Since last week, we've been reporting on the PUP's Rebel 12 – a dozen standard bearers who are unhappy with the state of affair sin the opposition and
are calling for a national convention. They put that in a letter to the party chairman on Monday – and, today, Party Leader Francis Fonseca called for
a meeting to deal with their demands. But, the 12 were outnumbered by the 19 standard bearers still in the Fonseca Camp, so rather than be drummed down
by a super majority of status quo supporters, they boycotted today's meeting. Well, 10 of them did; two attended, namely Dr. Francis Smith and Major
Lloyd Jones. More about that later, but first to the business of today's three hour meeting at PUP Party Headquarters. When it was done at 5:00 pm, a
very relaxed looking leader Francis Fonseca – flanked up by 20 standard bearers said he called the meeting to deal with the issues raised by the
dissenting dozen – but they didn't appear to argue their points:…
Hon. Francis Fonseca - PUP Party Leader
"We immediately convened a meeting today of the national executive and standard bearers in order to fully and properly discuss and address the issues
raised therein. All standard bearers and executive members were invited to this meeting and in my view there was a particular and special obligation
and duty attached to those who had signed the letter, to be present and to be fully and robustly participating in the discussion and decision making.
The absence of any of the signatories to this letter without a legitimately documented excuse will only further erode confidence in their good faith
intentions in respect to the important issues raised in their letter."
"The letter from our colleagues was tabled as a priority issue and following a frank, honest and robust discussion, the following decisions were taken.
One, a national convention - which we had agreed to from our last joint meeting of standard bearers and the national executive on March 18th. We
reaffirmed and confirmed that decision which was taken on March 18th at which we had 28 of our standard bearers present and every single one of them
signed off on that agreement and resolution for the holding of a national convention - at the earliest no later than the end of this year and that the
post of party leader will not be opened to challenge at that national convention."
Jules Vasquez
"Sir but is there an inconsistency in terms of if the post of leader is not a challengeable post? Isn't that under minding one of the fundamental
principles of the PUP, the People's United Party - that anyone can lead the PUP?"
Henry Usher - Chairman, PUP
"None what so ever. The constitution of the party says that the national executive sets policy. National executive, the majority that was here today
voted in favour - in fact unanimously voted in favour of a national convention not being contested."
Hon. Francis Fonseca - PUP Party Leader
"I want to make it absolutely clear that I did this both at the last meeting - the joint meeting of the standard bearers and the national executive and
today again. I want it to be absolutely clear. I'm not afraid of any convention, I have placed my leadership on the table, it is a matter of these
bodies to then determine how best we move forward in the interest of our party. Not anybody else's agenda, not Mr. Barrow's agenda or anybody else's
agenda. I have made it absolutely clear to everyone in the party who was here today, that my leadership is on the table, they must determine what is in
the best interest of the party. If they had decided that we needed to go to a convention, a contested convention, so be it - that would have been the
decision of the party. So I want to make it absolutely clear that no mischief is made, cause I know you mischievous."
Of course, the only mischief in this case is by Fonseca' own standard bearers - 30% of them remain alienated from the party with general election
imminently on the horizon. So, will the party sanction them for their absence today? Fonseca had hinted at a hardline in earlier public pronouncements
but was more circumspect today:…
Jules Vasquez
"Any sanctions that the party decided - will taking any sanctions against these person?"
Henry Usher - Chairman, PUP
"No, none of that has come up today in the meeting. The leader continues to have a good faith relationship with all of the members who signed that
letter. There's no erosion of confidence there."
Jules Vasquez
"Sir I see two of the signatories here, Dr. Smith and Major Jones. I know the gentlemen can speak for themselves but with this format, is it that they
are recanting, reneging on that signature? Or is it that there is now a common ground between them and the party?"
Henry Usher, Chairman - PUP
"Let me first say, I thank Dr. Smith and Major Jones for coming this afternoon and letting their positions be heard to the other members of the
national executive and the other standard bearers. I think it was important for them to come and to let all us of here what their position is and why
they put their signature to that letter. I believe as you said, they can answer for themselves - however, they did support the positions taken today,
to hold a national convention at the earliest possible date. To hold a uncontested national convention for the party leader and also for the nation
wide consultation to begin this Sunday in Cayo."
Jules Vasquez
"Sir and on that Sunday meeting in San Ignacio, in Cayo at the Theodoso Ochoa park I believe. Will there be the involvement of Mr. Silva? Who is
considered a grand dean of San Ignacio."
Henry Usher, Chairman - PUP
"Well this is being organised by the western caucus and Dan Silva is a member of the western caucus."
Jules Vasquez
"Do you expect him to attend sir? He didn't attend today."
Henry Usher, Chairman - PUP
"There are a lot of things you expect and not expect Jules, I don't know what will happen on Sunday, but he is a member of the western caucus and we do
expect his supporters, him committee to be there and to be assisting in the coordination this weekend."
So the party goes to Cayo on Sunday for a rally – and we'll see if San Ignacio General Dan Silva will make himself present. He has criticized the
party's status quo in a facebook post.
For the record, we did speak to Dr. Francis Smith who signed the letter – but went to the meeting and appeared directly behind Fonseca when he spoke.
He declined or speak on camera but told us that he spoke candidly at the meeting and does not support a convention without any challenge to the leader.
But he said he was outvoted and the majority rules.
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