P.U.P. Launches Plan Belize 2.0 in San Ignacio Town

With just thirteen days left before the 2025 general election, the People’s United Party (P.U.P.) launched its Plan Belize 2.0 manifesto on Thursday night. The event took place in San Ignacio, a strategic choice as the party aims to improve its performance in the upcoming municipal election there. Plan Belize 2.0 builds on the original Plan Belize, promising starter homes, more road construction, another minimum wage increase, and the continued roll-out of National Health Insurance. News Five’s Paul Lopez gives us an in-depth look at the manifesto launch event. Here’s his report.

 

Paul Lopez, Reporting

On Thursday night, the People’s United Party unveiled its Plan Belize 2.0 manifesto in the lively town of San Ignacio. This new manifesto builds on the solid groundwork laid by the original Plan Belize, promising to continue the progress and bring even more positive changes.

 

Cordel Hyde, Deputy Party Leader, P.U.P.

“You know we have not been perfect, and we wouldn’t dare tell anyone we are. But from where we started and where we are now, we have come a long way. The great George Errol once wrote that poverty alights the future. I dare say we are annihilating poverty and lighting up the future.”

Party Leader John Briceño announced several key undertakings that the PUP intends to fulfil once elected for a second term.

 

John Briceño, Party Leader, P.U.P.

“Thirteen days from now the Belizean people will get a chance to decide who will govern this nation for the next five years. March twelfth is a moment to cherish. On March twelfth we will engage in free and fair elections to decide on those thirty-one people who best represent the interest of all Belizeans. I say to you now, the most qualified, the most destined and the best thirty-one people you can find for this job are right here on this stage.”

Among the PUP’s biggest promises are raising the minimum wage from five to six dollars, constructing five hundred homes with a ten-million-dollar budget, and passing laws to make GST-free weekends a permanent event twice a year.

 

John Briceño

“I am pleased to announce that right here in San Ignacio, effective next school year Sacred Heart College will be the school to enjoy free education from first form to fourth form. We all remember what it was like in 2019 and 2020 but look at where we are now. Just four years later, we have turned things around. We have steadied the ship of state. There is no weeping or grieving because we are not just back on track but right pan track ladies and gentlemen.”

 

Briceño also revealed the completion of the National Health Insurance rollout under Plan Belize 2.0, huge investments in solar energy, and an impressive eight hundred-million-dollar public-private investment in the Port of Belize Limited.

 

John Briceño

“We will transform the Port of Belize that we the Belizean people now own. Under Plan Belize 2.0 we will build hospitals in San Pedro, Belmopan and Punta Gorda. And we will defend our territory and we will win at the I.C.J. Yes we will raise the minimum wage again so that we can continue the fight against poverty and raise the standard of living. And I know the ladies are going to love this. We will pass laws to make GST to make GST free weekends permanent for Christmas and back to school.”

 

Choosing San Ignacio for the Plan Belize 2.0 manifesto launch was no accident. It’s the only town that voted for a United Democratic Party majority in March 2023 municipal elections. The PUP aims to change that on March twelfth. On Thursday night, all the PUP candidates from the west had a chance to speak directly to their voters. Briceno made it clear what he expects from them.

 

John Briceño

“Are you ready Cayo? Are you ready for the sweep? We want six. How much? How much? That is right six and most important ladies and gentlemen we have you the starters of the revolution. Together we are the PUP and just as we delivered on Plan Belize we are going to deliver on plane Belize 2.0.”

 

Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez