7 News Belize

When Did PUP Leader Meet With Ashcroft?
posted (July 21, 2015)
So, without a National Campaign Manager to whom will the PUP turn to liaise with Michael Ashcroft, the campaign financier? Because, to compete with the well-financed UDP - the PUP needs a backer with millions, not thousands. Well, the job could fall to the leader himself, Francis Fonseca. 7News has obtained a picture of a meeting between Ashcroft and Fonseca earlier this year - reportedly before the municipal elections. The meeting is in the same corner table overlooking the sea at the Radisson dining room where Ashcroft famously met with Audrey Matura Shepherd.

Today, Renee Trujillo from LOVE FM asked Fonseca if he had met Ashcroft:..

Renee Trujillo, reporter - LOVE TV
"Was there a meeting held between you and Lord Ashcroft recently?"

And while he walked away from the question today - in February on nomination day before the municipal elections, we did ask Fonseca if he had met with Ashcroft:..

FILE: February 11, 2015
Jules Vasquez

"We all know that Lord Ashcroft recently."

Hon. Francis Fonseca - Opposition Leader - PUP

"I didn't know."

Jules Vasquez

"I did know and it has been reported. A lot of people are speculating that perhaps he was here to inject some money into the PUP campaign machine as he has in the past. He has been a significant contributor to both parties in Belize. Did he give anything?"

Hon. Francis Fonseca

"I didn't know he was here."

Jules Vasquez

"It was on the news, the Amandala editorial."

Hon. Francis Fonseca

"I didn't know he was here."

Jules Vasquez

"So you and him had no meetings?"

Hon. Francis Fonseca

"I didn't know he was here."

Jules Vasquez

"Did your national campaign manager know that Mr. Ashcroft was here?"

Hon. Francis Fonseca

"Not to my knowledge. He's been out of the country for the past 4 days."

Reporter

"Lord Ashcroft has been seen in recent weeks. He's released a fury of speculation that there is some money being pumped some where. I know he was a very special place in your heart. You think that speculation will hurt or help the PUP at this time right before election?"

Cordel Hyde - PUP Standard Bearer, Lake I

"It would appear to me to be more mere speculation because we haven't felt it. I think there has been a clear separation from Lord Ashcroft and the PUP over the last few years. There's no indication that he's present in anything. So I think it's mere speculation."

Jules Vasquez

"But the national campaign manager is the boon companion of Mr. Ashcroft."

Cordel Hyde

"Yeah, but if that was such a great relationship, if it was one that was going to pay dividend for the PUP then we would have felt it by now. I haven't seen any evidence of that."

Jules Vasquez

"You've seen evidence of the opposite?"

Cordel Hyde

"That is so."

So, perhaps the meeting happened thereafter because, again, we can only say with certainty that the meeting was held in 2015.

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