Posted: January 19, 2016. 7:05 p.m. CST.
By Aaron Humes: After and since the People’s United Party’s National Party Council meeting ten days ago in Belize City, where the party committed to curbing personal attacks on Facebook which had been proliferate in the days leading up to the meeting, all three candidates for party leader and several other senior party officials and members have condemned such tactics.
One of these was Senator Patrick Andrews who supports most recent leader Francis Fonseca.
On the occasion of the party’s remembrance of late leader Right Honourable George Price, Fonseca committed to running a clean campaign and avoiding such slurs.
But a supporter of John Briceño, Mayor of Orange Walk Town Kevin Bernard, has taken to Facebook accusing Andrews of perpetrating the same kinds of attacks he and the party has distanced itself from.
Mayor of Orange Walk Town Kevin Bernard
Bernard wrote on his Facebook page today, quote, the Senator has now taken it upon himself to launch attacks on John Briceño on Facebook. He is now open with his vile insults and slander…no more getting his rabid supporters to spew his bitterness. I call on the Hon. Francis Fonseca to rein in his Standard Bearer, for the sake of the Party so loved by the man Fonseca says was like a father to him. The attacks on a high-ranking, proven and battle-tested PUP leader like John Briceño are unwarranted, unnecessary and a slap in the face of unity. End quote.
Bernard also suggested that Andrews either failed to hear or did not understand what Fonseca said, and that since Fonseca insists that only a united party can defeat the UDP, he would not support divisive politics coming out of his own camp.
A search of Andrews’ page could not unearth the statements in question. When we contacted Andrews this afternoon via telephone, he declined direct comment on Bernard’s statement except to say that it should be clear to us who is attacking whom. However, he did tell us that he continues to be “disappointed” that the attacks continue and reiterates that neither he nor Fonseca support such tactics; but he added, rather curiously, that there is “factual information” being circulated among the more pointed remarks.
Senator Patrick Andrews
Bernard’s statement makes it clear that, quote, I have no quarrel with Patrick Andrews. The truth is that he is a baby in PUP politics. He has never fought in the trenches. He has never won an election. He is young. Maybe he does not know better. But somebody should tell him. Somebody should tell him that the arrogance and ignorance he displays are the very things we accuse the UDP of.
There is no need for the constant attacks. We are the PUP. Senator Andrews needs to understand something. He has stated that he supports Francis Fonseca. I am 100% in agreement with his right to support whoever he chooses. But if Fonseca does not win, what then? Andrews says he is a man of principle. Will he then be prepared to serve either John Briceño or Cordel Hyde, the men he has slandered and insulted so openly?
We are tired of the attacks coming out of the Fonseca camp. Let it stop. For the sake of this PUP which belongs to ALL of us. End quote.
The PUP’s National Special Convention is due at the end of the month in Andrews’ hometown of Belmopan.
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