Arthur Saldivar Allowed to Reapply for PUP Belmopan Convention

Arthur Saldivar

The People’s United Party has further postponed its Belmopan convention to the end of August amidst a legal challenge mounted by one of its very own, attorney Arthur Saldivar. Saldivar, who was barred from applying to participate, is seeking an injunction to stop the convention until the court can decide whether or not the P.U.P.’s Vetting Committee was unjust in not accepting his application. Saldivar is also asking the court to order the P.U.P. to reimburse him more than two hundred thousand dollars, which he claims he spent preparing for the convention. The hearing for the injunction application is scheduled to be heard on Friday in the courtroom of Justice Shona Griffith. In view of Saldivar’s challenge, the P.U.P. moved the convention to Sunday, July eighth. Today, the Party went further.  Flanked by Belmopan aspirants Michelle Rodriguez, Pat Weizman and Oscar Mira, Chairman Henry Charles Usher announced that applications will reopen which means that Saldivar can submit an application.

Henry Charles Usher, Chairman, P.U.P.

Henry Charles Usher Jr.

“We believe and certainly we do not agree with the claim at all, the factual account of the claimant and we intend to resist the claim in its entirety on its merit. However, the disputes as to what transpired will likely lead to a triable matter, lead to a number of triable issues. And for that reason we have decided and the National Executive has decided to suspend the convention until the end of August and to reopen the application process to allow for the claimant to send in his application. The deadline for applications will be the thirteen of July. The claimant if he wishes can send in his application and that application will be determine on its merits, as if the suspension, as if the disciplinary actions had never occurred. The application of Arthur Saldivar was not accepted so he was not vetted by the Vetting Committee because he was, under our belief, was suspended. So it never went to the Vetting Committee. We did not have an application for the Vetting Committee.”