There's mounting discontent amongst PUP in Belmopan tonight after two prominent candidates: Arthur Saldivar and Jason Patrick Andrews were disqualified from running in the convention. The party's vetting committee made the decision which has rankled Andrews - who was the PUP's Belmopan candidate in the 2015 general election.
He asked to do an interview today to clear his name - because of the unfavorable perception that might be attached to someone who is not allowed to run for a mass party:…
Jason Patrick Andrews - Disqualified PUP Candidate
"To me the only reason why I will give an interview Jules is because I think it's important for me to clear my name because if you reject somebody is like you're saying I'm a criminal or I did something wrong but at the same time it is important that I clear my name because at some point in time if we have a change in leadership of the PUP, I would love, I still have hope and aspirations to run but it's important for the people to know that they had no logical reason to disqualify me except for a personal grudge because I did not support Johnny Briceno that I am not being allowed to run for the PUP in Belmopan, that's the only reason. Anything else is just frivolous and bogus and people with common sense could see right through that. It's a very foolish reason in my opinion as many people have expressed to me."
Jules Vasquez
"Is it vindictive in your opinion?"
Jason Patrick Andrews
"Yes, I was very supportive of Honourable Francis Fonseca in the last leadership for the party and I did not support Johnny and that's the only logical reason. It's difficult for me and painful because when you're being victimize by your own party it's not easy. It's one thing to make you be victimized by the UDP but this is my party the victimized me."
Jules Vasquez
"They are having a convention. They have two virtual unknowns, Wiezsman Pat and Michelle Rodriguez and Mr. Mira who has run before, unsuccessfully in a convention. My question to you is what do you make of race as it stands with those 3 candidate?"
Jason Patrick Andrews
"(Laugh) It's funny, better they just endorse the man because it's a farce and people can see right through it."
Jules Vasquez
"What do you foresee will happen in this convention in terms of do you think it will be a robust turnout? And who do you expect will emerge victorious since you have said all 3 of them are really not worthy candidates?"
Jason Patrick Andrews
"That is not my opinion you know, that have been proven in the last convention that we had for the PUP. Now we're pushing the man that came in 3rd out of 4 in Belmopan, you understand it makes no logical sense."
Jules Vasquez
"Do you think the PUP in Belmopan has set themselves at a disadvantage by excluding you from a convention?"
Jason Patrick Andrews
"Make I tell you something Jules, we knew that the party leader and Moises Scott in Belmopan have been trying to push Oscar Mira in Belmopan for a while now. When Oscar Mira run against me in a convention when Agar run, Oscar barely get 230 votes I think he get you know, I beat him by almost 600 and odd votes."
Jules Vasquez
"If one looks at the eruption of emotion on Facebook yesterday it was some kind of rough stuff said about Mr. Briceno said by your heart broken supporters, said some very unkind things about Mr. Briceno. Does this make it so that if those things are being said by your supporters, you can't run in PUP again."
Jason Patrick Andrews
"I can't control nobody, I'm responsible for my own actions Jules, I can't control nobody else actions."
Jules Vasquez
"Might you be forced to run as an independent?"
Jason Patrick Andrews
"No, I have no intention as running as an independent, as I said I'm a member of the PUP, I will remain a member of the PUP."
Andrews says he plans to vote in the convention.
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