Outside the Civic Center in Belmopan yesterday, Sunday, March 30, a high-energy crowd of three thousand blue shirts that had converged in the capital in 60 buses, and their hundreds of private vehicles, was at least five to one in favor of Hon. John “Johnny” Briceño of Orange Walk Central, over the apparent favorite of the PUP’s old guard, Freetown’s Hon. Francis Fonseca.
But inside the Civic Center, where sat those who held the highest offices in the PUP across the land, six hundred and forty delegates strong, there were more shirts declaring for Francis than for Johnny.
PUP Party Secretary General, Henry Usher, announced the two candidates for new leader of the PUP at approximately 12:17 p.m. The roar for Francis Fonseca was loud. The roar for Johnny Briceño appeared a tad louder. And thus it was that when the dust had settled a few minutes past four in the afternoon, the – 330 votes.
The following is a chronological record (this writer’s timepiece) of a historic Sunday that saw the second person from “out distrik” take the helm of one of Belize’s two mass parties.
11:50 a.m. – the registration of delegates was completed after more than two hours of tedious processing. A few stalwart PUPs (supporters of H. John Briceño) grumbled that the leaders of their delegations had improperly left them off the exclusive lists.
Noon – a roar went up inside the Civic Center. Some of those outside, including media that were not in the select group allowed to see the innards of the PUP machinery at work (including Amandala), strained their ears at the walls to hear.
12:05 p.m. – cheers for “Francis” resounded inside cement halls.
12:17 p.m. – PUP Secretary General Henry Usher takes the podium. He acknowledges PUP Leader Emeritus George Price; Party Leader and former Prime Minister, Hon. Said Musa; contestant number one for the title of PUP Party Leader, Hon. Francis Fonseca; and contestant number two for the title of PUP Party Leader, Hon. John Briceño. The opening formalities done, the gathering then rose to recite the National Prayer.
12:21 p.m. – Leader Emeritus, Right Honorable George Price, leads the PUP faithful in the singing of the National Anthem. It is a march, not a dirge. One had to wonder, with the way the wind was blowing outside the Civic Center, and the decibel louder applause for the “other” candidate, H. John Briceño, inside, if it might be the last time the “Father of the Nation” led his troops in glorious song.
12:25 p.m. – PUP Secretary General Henry Usher announces that of 653 delegates, only 640 had registered to participate in the election of a new leader of the PUP. He then explains to the delegates the voting procedures.
12:28 p.m. – Javier Guiterrez, of San Ignacio, takes the podium and nominates Hon. John Briceño for new leader of the PUP.
“We have lost the confidence of our people,” Mr. Guiterrez laments. “Our party is divided…demoralized.”
Mr. Guiterrez speaks passionately of their need for “a leader who will serve with humility…and unite the party.”
12:34 p.m. – There is loud applause for Hon. John Briceño as he takes the podium. He tells the delegates…that he is there for “an appointment with destiny.” He said: “Our people want to feel proud again.” And, “We shall rise again for all PUPs.” He spoke of inclusiveness…of senators to represent all regions. He rejected the idea that some PUPs appear to be more equal…that any city or region should dominate the party…that any single man or group should dominate the party. Hon. Briceño concluded his presentation, promising to lead the PUP to better and brighter days…to lead the PUP to victory at the polls in the next general elections.
12:45 p.m. – Ms Lisa Shoman steps to the podium and endorses Hon. Francis Fonseca. She says that Mr. Fonseca is a man not just of words, but of deeds…that he is a man who has never faltered, never failed in his duty…a servant of the party…a “true leader (who) has a heart to shoulder the burden.” She quotes Corinthians 13. She promises that under Francis’ leadership “we will take back our country…and put in back our party.”
12:50 p.m. – Hon. Francis Fonseca takes the podium, to loud applause. He says he has been a PUP from way back days when he used to carry his mother’s stool to public meetings. He vows, if elected, “to serve with humility, integrity, and compassion…to work tirelessly to advance the aims and objectives of the PUP…to build consensus.” He promises “a new vision with clear policies and programs especially for those in need…to be fair, but firm as a leader…to promote transparency and accountability…and to provide real, meaningful change grounded in consultation and competent decisive leadership.”
He calls the Hon. John Briceño’s slogan to “tek back the party”, divisive, and says that the only “tekking back” would be the “tekking back of our country from the petty, arrogant, and vindictive UDP, which had fired hundreds of PUP supporters since taking office.”
Hon. Francis concludes, saying: we will look Dean Barrow and the UDP in the eye and say: when you touch one PUP, you touch them all!”
1:05 p.m. – Secretary General Usher calls the scrutineers of the elections to their respective tables (2), and the delegates from Freetown and Orange Walk Central to engage the hostilities.
2:20 p.m. – Former PUP Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Dan Silva, steps to a barred door on the east side of the Belmopan Civic Center and announces to a small, eager crowd of Briceño supporters, and hovering journalists hungering for scoops, that it was all over…except for the singing…that Hon. John Briceño had “gaahn klayr.”
2:22 p.m. – numerous police officers rush over to the west and north sides of the Civic Center, as the large pro-Briceño crowd that had gathered there started beating drums and chanting…Johnny…Johnny…Johnny.
2:50 p.m. – Voting concludes inside the Civic Center.
2:57 p.m. – José Shoman starts calling the count. The first one hundred votes are all Briceño…at least 2-1. The second one hundred votes go to Fonseca, narrowly. Briceño opens a sizable lead of about 70 after four hundred votes. Fonseca comes fast and furious and halves the gap to the prize after 500 votes.
3:50 p.m. – Briceño supporters have counted their chickens, and they start the countdown to victory.
3:56 p.m. – 4 votes shy of Briceño’s improbable win, the PUP herald, the legendary Chuku, raises his ceremonial bugle to his lips and proclaims the new leader of the PUP. The crowd cheers. There is a brief delay. The count restarts. The votes come fast and furious again…for Hon. Francis Fonseca. But, it is too little, too late.
4:02 p.m. – It’s official. There is a new PUP leader. The final tally comes a short while later. Fonseca 310. Briceño 330.
4:15 p.m. – Hon. Francis Fonseca takes the podium. He hails the victor, and pledges his support.
4:17 p.m. – The new leader of the People’s United Party, Hon. John Briceño, takes the podium. It is time for the PUP to “open the windows and let the sun shine in,” he tells his adoring supporters. His victory is “a people’s victory,” he says. And, “together we will build back our party.”
He congratulates Hon. Francis Fonseca. He calls out to Hon. Mark Espat, a man who had sought the coveted prize of leader himself…and probably done more than any other to bring about the surprising Briceño victory by exposing Hon. Francis Fonseca’s softness on all that had gone wrong (perceivably) in the blue party.
The new PUP leader also calls out to Lake I for their support. And he calls out loudly to PUPs and Belizeans from farand near…everywhere…Welcome…Welcome to the Party!
There were many notable losers, other than Hon. Francis Fonseca, on Sunday. Former Minister, Godfrey Smith, left the Civic Center at 4:06 p.m…to a chorus of boos. A few other vanquished parties of the “rival faction” on Sunday heard the sounds of rejection also from the boisterous winners, waiting outside to greet the new blue king.
Former PUP Minister Dan Silva, who came out of retirement from the public stage to rally the second largest voting district in the country, Cayo, to Hon. John Briceño’s table, savored victory on Sunday.
It is “a victory for the people…a happy day for the party,” he told Amandala. “The people have voted for a new direction.”
So they did.