U.D.P. Shows Up and Shows Out on Nomination Day

The United Democratic Party also had its turn this afternoon and, like the People’s United Party that came before it, did not fail to disappoint.  The procession began at its headquarters on Youth for the Future Drive and ended at the ITVET a short while later, but it was also energetic and festive.  Here’s News Five’s Isani Cayetano with another report.

 

Isani Cayetano, Reporting

This afternoon, the United Democratic Party also led a parade of supporters from the foot of the BelChina Bridge to Freetown Road, where its slate of candidates presented themselves for nomination.  Notwithstanding the challenges that the U.D.P. has been facing internally, it was able to muster a throng of supporters to rival the numbers brought out by the People’s United Party earlier today.  Leading the charge for his party its team of eleven was Opposition Leader Shyne Barrow.

 

Shyne Barrow, Party Leader, U.D.P.

“I want the Belizean people to see, with all humility, this is my projection, nine, nine municipalities and it is not farfetched.  There was a time where the United Democratic Party administered all nine municipalities and no municipality is out of reach because the cost of living, the neglect, as Dr. Mortis Jones mentioned, people just don’t feel the love.  They feel abandoned, they feel neglected and maybe it was the over-promising, maybe it was the hardies and brodies that the People’s United Party sold, rather than be practical and give deliverables that they could actually meet.”

 

Dr. Nelma Mortis Jones is the U.D.P.’s mayoral candidate.  She is a first-time politician running under the red banner.  She is optimistic about her chances of taking City Hall.

 

Dr. Nelma Mortis Jones, Mayoral Candidate, U.D.P.

“I was confident from I was in the field because of the expression and the sentiments of the people that I associated or made relationships on the ground.”

 

Reporter

“While you were campaigning, what were some of the criticisms or complaints you’ve been hearing?”

 

Nelma Mortis

“Basically, the issues are more of national issues and the people feel that the People’s United Party has no love for them.  The relationship was not there and so that was one of the major complaints for them.  The local issues were secondary and we can understand that, people’s basic needs come first.”

 

Of particular interest is the fact that the U.D.P.’s mayoral candidate was endorsed by the sitting party leader, as well as his predecessor.  For the most part, they haven’t seen eye-to-eye on a number of issues within the party.

 

Patrick Faber, Area Rep, Collet

“At the end of the day, we’re all UDPs and that’s what we have always maintained.  I did not want to ever leave my party and so when the election gun is sounded I am here and we are going to do our best to bring victory for our party on March sixth.”

 

Isani Cayetano

“How practical, in your opinion, has the campaign been in terms of trying to muster the support of voters across the country?”

 

Patrick Faber

“Well I think there’s been a really wonderful exercise on the part of the UDP.  Of course, there are many new candidates and, as I am in those areas and I’ve visited many of them over the last couple of weeks, it is a testing of their machinery, it is putting in place that machinery if it didn’t exist.  And I feel that win or lose for the party overall, the UDP will leave on March sixth with a victory and that victory can well be translated into a further victory whenever the general elections are called because we would have had a stronger machinery as a result of going through these elections on March sixth.”

 

With the possibility of a U.D.P. victory in Belize City on March sixth, a new mayor and a new team of councilors would mean that they would have to work with a People’s United Party central government.  Here’s how the U.D.P.’s mayoral candidate responded to that question.

 

Nelma Mortis

“I am hoping to change that kind of politicking, in the sense that we’re supposed to move towards development.  This is for all Belizeans and so I am hoping [that] if my opponents are still the central government and of course we’ll change them very soon, that they will see the relevance of my work and my leadership to serve the people of Belize and not to serve a UDP or a PUP person, but the people of Belize.”

 

Isani Cayetano for News Five.