Briceño: “Seven Decades of Struggle,Progress, and Triumph”

The People’s United Party (PUP) gathered as a National Party Council at the St. Catherine Academy auditorium in Belize City to celebrate its 74th anniversary. 

The event formally introduced the party’s 31 candidates.

Deputy Party Leader Cordel Hyde reflected on the party’s history and the resilience of past leaders. Hyde recounted the difficulties faced during the 2020 elections, stating, “When we won, we realised that something was wrong. We realised that we walked into the greatest trap ever, the worst of times ever. We were in the middle of COVID; 60,000 people were unemployed. 60,000 more were underemployed. The Government of Belize had to be borrowing a million dollars a day just to pay the salaries of teachers and public officers. The IMF came and insisted on the Prime Minister to fire 3,000 teachers and public officers and raise GST to 19%. These were the absolute worst of times. We could have turned over and played dead, throw up our hands, but that’s not us. This is the People’s United Party.” Hyde added the party’s biggest accomplishments under Briceño’s leadership, including opening borders, renegotiating loans, raising the minimum wage, and expanding the National Health Insurance program.

Following Hyde’s address, the Party Leader and Prime Minister John Briceño emphasised unity and the party’s dedication to serving the people. “74 years is not just a measure of time; it is the formation of the DNA of our party. It is seven decades of struggle, progress, and triumph,” said Briceño . He contrasted the party’s achievements with the ’13 years of corruption’ under the Barrow administration, saying, “What the UDP destoyed in 13 years of corruption, imcompetence, maliciousness, and spitefulness, we, the People’s United Party, have rebuilt in four years.” He added, “Today, I am grateful for the 31 of our leaders whose work has kept our party strong and have been helping us to buil d back Belize.”