FECTAB’s David Almendarez Is Shyne Barrow’s BRC Standard Bearer  

David Almendarez is well-known for his outspoken criticism of the government and his zero-tolerance stance on corruption. As the face of FECTAB (the Federation of Cruise Tourism Association of Belize), he’s often been vocal about issues with current and past administrations. While some call him a firebrand, Almendarez says he plans to bring that same fiery energy to the next general elections and, if elected, to parliament. The U.D.P’s newest standard bearer is set to run in the Belize Rural Central Division on the Shyne Barrow ticket. Today, he sat down with News Five’s Marion Ali, who brings us this report.

 

David Almendarez, U.D.P. Standard Bearer, Belize Rural Central

“Sometimes Belize need wa lee big mouth. We need to have somebody different. We need somebody to care for the people. You see me, I nuh born wid no golden spoon eena my mouth. And I nuh got no privileged law degree and I neva get educated by no privileged family. And I nuh related to no privileged family. I da wa regular person who run wa successful company with no criminal record. Me nuh got no baggage pahn me.”

 

Marion Ali, Reporting

David Almendarez, the fiery voice of FECTAB and a major government critic, is now the United Democratic Party’s standard bearer for Belize Rural Central under Shyne Barrow’s leadership. Almendarez shared with News Five that he was the one who reached out to Barrow some time ago, offering to run in the constituency. He even had to get Barrow’s cell number from someone in the media to make his move. Once he got the green light, he kicked off his campaign just a week ago.

 

David Almendarez

“I ask ah, you have Shyne phone number? Yes. And I get pon WhatsApp, and I WhatsApp Shyne, and I say, Shyne, I nuh know you, but da nuh often the devil tek all of your enemies and put them pon my stage. You understand how bless you? That stage where I say that everything I hate about politics, I hate everything that the 15 years of my government already, we vote the last election. If you’re serious about change, if you just want another little hula award, if you don’t need a little crump on your thing for going back to the States like King Jaffe, come holler at me, cause I’m going to join the fight.”

 

But that fight won’t follow a sophisticated path; Almendarez wants to help the common people.

 

David Almendarez

“I wa run wa grassroots campaign. I am here to listen, keep in touch with my people. I want to listen to you.  Belize Rural Central should expect me personally fi come knock da yoh house and I nuh di come knock fi no fakeness. I di come knock fi listen. I deh ya fi come represent because I know we have poor representation in our area.”

 

What’s surprising about Almendarez’s run for political office is that he claims he doesn’t support any political party—not even the U.D.P., under which he’s running. Instead, he’s focused on pushing for a government that will actively work to implement and stick to the UN Convention against Corruption.

 

David Almendarez

“I that nuh a UDP. That not a PUP.  You and me know I didn’t have this for change.  And I told him this morning, if my thirty-one members not willing to sign UNCAC, the word that all politicians fraid fa, if we nuh fraid fi sign UNCAC on the very first day of being elected.”

 

Marion Ali

What was his response?

 

David Almendarez

“He said, yes.”

 

Marion Ali

“So, if you’re not PUP or UDP, why didn’t you run independent?”

 

David Almendarez

“Because Belize wa never vote for wa independent person. I believe this opportunity we have for the next general election because a lot of people think we can win next general election. A lot of people think we are a joke. It’s amazing because when I first launched my campaign on the media, mein if I da mi wa thin-skinned person I goh dig wa hole. A lot of people take we lightly, but Belize has not even begun to hear five percent of our message. The message hasn’t started yet, but the message will start with change.”

 

Almendarez mentioned that his campaign funding will come from both the U.D.P. and his own pocket. He gave us a tour of his business at Mile Nineteen on the George Price Highway, explaining that much of his investment in the tilapia fishery and farm began when COVID brought the tourism industry to a grinding halt. With his tour service shut down during the border closures, he turned his focus to farming. If elected, he says he wants to create a variety of job opportunities.

 

David Almendarez

“We could produce coconut oil. We could do it. With two or three man. We’re just one big machine, and we can produce drums a day, drums a day. And we have people that believe they can do it, but they don’t share the knowledge. So, that is just one.  I could go on, you want to keep on going?  We can also invest in a very good housing system for our people. Higher people don’t have jobs. Teach them how to build a house in one month, two months. Create a housing path. And make single mothers pay over 600 a month for house rent or something we never own.”

 

News Five reached out to Beverly Williams, the Belize Rural Central candidate for the U.D.P. under Tracy Taegar-Panton’s leadership. Williams sent a message to her constituents, saying, “Beverly Williams will remain your servant no matter what. High road always.” We also contacted the incumbent, the P.U.P.’s Dolores Balderamos-Garcia, for her reaction. She was heading into a NEMO meeting and replied via message, saying, quote, I will never take any opponent lightly. I still need to work very hard, end quote. Marion Ali for News Five.