All week we've been reporting on Godfrey Smith being given his walking papers as the PUP's National Campaign Manager. His departure has created some volatility within the PUP where he was an important ally to the leader, Francis Fonseca, and now, he's gone. And he left without any natural replacement. So, who will take his job? IT'S an important post because the National Campaign Manager is the one who drums up funds for the party - something that's been sorely lacking in the PUP. And it's not a job for political amateurs because the party's chief fundraiser has to go knocking on many doors, including Michael Ashcroft's. So 7News has learned that Francis Fonseca's old guard allies have sprung to his aid. We have been reliably informed that senior figures in the old guard have reached out to Attorney Eamon Courtenay to take up Smith's post. Now Courtenay had that job before is and surely has the necessary prestige and connections, but, guess what(?) he's not interested, not at all. When we heard the rumors we asked Courtenay who told us via text message, quote: "That idea will never fly. It is D-O-A." End quote. That means "dead on arrival" - an indication of what we are told are Courtenay's fundamental differences with Party Leader Francis Fonseca and the Old Guard actors who are reaching out on his behalf.
This quite dramatic backdrop creates an interesting ferment for next week Tuesday's meeting of the party's elected representatives and standard bearers.
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