Perhaps I was a week ahead of time when I wrote last week of a point in time when stocktaking of our country, our party and oneself become a necessity, and not an option.  This week I was to continue expanding on my thoughts as to the trajectory of the country in these turbulent times, and the role of the Party in reversing it, but after the National Executive Meeting of yesterday, decided to divert and put to paper some thoughts as to the grand old party.

Two items were on the agenda, the Belize Rural North Constituency Convention, and a review of the process to be applied in future conventions to elect standard bearers. In regard to the first, the facts are as follows:

(1)          Two candidates applied to represent the Constituency in the next general elections.

(2)          The Order of Distinguished Service [ODS], interviewed both candidates, and recommended that one candidate be disqualified, stating the grounds for their decision.

(3)          The aggrieved candidate appealed the recommendation, and his appeal was upheld.

(4)          In preparing for the convention, both candidates signed an agreement,  which stated among other things, that the convention will be conducted in conformity with the constitution of the PUP and that:

a.            It will be a closed convention, and only members of the PUP who are registered voters in Belize Rural North Constituency, as collated by the PUP Constituency Executive of Belize Rural North will be allowed to vote.

b.            The vetting and finalization of the Voter’s List will be done on 16th January 2011. The Parties agreed to waive the right to vet and complete the list 14 days prior to the convention date.

c.             The agreement was witnessed by the Chairman of both the Party and the Constituency Branch.

(5)          One candidate protested at the point where the list of voters was being vetted, and determined not to participate in the convention, leaving one remaining candidate.

(6)          Consequently, the Chairman ruled that there was only one candidate, and as such the convention will proceed as was approved, on Sunday 23 January 2011 to endorse Mr. Arthur Saldivar as the Party’s standard bearer for Belize Rural North. This was done in accordance with the authority vested in him by the National Executive.

The arguments for and against affirming Party Chairman’s decision was fierce and emotionally charged. In fact at times I felt it got too personal. Notwithstanding, it was a battle, a battle between logic and passion, status quo and change, tradition and modernization, personalities and egos, and not necessarily in that order or mix.

While at times I wonder if this scenario is also played out in other organizations, whether political, social, business, religious or other, I have no doubt that it does, because organizations are comprised of human beings, each bringing to the table something different.  The challenge is always to balance the forces and minimize the casualties, to acknowledge the will of the majority, but to protect the voice of the minority.

In the end, the National Executive agreed to affirm the decision of the Party Chairman on this matter based on the facts, the provisions of the constitution of the party, the agreement which was signed by both parties, and the action of one of the candidates to walk away from the table, despite having signed the agreement. In the view of the majority, one candidate remained.

However, the majority of members of the National Executive also recognized the merit of the arguments that were forwarded vociferously and also logically by those against affirming the decision of the Party Chairman. This included many who also supported affirming the decision of the Party Chairman.

This school of thought was grounded in the need for the Party to be more inclusive, modern and open, considering the emerging group of independent voters.  This way the Party can continue to attract the highest caliber candidates, for conventions to be a temperature gauge of the sentiments of the electorate towards the best candidate for the Party, while mindful of the need to ensure that candidates are also supporters of the Party’s philosophy and creed, work on behalf of the party, and are not just opportunists or operatives of other organizations on a mission to undermine the viability of the work of the party.

Consequently, using the lessons learnt from Belize Rural North, the executive agreed to amend the criteria for standard bearer conventions to facilitate the ‘broad tent’ approach for more openness and transparency, and greater participation and engagement of the electorate and the local constituency committee in deciding the candidates to represent the Party in the next general elections as follows:

a.            That the Registered List of Electors for the Constituency, as provided by Elections and Boundaries Department, in which the convention is to be held, shall be the Voters List for all future conventions;

b.            That this list will be vetted by a committee comprised of the candidates, the constituency chairperson and the Party Chairman or his designee, to disqualify any know supporter of any other political party to ensure that they do not influence the outcome of the convention;

c.             That the vetting committee serves also as the appeals committee, and its membership be expanded to include the Chairperson of the Constituency Branch of the Constituency from which the appeal originated.

While these amendments will be debated at the next National Party Council, as it is a departure from the Constitution and the use of PUP membership cards in conventions, they undoubtedly, at a time of ambiguity, bring further clarity to the process, and pave the way for a more inclusive party. This decision is also in tandem with the National Convention directive of decentralization and empowerment of local constituency branch, as at each step of the decision making process, the local constituency committees are involved.  It also points to a Party that is in transition and willing to  embrace change, for only if it continues along this path, will the revolution continue and a NEW BELIZE be born, which will bring to all Belizeans a better life and a just share of the national wealth……

The National Executive of the People’s United Party met in emergency session on Wednesday 19th January 2011, to discuss several urgent issues. The decisions of the meeting are as follows:

1.            To affirm the decision of the Party Chairman for an endorsement convention for Belize Rural North Constituency on the basis of the following facts:

(1)          Two candidates applied to represent the Constituency in the next general elections.

(2)          The Order of Distinguished Service [ODS], interviewed both candidates, and recommended that one candidate be disqualified, stating the grounds for their decision.

(3)          The aggrieved candidate appealed the recommendation, and his appeal was upheld.

(4)          In preparing for the convention, both candidates signed an agreement,  which stated among other things, that the convention will be conducted in conformity with the constitution of the PUP and that:

a.            It will be a closed convention, and only members of the PUP who are registered voters in Belize Rural North Constituency, as collated by the PUP Constituency Executive of Belize Rural North will be allowed to vote.

b.            The vetting and finalization of the Voter’s List will be done on 16th January 2011. The Parties agreed to waive the right to vet and complete the list 14 days prior to the convention date.

c.             The agreement was witnessed by the Chairman of both the Party and the Constituency Branch.

(5)          One candidate protested at the point where the list of voters was being vetted, and determined not to participate in the convention, leaving one remaining candidate.

(6)          Consequently, the Chairman ruled that there was only one candidate, and as such the convention will proceed as was approved, on Sunday 23 January 2011 to endorse Mr. Arthur Saldivar as the Party’s standard bearer for Belize Rural North.

(7)          Mr. Arthur Saldivar was mandated by the Party to reach out to the candidate who decided not to participate in the convention to encourage him to be a part of the Belize Rural North PUP Committee.

2.            To amend the criteria for standard bearer conventions to facilitate the ‘broad tent’ approach for more openness and transparency, and greater participation and engagement of the electorate and the local constituency committee in deciding the candidates to represent the Party in the next general elections as follows:

(1)          That the Registered List of Electors for the Constituency, as provided by Elections and Boundaries Department, in which the convention is to be held, shall be the Voters List for all future conventions;

(2)          That this list will be vetted by a committee comprised of the candidates, the constituency chairperson and the Party Chairman or his designee, to disqualify any know supporter of any other political party to ensure that they do not influence the outcome of the convention;

(3)          That the vetting committee serves also as the appeals committee, and its membership be expanded to include the Chairperson of the Constituency Branch of the Constituency from which the appeal originated.

3.            That these amendments be considered transitional and that they be submitted to the next National Party Council for ratification, as is required by the Constitution of the Party.

The PUP takes issue firstly with some of the people engaged in brokering the negotiation. Representing BTL in the proposed sale of the shares are Executive Chairman, Nestor Vasquez and Legal Advisor Lois Young. Representing SSB in the purchase of the shares from BTL are Chairman of the SSB Investment Committee, Nestor Vasquez and Chairman of the SSB Lois Young. Despite the firm rejection of the plan by representatives of both the unions and the private sector, Nestor Vasquez was able to cast a second vote to push the deal through. This arrangement is ludicrous and incestuous to say the least.

Union and Private Sector representatives have been asked to approve the deal for the purchase of shares using SSB funds, while still being kept in the dark as to the financial viability of BTL and at what price the shares will be offered. In effect, these representatives are being asked to sign a carte blanche approval for a sale with no indication of the figures. Again, they have been offered only Vasquez’s assurance that the company will grow over the next five years. We find this highly irregular, to say the least, and the seemingly deliberate attempts to keep the finances of the company and of the proposed deal secret raise more questions than it provides answers.

To date, Belizeans have been offered only Mr. Vasquez’s lame submission that somebody checked with an independent law firm to verify that there is no conflict of interest, but no facts were offered to support that claim.

The People’s United Party reminds the Prime Minister of his commitment, stated in his party’s manifesto, to include the social partners in every important decision made by this government. To ram this deal to completion despite its rejection by those social partners who represent the people on SSB amounts to nothing less than a betrayal by the Prime Minister. We also remind the Prime Minister of his righteous crusade against the use of public funds without the utmost transparency, accountability and integrity during his campaign and during every public appearance. To push this deal to completion despite the appearances of impropriety and secrecy attached to it is a betrayal of the people.

The first was to engage the women of the party in a frank and open discussion as to where the PUP was at this critical juncture in its history, and to identify its strengths and weaknesses and opportunities for moving forward. The second was to identify the core objectives of the UWG, given the current political realities and changes within the party, and the third was to present and adopt a Road Map as a national action plan that would see the UWG as a revitalized and organized unit of the PUP.

The Mistress of Ceremonies was Sylvia Gillett and the Opening Remarks and Welcome Address was given by Olga Gordon, while Eloisa Trujeque presented the Financial Report. The first of three speakers for the event was Dolores Balderamos-Garcia, former PUP Minister and Area Representative, who spoke of the crime and violence affecting families and communities and the need for personal security as well as the need for jobs to provide economic security. She encouraged women to undertake more self empowerment, to focus on educating their children and to let their voices be heard for social progress and a better society.

Party Chairman Carolyn Trench Sandiford followed with an analysis of the political landscape and the need for more women to become involved in the party. She outlined the various changes and reform measures that have been adopted to reposition and redefine the party such that it can regain the trust and confidence of the people and win elections.

In her remarks to the membership, UWG President Gina Tillett gave a hard-hitting and frank evaluation of the unity issue that was preventing the party from mobilizing and moving forward with one voice.  She called on the party leadership to address this problem quickly, warning that the women in the party who have historically been the crucial organizers and campaigners will not stand by waiting for the men to settle these matters.

She reminded them of the proud history of achievement of women in the party, women like Madam Liz, Jane Usher, Dolores Balderamos-Garcia, Patty Arceo and Lisa Shoman, as well as of all that the PUP had done for women of Belize. She described this as a record that couldn’t be matched by the UDP.

The President then presented the UWG Plan of Action which included organizing the District UWG Chapters, membership outreach, analysis and support of the PUP operations, identifying potential women candidates, formulation of policy positions on women issues and having a louder voice in the party and the country. The Road Map was unanimously approved.

The Party Leader was the final speaker at the event. He highlighted the important role women play in all aspects of the party’s operations and life, and stated that there could not have been a PUP without the UWG.  The Vote of Thanks was delivered by Eleanor Enriquez and a social followed. Many prizes were raffled including cell phones, glassware, weekend getaways and a microwave.