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PUP Leader Fonseca: What I Would Do With Telemedia
posted (March 5, 2012)
PUP Leader Francis Fonseca attended his party's weekend pre-election rallies in the City, Benque Viejo and Independence Village.

Today he told us that - with all the adversity has party has faced since October - a victory at the polls on Wednesday would be "extraordinary," but he is confident that it will happen.

Fonseca shared those comments in an extended interview, which will air separate from the news tomorrow night.

Tonight, we'll sample a small part of that interview in which he discusses his party's relationship with the Ashcroft Alliance. It's topical, because the Barrow Administration's war with the Alliance has become one of the defining features of his administration - and to fair extent is why general elections are being called early because the Barrow Administration needs a new mandate- after passing the eighth amendment used up much of its political capital.

So what would Fonseca do with the Ashcroft alliance? And to what extent would that be determined by whether or not the Alliance is currently financing the PUP?

Fonseca told us that currently the PUP is receiving no financing from Ashcroft.

Jules Vasquez pressed the point:

Francis Fonseca - Party Leader, PUP
"The People's United Party is not beholden to Lord Michael Ashcroft. We are not receiving assistance from him financially, and we will not be beholden to him in office when we form the government or after March 7, 2012. I have to make that absolutely clear."

Jules Vasquez
"How would you settle the Telemedia matter - or would you settle it? Would you prefer a protracted fight as has been going on?"

Francis Fonseca
"I think we have to handle it responsibly. I think that our party and I are of the view that we have to find a solution to this matter. I think that we support the position adopted by the churches and by the Chamber of Commerce, which says that there should be fair and prompt compensation."

Jules Vasquez
"Are you able to say, without equivocation, that these 13 constituencies for the PUP are not receiving some sort of support - maybe not financial - but some sort of strategic support from the Ashcroft Alliance?"

Francis Fonseca
"Absolutely no support from the so-called Ashcroft Alliance is coming to the People's United Party. If Mr. Ashcroft or his agents are given any support to anybody through their own efforts, that is not being done through the People's United Party. I, as the leader of the People's United Party, know nothing of that type of support and assistance to the People's United Party."

Jules Vasquez
"But it may be done through their own agents."

Francis Fonseca
"Well I don't know. You're saying that this is your information. I have no knowledge of that information."

Jules Vasquez
"But you should know; you're in charge."

Francis Fonseca
"Of What?"

Jules Vasquez
"You're in charge of the party."

Francis Fonseca
"Yes, and I am saying that no support is coming to the People's United Party."

The entire extended interview with Fonseca will air after the news tomorrow night.

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