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COLA's New Captain Takes Over From General Giovanni
posted (June 13, 2019)
COLA started out in 2008 as the "Citizens to Oust Lord Ashcroft" - a KREMANDALA pressure group with Bernard Adolphus as its first president.

From that single issue group, it has morphed into a full fledged, broad spectrum activist group, the Citizens Organized for Liberty through Action. And the man at the helm for much of COLA's rise to national prominence has been Giovanni Brackett - the three term president.

The hard-charging, hard-talking Brackett has become synonymous with COLA, but today, he surprised many when he announced that, it was time for him to take a step back. Brackett says he made the decision some time ago after his mother passed - and his nephew was killed. He introduced the new president at a press conference in Belize City this morning:

Giovannie Brackett, Stepping Down as COLA President
"Leadership is finite and I believe that we all have an era that we served. We have to know that era and know when is the transitional period and I know to say categorically I know this young man would be even a better leader than me and leadership, I don't know want to stifle. So when he was introduced to me by Patrick Rogers. Coin incidentally I know him from a young man, I know his family - both of us have Methodist background, but what I did, I didn't try to let him meet any persons who are my friends and then try to bring anything that any friends have made along the way, any enemies. What I wanted him to do is meet the members of COLA and so he can start off fresh. He can run with his vision and his leadership style."

Shawn Saldano, New Cola President
"We must maintain persistent and consistent in the fight to end the war in socio-economic political and even educational eras. The work that COLA has to do can never be compromised and it is my imperative duty to steer this ship in the boat of neutrality and impartiality. I want to see COLA's membership increase rapidly and seriously, so that when we talk about these national issues for instance this matter of the social security none-sense going on, when we take to the streets you will not see us alone on this head table, but we would be able to mobilize our young people, get them out of schools, get them out of work places. get them out of their homes, so that they may be inspired and impacted to stand against the socio-economic divide that continues to destroy this country."

Shawn Saldano is 21, and, yes, he was the face and voice behind that all time 2010 hit, "I Am Belize."

But, he's also known to us as a dynamic young UDP youth leader, linked to Patrick Faber's camp. Today we asked Saldano about his UDP roots:...

Shawn Saldano, New Cola President
"There is absolutely no secret that I derived from a strong United Democratic Party background and family and so February 7th, 2008 I was in high school, but I was very vocal about my support and my support to the United Democratic Party and I really and truly believe in their intentions of the universal betterment and development of Belize. What allowed me to derive here is because I have a mind of my own. I am educated. I am a thinker; I am a critical thinker. I am an analytical human being and I know that one plus one is not 4 and I do not believe in this political mentally, because my parents or my family brew me into this UDP/PUP none-sense I have to maintain that. Lord man, I can think, I can reason, I can be logical, I have that fundamental right - the right of determination to say government you are not doing what you are supposed to do and I think that is my fundamental responsibility. If you are not doing what you are supposed to do then I am an accomplice if I allow you to continue to do knowing fully well that that is wrong, that is corrupt, that is harmful."

Reporter
"So you say you denounce your support of the UDP?"

Shawn Saldano
"Absolutely."

SALDANO ran unopposed as president and was endorsed. He says his priority is recruiting new members. Currently COLA claims over 600 members, many of them are dormant. He says COLA is currently planning a two week summer camp from July 8 - 19.

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