The four are Mark Espat, Cordel Hyde, Francis Fonseca, and Florencio Marin Jr. They wrote Briceno yesterday saying they want to serve as deputy leaders but only if Briceno makes a departure from business as usual.

7news has obtained a copy of the quite remarkable letter. It outlines four issues they want addressed: first the national executive must be allowed to oversee the affairs of the party - which is how it should be, but apparently, not how it is; Second, the letter states that the financing of the party should, quote: "emerge from the shadows so that resources are properly accounted for…";

Third, it says that the PUP must "become a credible alternative" to the UDP, and on major issues it "must do more than simply criticize the UDP";

Fourth, it urges the party to "revamp its secretariat, its campaign and communications operations"

And lastly, it says that high standards should be demanded of those who serve on the new national executive that will be elected in October.

The letter goes unto say that the four - who account for two thirds of the PUP's six elected representatives - are quote, "prepared to serve as Deputy Party Leaders."

It concludes that, quote: "the results of the 2009 municipal elections and the more recent village council elections - where the PUP actually lost political ground - show beyond any reasonable doubt that the current approach of the party is ineffective." It cautions sternly that quote, "Change, radical change is needed now."

The letter closes by saying the four want an answer by Friday September 17th.

And affixed at the bottom are the signatures of all four. It is an unlikely foursome, we might add, since Fonseca and Marin are Old Guard affiliated while Espat and Hyde are the new guard.

So what will Briceno do? Our information suggests that it is complicated because substantial commitments have already been made for those deputy seats. According to our information, at least one is slated to go to head of the southern caucus, Mike Espat, another, possibly, to Carolyn Trench Sandiford.

But Briceno will now either have to un-make those commitments and rankle some feathers - particularly those of the old guard who now encircle him - or face the very real prospect that going forward, four of the six PUP's who actually won their seats in the 2008 blowout, will be on the sidelines - hardly a good omen for what is hyped as a 'unity convention.' We were unable to get comment from the Stuart Leslie who is the party leader's assistant but, by tomorrow, we should know, either way.

Actually, we won't have to wait until then. This evening at 6:25 the pup issued a release saying that it is going ahead with its convention based on the names that were submitted as of September 13 - and those do not include the four.

So, the following nominations for elected posts in the National Executive have been submitted:

Hon. John Briceño-Party Leader
Daniel Silva-Deputy Party Leader
Carolyn Trench-Sandiford-Deputy Party Leader
Mike Espat-Deputy Party Leader
Hon. Francis Fonseca-Deputy Party Leader
Henry Charles Usher-Chairman
Eamon Courtenay-National Campaign Manager, among others.