's what I have been for this party. A worker. I worked my way up to the leadership of this party with no ego, with no personal agenda, never being power hungry. Maybe that's what people say is...because I have no ego or I'm not graveling for power, whatever you want to call it, but I have always been prepared to do what is required of me by the People's United Party. That is why I'm the leader today. So I am prepared to do everything that is required of me but I do have principles and I won't compromise those principles and some people don't like that. You're right in describing me as...I'm not a good fund raiser in terms of going and sit around and so... but neither was other leaders of our party, those who have been successful. They had people around who did a lot of that work for them."
Jules Vasquez
"Indeed you averted to persons around who should do that. That's the national campaign manager. In the PUP, the national campaign manager is the one who "roosts" out funds but by multiple indications just creole talk on the ground, we understand that the national campaign manager has failed to do that. In any substantial ways certainly not in a ralphee and proportions. Should the PUP re-examined the post of national campaign manager and should Mr. Smith remain as national campaign manager?"
Hon. Francis Fonseca, Leader of the Opposition
"I think whenever we have elections we do a proper assessment of everything that took place. I am satisfied that the campaign manager tried. he worked hard to raise the funds that we did have and I think he believed in Mr. Sabal like we all did and did everything that he could through his office to try and make sure that we put the best foot forward in that election."
Jules Vasquez
"But he couldn't bring the Ashcroft money. That's why he's there sir."
Hon. Francis Fonseca, Leader of the Opposition
"But Jules, he's not my campaign manager or the party's campaign manager to bring Ashcroft's money."
At this time, the PUP leadership has not planned any meeting to review the results and the aftermath.
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