7 News Belize

PUP Leader Francis Fonseca announced his decision to step down last week Thursday - and, slowly, the names have been popping up as potential successors. We've already told you about John Briceno, Julius Espat and Kareem Musa. Briceno said he would wait and see - but now we have learned that he is interested in the leadership. Julius Espat and Kareem Musa had already said they were considering it. So that's three, but there's one more: Cordel Hyde - the four term Lake Independence Representative, and judging by his share of the vote in the last election, he's the most popular of all PUP Candidates. Cordel Hyde beat his opponent Mark King by two thousand votes - and while he's not making any pronounced maneuvers or overtures for leadership - we are reliably informed that his name is being put out there for leader by a cross section of supporters. Now, it's way too early to say who's a favourite, and who will actually vye for leadership - because no date for a leaders' convention has been set, and already there is talk of alliances being formed. The party meets tomorrow at a luncheon to send off outgoing leader Francis Fonseca, and the national executive will meet thereafter, and may decide on the date for a leadership convention. We'll let you know how that goes.