Finally, tonight, 15 days after he penned an unexpected letter of resignation as UDP Deputy Leader, Gaspar Vega spoke to the press. The media caught him
outside the House Meeting in Belmopan where he had just supported the Barrow Budget and spoken up for his constituency of Orange Walk North. You'll hear
those remarks later, but first to the burning question: why did he resign?. Here's his explanation:
Mike Rudon - Channel 5 News
"Let's start first of all with the thought that went into your decision to resign as first deputy leader."
Hon. Gaspar Vega - Former UDP Deputy Party Leader
"A long thought difficult decision, one of the most difficult ones I've done in my life but I knew that I would never be area representative forever,
the time had to come. I thought that it was the best thing to do so that I could give the people of Belize both most importantly the people in Orange
Walk North; those that whole heartedly supported me to give them enough time so that together we can search for the most appropriate candidate to take
over my position. I think it would have been and it's not within my character to mislead the people that I'll be running next general election and 6
months prior to elections; so I thought this was the most appropriate and most decent and mature thing to do."
"My political life has put a toll on my life, on my family's life; especially my wife, my kids and the last year and a half has been really difficult
for us. You know with this stupidity of the charge that they made on my character and it was really rough, a lot of people I don't think realise how
bad it is, it's just that I'm not a cry baby and I try to handle things the in the most mature manner."
Mike Rudon - Channel 5 News
"There is some speculation of course that it had something to do with lands, it was the obvious thought that came to everybody that had to do with sour
grapes. The prime minister took away lands and gave it to Godwin Hulse, could you speak to that?"
Hon. Gaspar Vega - Former UDP Deputy Party Leader
"Whatever I say, it will create other speculations so I rather say that what I put on the letter was the essence of what I meant."
Daniel Ortiz
"You didn't give a direct response and so it leaves room for interpretation, can you just address it directly sir so that there is no doubt as to if
that played a roll or not in your decision to step down."
Hon. Gaspar Vega - Former UDP Deputy Party Leader
"You know it's so funny, you guys always pick what you want. I said it clear, the most important factor for my decision was the last year and a half
that I've lived as a politician and in truth that is the reason. I have a young family, I have two kids, one is 15 and one is 13. I haven't been
spending time with my kids for how long and I'm going to continue, it's not like I'm leaving my people, I am going to continue working for them, I'm
going to continue delivering for them."
Just before he granted that interview in the house, Vega declared his support for the 2016-2017 budget. At the end of the presentation, he took the
opportunity to thank the voters of Orange Walk North for allowing him to represent them for the last eight years.
Hon. Gaspar Vega - Former UDP Deputy Party Leader
"I will also Mister Speaker like to ask to say a few words to the people in Orange Walk North. I know some of them are saddening by my decision. Some
of them understand but I want to tell the people of Orange Walk North that I am not abandoning them. I will be working for them for the next 4 years or
the rest of this term and I will do as much as I've done in the past 8 years. I will ensure that the school in San Luis is built; I will continue
lobbying for a water system for San Pablo. Continue lobbying for a school in Santa Cruz and I will do everything within my power to ensure that Orange
Walk North never again makes that mistake of electing a PUP representative."
"I want to thank the people or Orange Walk North, the people that have allowed me in their homes. Quiero dar gracias a las San Jose, de San Pablo, de
San Juan, de Douglas, de San Luis, de San Roman, de San Antonio, de Santa Cruz, Otro Benque, de Trail Farm, de Corazon, gracias por la abrir sus casas,
su lugares para mi. I will forever be greatful to the great people of Orange Walk North for the opportunity that they have given me in representing
them. I sincerely believe that I did a very good in job in representing them and I wouldn't want to cheat them to stay just because I want power. I
cannot deliver what I think I should then it's time for a younger person or someone else more vibrant with more energy that I had maybe 10 years ago;
that's what we want."
And while that was the most anticipated presentation of the day – there was a lot of sparring across the house floor – and we'll have all that for you
later on in the news
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