UDP meets in National Party Council to finally decide the fate of John Saldivar

By Aaron Humes: All John Saldivar wants for Christmas is a second chance – to be the United Democratic Party (UDP) candidate for Belmopan.

And the party’s second-largest decision-making body, the National Party Council, meets today, eight days before the 25th, to decide whether to overturn the narrow 4-3 decision of a Special Committee that “it is in the best interest of the Party that Mr. Saldivar’s candidacy be disallowed is with immediate effect,” as reported by Channel 7 News. As a result of that decision, he was also made to relinquish his positions as interim caretaker for the constituency and leader of the party’s western region.

While officially the Special Committee’s ruling was declared final by party leader Moses “Shyne” Barrow, Saldivar asked to appeal to the NPC in what will be a test of the weight Saldivar still carries in the party. He will be leaning on his colleagues in the so-called “Caucus for Change”, which has claimed to represent the majority of the party and particularly those who enjoyed sway under the leadership of Barrow’s father Dean.

The Caucus has demonstrated the ability to make leaders – supporting “Shyne” Barrow shortly after Patrick Faber stepped down and putting him narrowly over the top a few months later; withdrawing support from Faber after allegations concerning his personal life and misconduct therein, nearly causing him to be recalled last year and ultimately toppled this year after he narrowly escaped criminal charges.

Saldivar continues to grapple with the designation by U.S. authorities as a “significantly corrupt politician,” which denies him and his family access to America, but which he insists is wrong-headed and not supported by any evidence.

Earlier this week, Barrow told Channel 7 News that “It is very sophomoric to see this situation in terms of any individual confrontation. This is really about the UDP. It is too much of a cross to carry, too much of a burden to carry in order for us to form the next government.”

Will the majority agree? We’ll have the result of the vote and any reaction as and when it happens.

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