Fonseca Unbothered, Too Focused to Know His Opponent

On Tuesday, Prime Minister John Briceño announced that Belizeans will head to the polls on March 12, 2025. With less than a month to go, candidates are in full campaign mode—but in Freetown, P.U.P. Standard Bearer Francis Fonseca isn’t breaking a sweat. In fact, he’s so confident in his re-election that he doesn’t even know who his political opponent is. Fonseca says his focus remains on his work and his constituents, not the competition.

 

Francis Fonseca, P.U.P. Standard Bearer, Freetown

“ I am a representative. Of Freetown So I have to be engaged in campaign and political work. But of course I also have ministerial duties which I have to carry out. I’m doing that today. So it’s a balance. It’s a balance. But obviously, you know, this is political season, campaign season. So, you know, we’re carrying out our work. And finishing up some of the projects that we started. And then, as I said, campaigning. Campaigning obviously takes priority right now.”

 

Britney Gordon

“ What has the feedback been like from the residents in your constituency? Is there any areas of concern that you’re looking at addressing?”

 

Francis Fonseca

“No, I mean it’s, we have a great relationship with the people in Freetown. So I feel very confident about my relationship with them. But of course, of course, we talk to them about  issues of concern to them. You know. Infrastructure is always an issue that we have to continue working on. People are always concerned about  more job opportunities. People are concerned about their land, getting access to land, getting access to housing. Those are big issues. The cost of living, of course, is always an issue of concern.  So we talk  to our voters about all of those issues and try to you know, respond to them when they come up in a responsible way.”

 

Britney Gordon

”In terms of Abraham Flowers, how are you feeling having him as your opponent right now?”

 

Francis Fonseca

“No, I don’t know the gentleman, so I can’t comment on it. I don’t know him. I understand he’s a U.D.P. candidate you know, but like every candidate, I respect all of my candidates, this is my sixth election,  I respect all of my candidates, and I never make my campaigns about who I’m running against, I make it about my work and my relationship with the people of Freetown, and that’s what I will do in this election as well.”