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The National Party Council of the UDP met this weekend to consider the Mayor Moya situation. The first thing is that she’s been brought up on criminal charges – accused, but as they say innocent until proven guilty. Secondly, she blasted the party leader in an interview which was aired on every national radio and television station and bannered across every newspaper headline. Now, as she said, the party leader is just one man and, just so, Moya is just one woman – and one who does not have very many friends in the senior ranks of the UDP right now. So, going into the National Party Council on Saturday, it was “Z against the world” – except she didn’t show. But we did – Jules Vasquez has the usual, full report, granular detail.

Jules Vasquez Reporting,
The meeting was set for 9:30 and the representatives from faraway areas like Melvin Hulse from Stann Creek West and Pablo Marin from Corozal Bay were among the earliest to arrive. Former leader Manuel Esquivel and a parade of Cabinet ministers, party executive members, Senators, and Area Reps poured in.

The casually outfitted Prime Minister arrived at about 9:45 while the also casually attired deputy was the last to arrive at around 10:30.

Municipal leaders were also plentiful: The Mayor of Belmopan, the Deputy Mayor of Belize City, the Mayor of Corozal who is also head of the Mayor’s Association, the Mayor of Punta Gorda – all of them were there while Belize City councillors also waited - even the councillor with dengue pulled himself there. One municipal leader who was invited but didn’t appear was Zenaida Moya.

The Prime Minister confirmed that the meeting was about her and that she was invited but did not appear:

Prime Minister Dean Barrow, UDP Leader
“She was invited, she was spoken to yesterday and in fact we had the indication from her through the Secretary General that she would come but she didn’t turn up.”

But her attorney Hubert Elrington was there - or in the paring lot at least and as is his wont made quite the scene. He was handing out a flyer, in fact he put it on the windshields of every ministerial vehicle in the crowded parking area while Easy Glen countered him.

Easy Glen to Hubert Elrington: “You may believe that Mr. Elrington. How all of a sudden now you don’t believe? How all of a sudden Mr. Hubert you don’t believe….i just conscious it seems you got amnesia.”

Going beyond the duties of legal counsel – Elrington was determined to prove himself as the Mayor’s most zealous defender. His flier calls the UDP vindictive for picking on for picking on her after she just had a child and makes no mention of the term under-deposits. Elrington did his work and continued on the street side.

When the meeting finished around noon – party council members seemed more concerned about lunch than the plight of the Mayor, but the Party Leader confirmed that serious business was discussed. Mainly that Mayor Zenaida was removed from the National Party Council and will face further disciplinary sanctions to be determined by the Central Executive.

Prime Minister Dean Barrow,
“The National Party Council voted that the process should be put in train that would lead to a contemplation of that kind of charge, the Mayor as a member of the party now has violated her obligations to the party and so the due process, which is quite elaborate that the constitution provides for will now begin.”

Jules Vasquez,
“So the move is afoot to expel her? Will she have a chance to defend herself?”

Prime Minister Dean Barrow,
“I don’t know if the move is afoot to expel her. The move is afoot to look at the question of serious disciplinary action but you’re exactly right, that can only be done in the context of this elaborately layered due process provision in the constitution. This body has sent it then to the Central Executive. The Central Executive must cause an investigation, must formulate charges, must give her a chance to make representations and at that stage if the Central Executive so deems it, it can then go to the Ethics Committee which will hold a proper hearing. So it is multi-layered.”

Jules Vasquez,
“What are your personal feelings towards Miss Moya, the implication drawn is certainly that she made a very direct insult against you, a very personal insult?”

Prime Minister Dean Barrow,
“Obviously I am not going to get into that, I am not going to stoop to that level at all. The party has dealt with the entire issue and that is enough for me.”

Anita Nembhard, Freelance
“So today you never dealt with that allegation that was made on Wednesday when she was charged regarding attacking yourself?”

Prime Minister Dean Barrow,
“That’s what I am saying. That is why the National Party Council voted to have this process begin and voted to do all that it could do immediately which is to remove her from the National Party Council, from membership of the National Party Council. The National Party Council can’t take any other action but it has referred that matter to the Central Executive with a view to the Central Executive taking it up with the National Ethics and Integrity Committee.

That was the issue, her conduct, what she had said, that in effect she accused me of subverting justice, of procuring the DPP to charge her which is a very serious allegation to make. So that was the basis on which the parry acted. I am sure the question of disrespect was involved but I think far more important, the party was concerned that she had made an allegation which in fact impugns my integrity and suggests that I have interfered with the course of justice.”

Jules Vasquez,
“Sir are you concerned that she will become a PUP, switch over to the PUP or become independent or non-aligned with the UDP?”

Prime Minister Dean Barrow,
“That would entirely a matter for her and the PUP. I won’t allow you to pull my tongue.”

Anita Nembhard, Freelance
“What’s next for the UDP as of today? What next?”

Prime Minister Dean Barrow,
“The party is very clear on saying to the public that it feels it has vindicated itself by acting in this matter consistently with its principles and what it has done before in terms of Juan Coy, in terms of Dianne Haylock, in terms of Marcel Cardona. That is that nobody is above being disciplined by the party for various reasons.”

Jules Vasquez,
“Sir but you can’t think that Mayor Moya is the only person in the UDP responsible of mismanagement of public funds?”

Prime Minister Dean Barrow,
“You act on the basis of evidence, in this case there was the evidence uncovered by Patrick Tillett, there was the evidence uncovered by the audit. These things were given to the DPP and the police and those were the functionaries of the law that actually act.”

Moya’s opponents say they expect that she will be expelled in a month’s time. But that’s not what the party leader said in his very measured remarks. The party’s central executive is expected to meet this weekend. The PUP today called on the Mayor to take an immediate leave of absence until all pending matters are resolved.