Marconi Leal Sr. Announces Retirement from Electoral Politics, PUP to Select New Standard Bearer

For some time now, rumors had been in the mill that Marconi Leal Senior would not be contesting the next general elections.  Our newsroom made multiple checks, but we were told that he would be on the ballot for Belize Rural North.  Tonight, however, the rumors are no longer rumors, but have turned factual.  A release from the PUP Secretariat came in just before news time confirming that Leal would be going into retirement from electoral politics.  According to the release, it was a personal and difficult decision made after consultations with family and members of the division.  The release noted that the rationale is that Leal will be focusing on personal matters.  Best information to Love News is that Leal had been ailing for some time now.  The People’s United Party noted that the selection of the new PUP Standard Bearer will be done in full consultation with the PUP Executive of BRN.