PUP Rep Dies From COVID One Month After Election
He was hospitalised last week Saturday in acute respiratory distress and placed on a ventilator. And, this morning at the Belize Healthcare Partners, newly elected PUP representative, 47 year old David "Dido" Vega succumbed to respiratory failure caused by COVID 19.
It came on the same morning of the ceremonial opening of the House Of Representatives, minutes before his PUP parliamentary colleagues were about to take the oath. For Vega, a true political battler to be missing form an event he had worked so hard for, cast a dark shadow over the entire ceremony.
His death left the Prime Minister shaken and emotional - Courtney Menzies reports from Belmopan.
At 10 this morning, David "Dido" Vega was to be sworn in as the area representative of Corozal Bay. But at 9:15, he passed away - exactly a month after he was elected.
The sad news quickly turned what should have been a celebratory occasion into a gloomy one. At the swearing in ceremony, the Prime Minister, John Briceno, announced the news to the country.
Hon. John Briceno, Prime Minister
"It is with a sad heart that I inform the nation of the passing this morning of the Honorable David Dido Vega. David, known to us as Dido, would have been swearing the same oath as we did earlier. On behalf of all of us, I extend to his family, to the people of Corozal Bay, and to the nation our heartfelt condolences to the Honorable David Vega's family. The Honorable David Vega will be given a state funeral and all flags will be flown at half mast over the entire country until the date of his funeral." (long sigh)
PM Briceno lamented the shock, and the grief, that was no doubt felt throughout the party as they remembered their colleague - who many of them described as being humble and hardworking. In fact, the PM said Vega was so concerned about his constituency, that it was one of the last things he spoke about on his hospital bed.
Hon. John Briceno, Prime Minister
"This is a true story. The doctor that was tending to him told me that the last thing that Dido told him, cause he knows the doctor, they're both from Corozal, and he told the Doctor, you know Doctor, I have to get out from here, I have to go and dig some drains because some people are flooding. I am not making up this story, this is a God-to-honest truth."
But sadly, Vega will not get the chance to realize the plans he had for his constituency - which he won by more than 400 votes over the former representative, Pablo Marin.
His fellow Corozal Rep, Florencio Marin Jr, expressed his incredulity at the news, since he had already made plans to work alongside Vega.
Hon. Florencio Marin, Area Rep, Corozal Southeast
"About ten o' clock last night, I texted someone who was in touch with the family and he gave me nothing but good news, he said by early next week they expect to take him off the intubator and all that and I'm like, oh excellent, so I'm already planning that before the Christmas, he and I will get to sit down and plan the way forward and only for this morning for them to tell me, no, it's not looking good and then getting the news, it's just devastating."
"I could tell you that Dido was a driven individual, and determined, that guy when he put his mind to something, a team of wild horses couldn't stop him from whatever objective he put his mind too. It's so sad to get this news today, I'm still trying to process it with everything that's happened today, I'm at a loss for words."
So what happens now? Well, while his family and his political colleagues continue to grieve, a bi-election must be called. According to the law, this must happen within 21 days, but it was not something the PM wasn't willing to delve into today.
Hon. John Briceno, Prime Minister
"What will have to happen is that there has to be a bi-electon. When? I don't know, I have to sit down and see what the law calls for. And then I guess both parties will have to go through their convention period to be able to select a candidate. But I wish not to speak too much on that, I mean Honorable Vega just died and I think we have to honor him for what he has done. He was an exemplary teacher, he reached out to a lot of young people, he was always concerned and wanting to do this for his community."
Vega, a career teacher, was the father of two daughters and a first time area representative.
As you heard the PM say, all flags will be flown at half mast until Vega's state Funeral. The UDP also extended its condolences via press release. In it, they said that they were saddened to hear the news, but it is a good reminder that the virus is indiscriminate in who it attacks.
And while the shock and sadness of his death are all too real; there is a also a practical dimension - in the case of the death of an area rep - a bye election must held in 21 days. We asked UDP leader Patrick Faber about his party's plans for that, but he declined comment, saying, "Let's mourn him at least one day." End quote.
Channel 7