Melvin Hulse apologizes for leaked recording

Wednesday, June 24, 2015. BMG: His position with the United Democratic Party as standard bearer for Stann Creek West under threat, former Minister and area representative Melvin Hulse moved quickly to apologize for a recorded conversation with friends in which he blasted his party leadership and made certain statements which have been labeled as potentially libelous.

Hulse, speaking to LOVE FM news director Ava Diaz-Sosa, said his apology was “without any reservation, without any hesitation.” He also issued an apology to former Cayo North PUP representative Joseph Mahmud, whose resignation last November was questioned.

According to Hulse, the “horrible things” he said were in the process of venting his frustration among friends in what was meant to be a private conversation. He admits that it is his nature to “run off” and speak out because he is not able to obtain resources for his area, and that it is “out of my system.”

He maintains that his statements would not have been repeated publicly otherwise, and agrees that despite his long standing in the party, his statements – even the libelous ones – were not recorded from a position of direct knowledge. As he put it, he was simply “running off numbers.”

Joseph Mahmud broke his silence since resigning with a text message to Channel 7 News Tuesday, stating that, “I wish to make it clear that the allegations made by Melvin Hulse against me on the recording is totally false and baseless. I…entered politics with dignity and exited with dignity and…expect him to publicly retract the defamation against me.”

Also seeking an apology and retraction is former Cayo North representative Ainslie Leslie, whose name was also reportedly called. Leslie states, “Aagainst me by Mr Melvin Hulse a former UDP Minister for the Stann Creek West Constituen(cy) is a total lie and fabrication, these lies demonstrate the warped mind of Mr. Melvin Hulse.”

But their party believes otherwise. In an official release the PUP says, “The…recordings confirm… that Prime Minister Barrow is so obsessed with staying in power that he will do anything to win a third term in office and cares about nothing else….It is disgraceful that the Prime Minister, when faced with the public revelation of what everyone else already knew, should seek to gag the media with the threat of law suits.”

Hulse’s fate will be determined by the UDP National Party Council in a meeting this coming Saturday.

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