UDP's Orange Walk East Area Representative Marcel Cardona did a most uncommon thing today - he mounted a protest against his own party and government, in fact, his own deputy Prime Minister!
According to reports, this afternoon a group of about 75 Cardona supporters from Orange Walk East marched on the office of Deputy Prime Minister Gaspar Vega. The reason? Cardona claims that Vega and Education Minister Patrick Faber have conspired to deprive him of the education subsidy funds which is allocated to every division. The group of protestors allege that subsidy funds earmarked for his Orange Walk East have been diverted to Vega's Orange Walk North.
A standing area representative publicly protesting against his own party is always news, but Cardona fell out with the UDP leadership more than a year ago - and there are now two UDP aspirants trying to unseat him as standard bearer.
Still he's gotten the attention of Education Minister Faber who says that indeed the subsidy funds have not been sent to Orange Walk East but that's because no official request has come from Cardona's office. Faber said someone did go to the Education office to pick up the divisional allotment, but they were instructed that they needed written authorization from Cardona. Faber says he has also been unable to reach his colleague Cardona by phone. Faber says that one a half months ago, Cardona was asked to send his official request in writing - and it still has not been forthcoming.
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