Elvia Vega-Samos Goes Independent, Challenging PUP in Corozal Bay

Elvia Vega-Samos was officially nominated today as an independent candidate for the Corozal Bay Division.  Her decision to exit the People’s United Party came mid-last week indicating that she would be challenging PUP’s Thea-Garcia Ramirez in that division.  As she exited the nomination station in Corozal, Love News spoke with her on her decision to leave the PUP pack.  While she did not highlight or stress on any particular issue, she did speak on her thought process in seeking re-election.

Elvia Vega Samos, Independent Candidate, Corozal Bay: “I made that decision for the people. You know some people have told me “You know Elvie as an independent candidate you will not be a minister.” You know when you want to do the work for the people you don’t need to be a minister. You don’t have to have a vehicle. If you have the people at heart you will do it wholeheartedly and I think everything happens for a reason and I am looking forward to working once more with the people, for the people. You know when politicians get in power you know they tend to believe that you’re the boss and you’re not the boss, the people are the boss, the people are the ones who decide if you stay, if you go and so I am doing this for the people of Corozal Bay. We cannot take anyone for granted. We need to visit everybody. I might not be able to reach everyone but I will try my best to reach them through other ways. Maybe I will not be able to walk and see every house but the people know who is Elvie. I have not shied away from work despite the limitations they know that I have tried my very best with the little that was given. And so I truly believe that the people will once more give me that opportunity to represent them in Belmopan. You know this is historic. You know this is the time now to have another party, to have people seeing that it’s not just the blue and the red. It’s not just limited for us, there are other options and maybe this is the beginning, this is a beginning of something big. We don’t know. We don’t know what God has planned. So I am very humbled and I know the people of Corozal Bay have been messaging me, people all over the country you know I am really humbled by that.”

Prime Minister John Briceno has expressed disappointment at the Vega’s exit from the PUP.  We spoke with him earlier today where he expressed confidence in a victory for Thea Garcia in Corozal Bay.  

John Briceño, Prime Minister of Belize: “I am very disappointed that Ms.Samos has decided to run independent. I think she should know better. She went, there was convention, it was run fairly. She participated, she worked with the list so for her to say that people were not allowed to vote that’s simply not true. And she lost decisively, it’s not even that it was a close convention. I wish she would rethink, it’s not too late. She could still withdraw her nomination at any time and to be able to give support to Thea. Thea like her is a woman and we need to support one another and that’s the problem I see that many instances women don’t support women and this is one of the best examples I could find. Because she didn’t get her way she said okay well and try to spoil it because she knows she can’t win. So I’m disappointed. I hope she would reconsider to come out and to support Thea and if she is a good PUP as she claims to then she and her supporters will support the candidate of the PUP. That’s the oath that she took.”

Reporter: Now by any chance, speaking about Ms.Samos you mentioned that she’s welcome to come back. Is the party making any effort to issue that olive branch for her to consider ? 

John Briceño, Prime Minister of Belize: “We have done that all along. Even after she lost and she wasn’t really participating we still used to give her resources. She still remained as a minister of state, she had a driver, she had a vehicle. All of that and people like Honorable Kareem Musa and others have been reaching out to her and telling her why are you doing this ? This makes no sense. It makes no political sense for her, her supporters or even for us as a party. But despite all of that I have every confidence that Thea is going to win. Thea has shown her determination. She has shown that she has the wherewithal, the true grit to serve the people of Corozal Bay, to serve them well. She has been seeing them well even though she has not been the area representative. So I have confidence that despite whatever Ms.Samos were to do that’s up to her. I hope she doesn’t but if she does that’s okay we’re still going to win. Thea is going to deliver for the People’s United Party.”

Also speaking on the issue was the Deputy Party Leader, Cordel Hyde.  According to his statement, the move to have Elvia Vega-Samos removed from the Corozal Bay executive was a part of the party process.  He noted that it was an unfortunate situation but it had to be done.

Cordel Hyde, PUP Candidate, Lake Independence: “When you declare yourself to be a candidate you do sign can oath. You do orally make a pledge to all present that you are going to work for the aims and objectives of the People’s United Party. You won’t be a candidate for any other party, you will be for the People’s United Party. So I think maybe it was a little swift and so it comes across the wrong way but ultimately I think it’s kind of inevitable that there’s a separation and so I guess the executive moved swiftly to declare that the separation is official. But I mean once you declare you’re going to run independent then it means that you’re not longer running with the party. She has a right to run independent and give it all she’s got and ultimately that’s a decision for the people in Corozal Bay to make and you know of course we’re rooting for our PUP candidate but she has a right. She has a right and we respect that. I think what happened is that if you declare you’re going to run independent it means you’re declaring you’re not a PUP and”

Reporter: She’s still the incumbent. 

Cordel Hyde, PUP Candidate, Lake Independence: “Yes but you are a minister of state, as as result of being the PUP representative. So once you declare “well I no longer want to be associated with the party.” Of course you know it’s the Prime Minister who decides who is in cabinet, who is a minister, who is a minister of state and so her minister of state status obviously was revoked and if you’re no longer a minister of state then you don’t have access to a government vehicle per se. But again like I said it’s how you do thinks ultimately. It’s the timing of things and I think you know I regret that we didn’t get a chance to talk to Elvie and try to talk this through. And I always feel if you sit and talk to each other you can work things out. Maybe enough talking took place already, I don’t know but I wish we could have talked some more and tried to reach a point where we didn’t have to reach here. This is really really regrettable.”

Elvia Vega-Samos came into office on the coattails of her brother, David Diddo Vega, who lost his life to Covid-19 in 2020.  Diddo Vega died before he could have been sworn into the National Assembly.  A bi-election was held where Elvia was endorsed by many in the PUP.