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Will Faber Exploit Mason - Saldivar Connection?
posted (October 25, 2019)
And while Mason and his co-accused have to wait for a verdict - probably the biggest news coming out of the trial is the statement from Mason's key witness, a US Federal Agent. He said in a statement that Mason told him the UDP's aspiring leader John Saldivar was framing him.

Now, Saldivar has responded, quote, "No evidence at all was presented in trial to substantiate this ludicrous and desperate statement."

But, Mason may have been tactical in putting it out there - because, indeed, while the US Federal agent only reported that Mason had told him that - the message is clear: the Americans have been told that a UDP Minister was involved in a murder plot.

This has been flatly rejected and denied, but the political taint remains - and with Saldivar aspiring to be party leader - we asked his opponent Patrick Faber if he intends to use it against him. Here's how Faber responded:

Reporter
"Are you following the Mason trials sir and what do you make of the statement from a US Federal agent, that Mr. Mason told him that John Saldivar, your colleague...?

Hon. Patrick Faber
"I will stay away from that question merely because I am in this race and as you know Minister Saldivar is my opponent and I don't want to be misconstrued in any way. I don't want anything to be taken out of context what I am saying here. So I am simply staying away from that question."

Reporter
"However how unsubstantiated he said it is, does detract from his ability to lead a mass party with that sort of allegation, however unfounded...."

Hon. Patrick Faber
"You are purposely ignoring what I've just said, but let me tell you that I have confidence in Minister Saldivar's ability to lead. I don't think that he is offering himself just like that. He is a very experience individual, one who has participated in many leadership roles in the UDP and in the government and I'm not going to comment on those aspersions that are being casted. I am merely going to stay away from that."

Of course, the political angle on this Mason trail has a lot more legs on it - and we expect it to be a feature of many political adverts going forward.

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