Elvia Vega-Samos Faces Challenge Ahead of General Elections

Elvia Vega-Samos is the only PUP Standard Bearer who will go to a convention prior to the general elections next year.  The final decisions regarding standard bearers were made yesterday during, what we understand, was a very heated meeting of the party’s National Executive.  Vega-Samos will be going head to head with Thea Garcia-Ramirez who officially launched her candidacy on May 25 in Corozal Bay.  It is a sticky situation that has created a clear divide in the bay, and one that has caused speculations of special treatment considering that Thea is the daughter to the Prime Minister’s CEO.

Hon. John Briceño, Prime Minister of Belize: “I don’t see why you have to mention about my CEO. This was a decision that was done. There’s a whole process that we go through. First there’s the vetting committee. Then the vetting committee it goes then to the national campaign committee and then from the national campaign committee it goes to the national executive. And the national executive looked at the recommendations from the national executive and accepted the recommendation.”

Reporter: But do you think that will maybe lead to any bad blood within the party? 
Hon. John Briceño, Prime Minister of Belize:“No, I don’t think so. It’s part of the democracy. Nobody owns anything. I don’t own Orange Walk Central. Anybody can, I’ve been saying this for years and years and years, that anybody that believes that they can represent Orange Walk Central better than I do they’re welcome to come and then let the people decide. And in this case then, let the people decide who is it that they want to represent them, to represent the People’s United Party in Corozal Bay. But there’s one thing I can tell you, that I have every confidence that after that convention whosoever wins that convention will certainly represent the good people of Corozal Bay in the new government.”