Who will lead the PUP? Tonight the answer to that question is even more unclear than it was last night - and the question of the party's leadership seems to be going from a debate to a circus.
Today was the deadline for nominations to be handed in for prospective leaders, and there are no less than three persons nominated for the post, none of them is the man we called the favorite, Francis Fonseca, and none is even an elected Parliamentarian.
As we understand it, Fonseca defied expectations and turned down the leadership. That seems to have forced some crisis meetings at a familiar place, Said Musa's E Street Home in Kings Park, where we this morning saw Ralph Fonseca's vehicle, financier Mike Feinstein's vehicle, another financier, as well as Julios Espat's Hilux.
That was around 11:00 and by 12:30 today, news broke that Party Treasurer Julius Espat had accepted a nomination for leader.
And by this afternoon, we learnt that Deputy Leader Mike Espat had also been nominated and accepted. They both join the man who declared and put in his name a week ago, Arthur Saldivar.
This evening after 5:00 pm, which marked the close of nominations, party chairman Henry Usher briefed the press:
Jules Vasquez
"How many are nominated for Leader?"
Henry Charles Usher - Chairman, People's United Party
"Well good evening everyone, I have verified with the Secretary General, and we have more than one nominations and acceptances for the post of Leader of the People's United Party. Tomorrow, we have a meeting with the National Executive, and all standard bearers country-wide. And we will be briefing them on all the nominations and those that have accepted the nominations. Following that meeting, we will have a more detailed briefing for the media. I'd like the National Executive and the standard bearers to know before the media knows what is happening country-wide. In accordance to the timeframe set up by the National Executive, we will have a national party council on the October 29th - that is next week Saturday - and at tomorrow's meeting, we will set the date for the National Convention. I can confirm that there are more than 1 applications."
Jose Sanchez - Channel 5 News
"Who are the 4 applicants?"
Henry Charles Usher
"I will let the media know tomorrow after the meeting."
Jose Sanchez - Channel 5 News
"In terms of the House Meeting on Friday, who will act as Leader of the Opposition?
Henry Charles Usher
"Tomorrow we'll have a more detailed briefing for the media. I just wanted - I know that the eyes of the country are on the People's United Party right now, and I know that the media wanted to get some answers today. So that is why I asked you all to come today. We appreciate the interest shown by the media and by the country, and tomorrow you'll have all your answers."
Jose Sanchez - Channel 5 News
"Will there be an Opposition marching on Friday?"
Henry Charles Usher
"You will have your answers tomorrow, Jose."
Jules Vasquez
"Is the party upset or disturbed that Mark Espat, interim Leader, has sort of left it in the lurch?"
Henry Charles Usher
"Well, first of all, Mark Espat did accept the post of interim Leader when Hon. John Briceno resigned. He has been working as interim Leader since October 7. I know he has not left the party in a lurch because we are moving forward. We have applicants for the post of leadership, and we will have a leader after the convention. So there is no sadness or regret at all, Jules."
Jules Vasquez
"Are you concerned that the names we have heard as candidates for leadership are not elected parliamentarians or even proven leaders?"
Henry Charles Usher
"Well, I don't know what you mean by proven leaders. I think that everybody who has run for this party are proven leaders. Perhaps, some that have applied are not parliamentarians, but we have had a situation before where we've had a Leader of the Opposition in the House, and a party leader outside of the house. So that is not unprecedented."
Jules Vasquez
"Will you all have a parliamentarian's meeting tomorrow to determine who will be the leader in the House? I know the Governor General - I am told that he has individually called members of parliament to find out where they stand, who they support for leader."
Henry Charles Usher
"We have a meeting of the National Executive and the standard bearers, and the parliamentarians of course, are a part of both those committees, so yes, they will be here tomorrow. And I do know that the Governor General has been calling around as is his right under the Constitution, to determine who the Leader of the Opposition is."
Jules Vasquez
"I anticipate that - I am told on the record, by Mr. Briceno, that they will not support Mr. Musa as the Leader of the Opposition. It is him, Cordel Hyde, and Mark Espat, against Said Musa's ascension to the Leader of the Opposition. It's a 3 split, it appears."
Henry Charles Usher
"Well, you are giving me news now , Jules. I can't tell you what Mr. Briceno said because he hasn't told me anything."
Jules Vasquez
"If that is the case, if what I'm saying is accurate, how does that bode for the PUP heading into Friday?"
Henry Charles Usher
"We will have a Leader of the Opposition on Friday, Jules. We will have a Leader of Opposition. This country will have a Leader of the Opposition."
And so that is the situation tonight: The PUP will have a national convention to select a leader - no date for that has been set.
Julius Espat was nominated by his divisional chairperson in Cayo South where he is a first time candidate, while Mike Espat was nominated by Collet Montejo of Cayo Central.
Party Treasurer Espat - who is a relative newcomer and a first time aspirant for political office told us that he is embarking on his countrywide tour to rally support for his candidacy.
He says he is glad there will be a contest for leader and that it is all about democracy to make sure the right persons leads the party.
As for the party's debt - a situation he should be intimately knowledgeable of as party treasurer - he says the party is not that indebted and quote, "we have made some minor loans" but stressed that the debt is not a "deal breaker" as it was for Mark Espat's candidacy.
And while Treasurer Espat downplays the debt, we do know that the PUP has significant commercial debts including 440 thousand dollars to the Holy Redeemer Credit Union, 1.8 million dollars to the Belize Bank, 800 thousand dollars in over draft and 2.3 million dollars owed to John Briceno.
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