Posted: March 10, 2016. 11:15 p.m. CST.
By BNN Staff: The United Democratic Party (UDP) Secretariat, via press release this morning, confirmed the resignation of Deputy Party Leader Gaspar Vega.
According to the UDP, Vega informed the party of his decision not to stand again for his Orange Walk North seat by way of a letter dated March 8. 
Vega also informed the party of his retirement from electoral politics at the end of the current term, indicating he feels it is right that he not continue as First Deputy Party Leader of the UDP.
According to the party, Vega decided to make the announcement now before the UDP convention scheduled for March 20, where he would have been endorsed as first deputy. As a result, the convention will now proceed only to endorse, for the next four years, the Party Leader Rt Hon Dean Barrow; the Second Deputy Leader, Hon Erwin Contreras; the Party Chairman Alberto August; and the Deputy Party Chair Fern Gutierrez.
The UDP National Party Council will be meeting soon after the March 20 convention to decide on the procedure and timing for a special election to choose the new First Deputy Party Leader to succeed Vega.
According to the UDP, Vega made it clear he would continue to “faithfully serve the United Democratic Party and will do whatever….in the interest of the betterment of the party”. He also “will work arduously with my successor to ensure another victory for the great constituency of Orange Walk North, “the party said.
The UDP, via its release, expressed its gratitude to Vega for his long and successful tenure as First Deputy Leader. “No one worked harder, especially in the North, to achieve the record electoral successes of the UDP, and Hon Vega is worthy of great praise and thanks,” the party added.
The UDP also noted that Vega’s decision regarding his tenure as First Deputy Party Leader, has nothing to do with his position as a Minister of Government and that he remains in the Cabinet of Belize.
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