New PUP Leader Must Unite the Party, Says Fonseca

Francis Fonseca

Fonseca implores his successor, whomever that individual will be, to keep the party united, acknowledging that only the U.D.P. benefits from their discord.

Francis Fonseca, Leader, People’s United Party

“We have to deal with things in the right way.  I don’t believe, as I said, I don’t believe… I made the announcement today because I think that is the right and appropriate thing to do.  I don’t want that to be the conversation.  I want us to focus as a party on moving forward and I think that’s the best way in which to do so, to move forward.  I think, as I said, I will be there, I’m not abandoning my party at all.  I will be there, I will serve in whatever capacity I have to.  In the interim as Leader of the Opposition, if necessary.  Whatever capacity I need to do until a new leader is in place and I will certainly oversee the functions of the party until that new leader is in place.  So there will be no void, no vacuum.  But I think it is important, very important Jules that we understand that if we’re going to win elections, and I think that is important for the next leader, if we’re going to win elections every single person must understand that we need to support our leader.  We need to pledge support to our new leader whoever that leader is.  Whoever that new leader is we must pledge support to that new leader and I think any leader coming in must make it clear, “listen I am going to lead but we will encourage everyone to get this job done.  The only people who benefit from divisions in the PUP is the United Democratic Party, they are the only ones who benefited.  So I certainly, I think, yes I am making the announcement here today because I think it is the right thing to do.  But as I said, I will be around to ensure that the transition process is properly carried out, not to interfere in any way in that process, to allow that process to work and to perform any duties that are required of the leader of the People’s United Party in the interim.”

So as we said there are two senior members who are considering the leadership, that would be John Briceño and Julius Espat.