The Big Tent Approach

Over the past few weeks, I have been getting a number of requests from different local PUP executives inviting me to attend meetings where many have been strengthening their executive committees.

It seems that of late a number of our Party’s operatives are working on either the encouraging of greater participation in their present executive or expansion by inviting new members.

Both the Cayo South and Belmopan executive committees have taken the decision to invite new members to strengthen themselves, and other executive committeess have already called indicating a desire to do the same.

This is very encouraging in light of the recent decision by the Party’s Executive to agree to a calendar of activities, to be adopted at the next National Party Council, which include a number of important events that will take place right up to April 2012.

Among these activities is the election of new local executive committees as mandated by the constitution and the election of new standard bearers in December 2010.   These activities, of course, will come after the National Convention.

The general consensus of the National Executive is that it is better that the elections for local executive committees be held after the constituency elects a new standard bearer, thereby ensuring a group that works well together.

Of course there are some who have questioned whether the strengthening of executives by invitation is constitutional. Truth be told, the constitution is silent on this matter, but then again the Constitution in a living document.  Also, this has been the conventional practice for a very long time.

Under the leadership of the Right Honorable George Price, local executives were encouraged to be more inclusive and many took advantage of the opportunity to strengthen their executives. As such they were able to attract young people, replace members who were inactive or worse, deceased. This was done because everyone understood that the work of the party must go on.

For example, in Orange Walk North in 1974 when a new standard bearer was elected, he was allowed to bring in new members in the executive when the then Area Representative lost his bid to represent the PUP in the next general elections.

In 1992, in Orange Walk Central, the then Area Representative was having a problem within his local committee. There was a split within the executive and the only way he could have solved the problem was by bringing in new blood. That was when I was invited to join the Orange Central executive as its new chairman.

The PUP has a proud history of inclusiveness. In the late 1960s there were two firebrand young lawyers attracting lots of attention with revolutionary ideas. What did Mr. Price do? He invited them under the big Blue tent. Those two young lawyers were Said Musa and Assad Shoman. The same can be said of young Evan X Hyde and Lois Young.  There were also others like Ms. Signia Yorke a prominent Belizean educator – all three were invited to join the PUP City Council team in 1977.

As Party Leader the Hon. Said Musa likewise invited new dynamic leaders under the tent. Some of these leaders included Jorge Espat, Henry Canton, and both Deputy Leaders Cordel Hyde and Mark Espat.  All have made great contributions to the success of the PUP.

When I was elected the new leader of the PUP, I spoke about opening up the party once again. I wanted our party supporters to feel that they have a real stake and say in the party.  We need the support of ALL of our supporters, both from the left and the right, from the old guard and the new guard.

If we are to be successful and turn this 12 percent swing around, then we need everyone; success can only be achieved by opening up the Big Blue Tent once again, welcoming home all members of the PUP.

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