Port Loyola is buzzing with political activity right now - and that’s because there’s going to be a hotly contested convention in a little over a week. As we’ve reported, it’s a fierce, four way race between Phillip Willoughby, Mike Peyrefitte, Dean Samuels and AC Shane Castillo.
The major friction right now is between Willoughby and the four term representative Anthony Boots Martinez. Martinez made a major declaration defending his turf two days ago - after he felt that Willoughby was taking him lightly.
The tension started to bubble over from last Saturday, when Willoughby was campaigning with Patrick Faber - and Martinez came along. That’s when Faber admits he and Boots had some hard words:..
Hon. Patrick Faber - Deputy Prime Minister
"Yes I was out campaigning with Mr. Willoughby Saturday and while on the campaign trail with about 25 campaigners, Minister Martinez joined in and of course you know he is not supporting Mr. Willoughby and I thought that was antagonizing to some of the campaigners and so I simply said to him, listen this is not going well, please stop antagonizing so to speak, the work that Mr. Willoughby was doing. Which he didn't take too nicely to and I simply walked away, I'm not the kind that's going to get into all of that on the streets, but you know everybody has a right to support who they want to support, we understand that the convention is going to bring - the convention season in general is going to bring this kind of thing, it is healthy for our democracy as long as it does not get out of hand. In our party, we try to be as democratic as possible but also as peaceful as possible and so, I do not advocate for any kind of violence in the campaign season."
Jules Vasquez
"It is very unusual but you and Mr. Saldivar are campaigning with Mr. Willoughby. Is this to neutralize Mr. Perryfitte and his hopes of ascendancy within the party structure? Mr. Martinez has now gone on record to say, that he wants Mr. Perryfitte for party leader."
Hon. Patrick Faber
"Well, you will have to ask those people, I can only speak on my own behalf. Phillip Willoughby and I go way back, from primary school at Queen Square Anglican School together in fact and I believe that Phillip has demonstrated repeatedly, his ability that nobody can question about that. That is he a man of the people and he deserves a shot. If you must know internally in our party, we have overlooked his ability many times and to our detriment in some instance."
Jules Vasquez
"You will concede though, that is slightly unusual that both you and your rival - real talk, Mr. Saldivar both find a common cause behind this single candidate."
Hon. Patrick Faber
"That can only mean one thing to me, we both have a good vision and we both know a quality candidate when we see one."
Jules Vasquez
"So it has nothing to do with neutralizing Mr. Perryfitte?"
Hon. Patrick Faber
"No, he has not declared himself to be a candidate, even though I understand that Mr. Martinez may have done so."
We also asked Faber about a cryptic Facebook post that appeared on his page two nights ago. It popped up on Tuesday - shortly after the news was done - the same news in which the Port Loyola Rep had made some bold declarations. Faber denied any knowledge of what appeared on his Facebook page:…
Jules Vasquez
"So, I have to ask you bluntly, are you denying that after the news aired on Tuesday night, that your Facebook page had a post saying Crackheads say and do the darnest things? I have a screen shot."
Hon. Patrick Faber
"If you are saying something, I've seen records of that put on that people are attributing to me, I did no such post but also, I don't know what that has to do with anything here, what would a post like that have to do with anything here?"
Reporter
"So it wasn't your page?"
Hon. Patrick Faber
"I did not make any such post but I'm telling you, your threading on very dangerous waters when you're trying to tie all of that in together and I am going no where there."
Jules Vasquez
"Of course this is a very unusual post for a deputy prime minister to make."
Hon. Patrick Faber
"Your insisting that I made it, see well it's best that you don't ask me then because you seem to have your mind made up already. Both of you have asked me and you insist. Anyways I'll leave it there.”
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