Tag: 2024-11-13

This morning at the Belize Institute of Management’s conference room, a new grassroots movement made up of fourteen standard bearers from across the country was introduced to Belizean voters. The group, called the Belizeans Justice Movement, is led by Orange Walk resident Friday Pfizer. During a press conference, Pfizer shared the story behind the movement, emphasizing that they don’t see themselves as a third party, even though they’re stepping into the political arena ahead of the next general elections.

Friday Pfizer, Belizeans Justice Movement

“It came about roughly since 2016.  2016, I decided to tour the entire country because knowledge is power.  You need to know so that you can express and you can let people know what it is that is needed, and what I gathered from everybody, every district, every village has their own little problem, but everybody cries for one thing, social justice.  That is what is needed and I did it because simply, I just want to know my country.  I want to know my people, and when you know someone you get to find out what their needs are, and if you can help in any kind of way, personally I can’t, but with a group of men and women who are not politicians, who are servicemen and women, we can make the change.

Condace Lowe, Belizeans Justice Movement

“I was raised in the country of Belize, so I consider myself as a Belizean.  So I have a lot of friends and friends and family throughout the country, so they do know who I am.  I stick to my principle and I stick to what I believe in for our country.  What I believe in this country is that we are lacking in a lot of things.  And therefore, I was introduced to this group, hearing their mission, hearing their vision and all of that, and it’s in line with what I want to see the country to progress.  I am from Corozal District, I’ve been helping with my community there, especially with the homeless.  They understand me and I help them out; not only for the homeless, but also for the less fortunate people.”

Rudy Wade is throwing his hat in the ring for the Cayo Central constituency. As a former law enforcement officer, he’s pinpointed several pressing social issues that need immediate attention, especially healthcare. Joining him in raising these concerns is Abner Bacab from San Pedro. Bacab, who was one of the three mayoral candidates in the March sixth municipal elections, is now running under the ‘melon banner’ this time around.

Rudy Wade, Belizeans Justice Movement

“ It’s just that it’s so sad that the media they only see the two-party system, so when it comes to a movement and a third party, per se, there’s not much visibility and highlights.  But we see the need and we see the direction that the country is going and it’s not good.  Starting from poverty, starting with the healthcare system, starting with unemployment, starting with our security forces, it’s not good.  And, a thing that hits me is that the healthcare system in this country is really, really bad and it needs fixing, and we have good plans.  We, the Belizeans Justice Movement, have good plans in carrying out that mission.  The Belizeans Justice Movement is comprised of regular people, my brother, no attorneys, no man carrying a briefcase, no doctors.  We are grassroots, farmers, retirees, retired teacher.”

Abner Bacab, Belizeans Justice Movement

“Belizeans Justice Movement is here to promote justice.  Justice comes in many ways: equality, improvement in healthcare, improvement in work, improvement in salaries, improving the lives of our Belizean people.  One of the many reasons I decided to join the movement was because I’m involved in healthcare service in San Pedro.  It’s privately owned, yes, but remember, San Pedro is the number one tourist destination in the whole country.  San Pedro gives back to the Government of Belize so much money and we don’t get it back.  We don’t even have a hospital.”

Meet Leroy Lisbey, another fresh face in politics hailing from the Cayo District. This former public officer is passionate about fair land distribution and boosting the agriculture sector. Here’s what he had to say.

Leroy Lisbey, Belizeans Justice Movement

“I decided to enter politics because I have seen a lot of the injustices happening in the country of Belize.  For instance, in the unequal distribution of land that affects most of our citizens.  We need to make sure that the land be distributed to the people that are in need, make land available for the landless.  The market roads are in deplorable conditions and we need to upgrade these so that the farmers have access to reach their farms and bring out their produce so that the prices of the vegetables or whatever it is their producing be reduced.  Another great issue that I see happening is that we need to revitalize the industry like banana, citrus, and the cane industry.  Those are the things that generate income to this country and they are just left aside.  How can we become productive in that way, in generating revenue, improving these sectors?  All of these are things that affect Belize as a nation.  Of course, I am a retired public servant, as I said earlier, and I have seen where they have put public servants below other people.”