On Sunday in San Joaquin Village, Corozal Southeast Area Representative Florencio Marin Jr. and his committee did the unthinkable – they held a political convention in open defiance of the Party’s National Executive. The Executive told them plainly, “don’t do it,” and.....they just did it, sort of like a child saying “whatever” to a parent’s warning. And the prevailing wisdom is that the unprecedented act of defiance is because Corozal Southeast wants to challenge, embarrass and possibly up-end the new leadership of the PUP.

It’s an old political grudge between the Briceno’s and the Marin’s but it’s also a new staging ground for the PUP’s deathless old guard which is seeking cover from a mass party for former Leader Said Musa – political cover which John Briceno’s PUP has made it clear it will not provide.

So the old guard was determined to show itself as punchy, muscular maybe even politically viable in San Joaquin yesterday. It could have been history happening right before our eyes as the oldest party in Belize split right down the middle, or it could just have been a blip on the radar screen of current events. Jules Vasquez went north to see for himself.

Jules Vasquez Reporting,
In San Joaquin Village on Sunday afternoon, it was as if February 7th never happened, past leader Said Musa and Leader Emeritus George Price were greeted as returning heroes. Seeing this you might think that there is a parallel universe with a parallel PUP – that Said Musa’s name is still a political blue chip and that he didn’t lead the PUP to the worst defeat in its history just nine months ago.

But he did, and yet still in San Joaquin he was greeted with chants of “Que viva Musa.” And just read the signs being held up by the crowds here in San Joaquin and you’ll know who leads their PUP – and that is – the sign says – ‘the real PUP.’ Musa and the almost 90 year old price Price were lavished with bouquets from beauty queens and political thunder from the crowd.

And in that spirit and on the pulse of “Adelante”, Musa and Price led a modestly-sized - certainly not overwhelming - parade to the village park

At the park they were met by other PUP brass all old guard loyalists. The leaders were serenaded by Mariachi’s, regaled with gifts, Musa handed out certificates to long time supporters in a very leader-like gesture. And in arguably the most PUP village in Belize – the crowd filtered around the park, more bemused than enthused.

The emcee was Joe Ellis, the Corozal Southeast Chairman who read the resolution explaining why his committee decided to call the convention in defiance of the party executive:

Joe Ellis, Corozal Southeast Chairman
“Will resist all attempts at destabilization of its work and resist all attempts at denying its right according to the PUP Constitution.”

The man once known as the Area Caudillo, retiring undefeated representative and father of the Area Representative, made clear why they are calling the convention without blessing of executive – Ellis’ Committee he says demanded it.

Hon. Florencio Marin Sr., Former Area Representative
“It is not the new representative nor the old one. We support the executive committee because it was serious and firm. It wins elections because it has learnt about loyalty and discipline and so we make this decision that yes (we will go ahead with them), because nobody from any other place can come to win the election for the candidate, it is the committee that cracks the whip.”

And with the endorsement overseen by Chair of the Southern Caucus Mike Espat, Marin Jr. accepted the endorsement and took the party’s oath of allegiance.

Hon. Florencio Marin Jr., Area Representative
[Repeating Oath of Allegiance] “To abide by the Constitution, discipline and decisions of the PUP.”

Question,
“Despite the advice of the National Executive Committee you still went ahead and held your convention where you were endorsed as the Standard Bearer of Corozal Southeast. What do you have to say about that?”

Hon. Florencio Marin Jr.,
“First of all I didn’t call the convention, it was the Corozal Southeast Executive that called it. So when they called the convention, as you know the constitution authorizes them and only them, so whoever was interested had to apply so I think that is a myth. I didn’t call it, I just submitted my name when they called it.”

Question,
“But even though the National Executive Committee is saying that this convention is null and void because nobody came to represent them today.”

Hon. Florencio Marin Jr.,
“You had members of the National Executive here today.”

Question,
“Who were they?”

Hon. Florencio Marin Jr.,
“Mike Espat, he is on the National Executive.”

Question,
“How does this make you look on behalf of the Party know in seeing that you have the Leader of the Party John Briceno saying that this is not a valid convention?”

Hon. Florencio Marin Jr.,
“He said that? I didn’t hear him say that. Are you telling me he said that?”

Question,
“Yes he did.”

Hon. Florencio Marin Jr.,
“Well I don’t think anyone is bigger than the constitution and if you go back to the constitution, everything starts there.”

Jules Vasquez,
Do you respect and acknowledge the Leadership of John Briceno as Leader of the PUP?

Hon. Florencio Marin Jr.,
“Yes John Briceno is the Leader of our Party. He is my Party Leader and I will fight for him to become the Prime Minister of this country.”

Jules Vasquez,
I saw signs out here that said we want the real leaders of the PUP: Marin, Musa, and Price. I didn’t see Briceno’s name there, I didn’t see the person Briceno here.

Hon. Florencio Marin Jr.,
“Jules really I think you’re reading a lot into these things because every event we’ve had since Mr. Briceno has been elected, I’ve invited him, but of course being the Party Leader I am sure he is a little bit busy.”

But he didn’t need the party leader it seemed, he had enough high level endorsements.

Hon. Francis Fonseca, Freetown Area Representative
“I am here today to show my support for him. He has always been there for me and I am here for him today. He was one of only six of the representatives who were elected by the people of Belize. We must not engage in any fight with one of our six elected representatives.”

Mike Espat, Member of PUP Executive
“We have come a long way as a political party and we will continue to go forward once we are united and that word you know is easy to say, united, but in order to get it together it needs special effort and it needs special people.”

And if we read the vibe of the day correctly, seems those “special people” are the day’s guests of honour Musa and Price. And Price was firm in his Spanish language declaration.

Rt. Hon. George Price, PUP Leader Emeritus
“When the party confronts a problem we are not going to run like cowards. We are here to defend our position. We must hold to our position, plant our feet and be strong.”

The context of the day made it clear that the problems they confront comes from within and not without. Main speaker Musa spoke for 15 minutes much like a party leader would on a host of topical political challenges.

Rt. Hon. Said Musa, Former PUP Leader
“We have a government that is vindictive, malicious, hate filled, that is…”

But Musa’s main fight is mostly about his pending arrest. After defending his actions in 4 minute explanation of his dealings with the Venezuelan money, he challenged the Prime Minister.

Rt. Hon. Said Musa,
“Now they say they will arrest me. What crime did I commit? I acted in good faith. You may not have agreed with what I did to try and help the hospital but my friends I did not commit a criminal wrong.

I want to say to Dean Barrow and the UDP I am not afraid of you. Bring it on anytime you want. We are ready to face you.

Papi Potie reminded me what I told him in the House of Representatives. Nuh watch me, watch yuhself.”

And after letting off those cannons at the government, he turned to his own party, an unspecified “them.”

Rt. Hon. Said Musa,
“As Mr. Price said we are not going to run. We are not afraid of them. We are going to stand up for our rights. We are going to stand up with Florencio Marin Jr. because he is the choice of the people of Southeast and we are going to stand up with all members and supporters of the People’s United Party. Adelante con el Partido Unido de Pueblo.”

Sounds like a party leader to us or a man who wants to lead something – and we guessed from the dancing that this was a party, but if the old guard planned it as the launch of a parallel PUP, they’ll have to do better...the crowd did not overwhelm, it swelled to no more than 400 adults, who clapped sparingly and seemed neither inspired nor offended, but the air was not electric, not charged with the sprit of rebellion – and it’s left to be seen if the political festival at San Joaquin was a seismic split or just an odd spectacle.

The challenge now goes to the party’s leadership to see if it can corral and contain this breakaway division, while also making sure that others don’t do the same because that would turn a fissure into a fault. The news tonight is that there will be a Special Executive Meeting tomorrow. At that time, sources tell us that heavy disciplinary action will be meted out and that could include expulsions and suspensions.

The greatest punishment is reserved for the members of Corozal Southeast Committee which called the convention in open defiance of the party directive. They could be made to face the ultimate penalty of expulsion. Marin Jr., who is not on the Committee, could also lose his seat as treasurer on the Northern Caucus. And Mike Espat Is also expected to be punished for his role in giving an executive sanction to the convention. Sources say he could lose his chair of the Southern Caucus.

It is expected that there will also be other acts of war against old “guardists” initiated by a very eager executive. The sense we get from sources is that the new PUP seems to see this as a welcome opportunity to publicly purge itself of and permanently distance itself from the old guard – which the leadership feels will make the party more appealing to voters.

We’ll know what all retaliatory measures will be pursued by the end of tomorrow’s meeting.