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Hon. Faber Says He Didn’t Meddle in BNTU Election
posted (April 24, 2017)
Last week, we told you all about the election of a new national BNTU president, and the political intrigues surrounding that election. It's an election that almost didn't happen because the union leadership was so concerned about the possibility that the UDP was backing one of the candidates. Supposedly the ruling party favored Mario Mesh - who ended up coming in last, with 140 votes, not even half of what the winner Elena Smith got. So, if anyone was backing him it didn't help. But Education Minister Patrick Faber says he certainly wasn't involved; in fact, he congratulated the new President Elena Smith on his Facebook page on Friday. But, today when we met Faber at a Cyber Security Forum, we asked if that congratulatory post is just a front:..

Jules Vasquez, 7News
"Some people would say "you are doing that as a decoy," because the belief of many at the BNTU convention was that the UDP and yourself, agents working directly on your behalf were pushing for Mr. Mario Mesh to be elected. Would you comment on that?"

Hon. Patrick Faber, Minister of Education
"You are clearly going in speculation. Listen, it is no secret that the leadership of the BNTU under Luke Palacio was a very rocky time in terms of that relationship with me and also with the wider government. I will not tell you that I am not happy that that has come to an end, but I was genuine when I made the comment to congratulate the new president."

Jules Vasquez, 7News
"We know that the convention was delayed while the executive met for 3 hours. They actually took a vote if they should proceed because of what they believe to be political meddling and it's by the UDP they believe - agents acting on your behalf."

Hon. Patrick Faber, Minister of Education
"You would have to ask them. I was not at the convention. I was at home at that time of the convention. In fact I took a day because as you know my boys were off from school. I was nowhere in Corozal, contrary to what people are saying. I was at home and in fact I knew nothing about what was going on in terms of that behind the door meeting that you talked about that delayed the convention. I was no part of that. So that is a question I believe that is better fitted for the union officials, so they can tell you what was going on."

"But, to me they speculated, if indeed that kind of interference were to come, we would have done much better than we did I would want to think. You know that we are very successful in the bids that we make for the most part."

Jules Vasquez, 7News
Was Ray, your trusted assistant, was he on the ground on behalf of Mr. Mesh?"

Hon. Patrick Faber, Minister of Education
"I have no idea."

Jules Vasquez, 7News
"But usually you worked very closely with the gentleman."

Hon. Patrick Faber, Minister of Education
"I work closely with a lot of people, but that doesn't mean that I know their daily, hourly whereabouts every step of the way."

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