But tonight, the real hot news is not about Dean Barrow's third term; it's about PUP Leader Francis Fonseca's abrupt and unexpected announcement that he is stepping down as party leader. Fonseca made the announcement at an understated press briefing this afternoon in Belize City. His stark announcement stunned observers at party headquarters:...
Hon. Francis Fonseca, Stepping Down
"Ladies and gentlemen it has been my distinct honor and privilege to lead the People's United Party over the past 4 years. I think given the results of yesterday's elections, it is right and appropriate that I stand down as the leader of the People's United Party. I certainly want to thank the wonderful people of Freetown for their unwavering support for 4 consecutive general elections. I had been and continue to be humbled by their love and support. I am a very young man as Jules Vasquez knows, but this has been my last election. I am still in my 40s, but I think I will have to find another way to contribute to the development of Belize, Jules. I will of course serve out term working for the people of Freetown. But I do not intend to seek re-election."
And so, just like that, Fonseca who just won the Freetown division by his largest margin yet and for a fourth term - is walking away from PUP leadership 4 years after he took up the post, and electoral politics 12 years after he won his first election. He says that it wasn't a spontaneous decision - he decided much before the election that if the PUP lost he would step aside.
Hon. Francis Fonseca, Stepping Down
"I am certainly at peace. That's the kind of person I am. I don't hang on to anything for too long. So I don't trouble myself over things. I do the best I can and then as I said many times over the past few days, we will do all we can. The Belizean people would have to do the rest. They have spoken. We Respect their voice. So I am quite at peace with the work I have done and my contribution to the People's United Party during a very difficult time in its history."
Email
Print