“Power does not corrupt men; fools, however, if they get into a position of power, corrupt power.”
George Bernard Shaw
It should be a concern for all — not just for the die-hard United Democratic Party members —who becomes the next party leader of the UDP. In a similar way, we all had much to opine about the leadership of the People’s United Party when they were dealing with their own internal crisis. Remember how we zealously followed the removal of Francis Fonseca and the ascent of Johnny Briceno? Likewise, we want to ensure that neither John Saldivar nor any of his minions, whom he can control, will take leadership of the UDP. Until we know who is voted to be leader and how that story ends, we very much need to have our ears and eyes open and express our views, since it is we the voters who will have to choose the better of two evils, which is still evil!
The Patrick Faber Saga
I have tried to make my own internal inquiries as to how come so many of the UDP party executive seemed to be against Faber, and why. The answers are just so trivial and petty that I wonder if I am getting a true and real feedback. However, to sum it up, it seems that many in the higher echelons of the party believe he is too petty and “immature” and “cocky”. That gave me much reason to be concerned, and I wondered if there wasn’t more to it than this “personality” issue?
Furthermore, how can this be an issue now when it was these very same qualities that made him challenge the police and military at the UB campus in Belmopan prior to the 2008 elections? He was so petty about not being allowed on campus to challenge PM Said Musa, who was there doing a presentation. He was so “immature” or juvenile that he ran past the ranks of the security forces and they had to set chase behind him and finally capture him and drag him away. The infamous video of this easily tells the story.
In those days, with those qualities as his trademark, he was the poster child of the UDP — because, when the PM called for “civil disobedience, Patrick promptly provided his answer to that call! The now so favoured John Saldivar, never did any similar act of defiance to get the national attention the party so needed then, so as to catapult them to national attention, but Patrick did, and they all loved him for it!
Then there is the more serious complaint that I heard — that Faber has been grumbling and disgruntled at the stronghold the Dean Barrow Clan has had on the party, within which they are seen as, and act as though they are, demi-gods. Let’s not forget that Faber, in his youthful stubbornness, has shown signs of rebellion against some of the things done by the UDP’s party leader as well. The Joshua Perdomo issue, in reference to which he dared say it was wrong for the PM to sanction the write off-off a $40K loan to the Cabinet Secretary’s son, put him in hot water. Apparently, it’s little things like these that upset so many, because he is not falling in line to cover up the wrongs of the party.
I interpreted that as meaning, that he is not corrupt enough. You see, in any entity or society, when you start to be a free-thinker and doer, you become a dangerous person. This is not different within your own political party, where the persons prone to corruption always congregate and find common ground. What keeps a party together is knowing they have each other’s back and have the same ethos and that all within the party are willing to cover for each other, when the chips are down. This same concept is what resulted in the policy that Cabinet acts as ONE, and even if you do not agree with the decisions, you go along. But for me to cover for you, it has to be that you give me basis and reason to cover for you. It means you have to be doing improprieties, so I cover those for you and therefore you become indebted to me, and when I do the same, then you owe me the duty to also cover for me because I just covered for you. That’s the glue that holds the party together and prevents the flushing out of corrupt members and corrupt acts! This very same ethos has been transferred into the governance by that party. It’s a trickledown effect.
Now I knew Patrick Faber some twenty years ago on a more personal level, and I cannot say that I know him now because over those two decades, we all grew up and found ourselves and new paths. So sadly, my assessment of him in more recent years, has been based on his public persona and public actions. As I had written before, sadly, within the ministry he heads, he has come off as very petty and vindictive, and his fights with the teachers are not a legacy to be proud of. It’s like Patrick forgot that his bigger goal was to become the leader of this country. He has a ministry with infinite potential and possibilities, and he could have crafted a road with teachers to cement his good standing amongst them.
Instead, as a person who knows the sacrifice of teaching, he came off as callous and arrogant and petty. Clearly, this is also how those within his party see him. However, this in no way takes away from the fact that he had a true and genuine following within the party. There was at least 40% genuine support from those who stood by him. Those 40%, I estimate, went against the might of the party and the party leader, who undoubtedly threw his colossal weight behind Saldivar and against Faber. Shame on Dean, who again has proven to be a master at the game and one man who knows to manoeuvre his way out of keeping his word.
The impeccable Dr. Figueroa
Now I recall a bit about Omar Figueroa before he even became a doctor, as we happened to have been at Sixth Form at about the same time. Cool guy indeed, but not one who has the steadfastness and ambition it takes to run a political party, in my view. I can see him being pushed and coaxed to take up the leadership mantel and him doing it, but not because of some raging ambition for power and the like.
My fear about him, is that he seems to have been entangled in the circles of John Saldivar, and it is concerning that he may be greatly influenced by Saldivar. I do not know whether he would have the wisdom to alienate himself from the now maligned Saldivar and sever any connection with him for fear that he may be infected by the corruption virus now plaguing Saldivar. You see, Saldivar knew how to win over people, not by charm, but by being calculating about what motivates people, and offering it to them.
He is more strategic than Faber and far more cunning. His cunningness is of such magnitude that he befriended Faber, and yet, being a friend of Faber and knowing what Faber’s journey and ambition were, he too coveted what his “best” friend wanted, and challenged him. It’s what lay people mean when they say “keep your friends close, but your enemies closer”!
If I had any doubt about the level of narcissism Saldivar suffers from, his appearance on the Love FM Morning Show to justify his corrupt acts told it all! There was no remorse, only excuses and arrogance. Did you know that some of the most dangerous leaders are narcissist and psychopaths? They live in their own heads and their own bubble and see things only their way.
However, they do for others and help others and win over others, not for the good of doing so, but for the benefits accrued to them. I have heard a few comments of people saying how much Saldivar did for his area or for people and sports, but sadly, those people have not stopped to think that it’s the same tainted money that has afforded such deeds, done to buy them over! It’s like our people are saying it is okay to accept tainted money once it benefits them. This is what I mean when I tell you that Saldivar knows to win over others … by whatever means necessary!
Then I dare say Dr. Figueroa has no national appeal. He is not known for anything outstanding, and he has surely not made his mark nationally to even be considered a household name. However, his biggest challenge may be to convince us that he can undisputedly secure his seat against attorney-at-law, Michel Chebat, who has made massive inroads in Cayo North against Dr. Figueroa. Chebat has more national appeal than Figueroa, and is surely a more emboldened person, who has vast political experience and is poised to defeat Figueroa, who is not guaranteed a win in election 2020.
Of course, it is undisputed that Dr. Figueroa would at anytime be a better leadership face for the UDP anytime over John Saldivar, who, by alignment of the universe and the stars, is always associated with the worst of characters. Saldivar, through a company, was a business partner of Donny Mason, the now convicted murderer of Pastor Lucas. It was always said he chopped the good pastor’s head —as was done to John the Baptist —to deliver it on a platter to a capricious, unnamed minister (It’s unclear if it was a minister of religion or government!) Then Saldivar, once again, is connected with Lev Dermen and Jacob Kinston, fraudsters in the USA. Let’s not forget his other allies, including Gapi Vega, now notorious for his land scandals, so much so that he had to likewise be removed from Cabinet.
Ironically, Faber, apart from his personal women issues, is not known to have such affiliations and association! To me at this point, mentioning all the other possible candidates and the names floating around is irrelevant, since Hugo Patt has shown on his first national interview that he operates in the political gutter. The ladies mentioned are not above the fray, having had their names already called in questionable matters; they too are already on the wrong footing!
Leadership wanted … students respond
Amidst the issue of corruption, there is an alarming report that the University of Belize is seeking to punish and penalize students for standing up and joining in the protest with the unions. This is most disappointing to hear, since in other countries, revolutions are born in the halls of universities and students are the backbone of these!
In my view, a university fails in education when it is unable to produce revolutionaries for its country and instead produces robots — just regurgitating information and unable to think for themselves! UB has been failing us for some time, and no matter how many administrative adjustments are made, if the students are not inspired to think and act beyond the walls of the classroom, then they have obtained a failed education!
I personally applaud those students who stood up and are now fighting their administration over their constitutional right to associate and express themselves, because we need not forget that the 2005 protest that brought down the then corrupt PUP/Said Musa administration was led by students at the university and elsewhere!
I say to those students, stand your ground! Belizean society has enough pathetic and complacent citizens plagued by apathy and waiting for the next handout. We have enough disillusioned voters unable to move this country forward in a progressive and positive way!
We need youthful energy and vision and fearlessness to shake things up. Don’t let those stuck-up, inept adults holding on to a job and a political appointment hold you down and take away your zest for this, our country Belize. You all are now the new stewards of Belize, as past generations have led us down a road of perdition. Only the students and youths can save us now!
We have had three decades of corrupt political leaders and it is our youth who are now reaping the rotten crops, as our economy is not much better, with a high deficit, high unemployment, and failed education and healthcare systems!
Rise, students, rise as the battle for the leadership of Belize continues. Claim your rightful place!