U.D.P. 7 Belize City Hopes To Win Big in Old Capital

The United Democratic Party is fielding a team of seven candidates for Wednesday’s municipal elections. Career educator, Doctor Nelma Jones Mortis is leading the charge for the U.D.P. Eleven. They launched their manifesto several days ago and are now hoping that they can reclaim those municipal seats once held by their party. News Five’s Paul Lopez spoke with Mortis and her councilor candidates in this installment of Meet the Candidates.

 

Paul Lopez, Reporting

The United Democratic Party is seeking to end its two-term municipal drought in Belize City. After a longstanding reign in the Old Capital, Belize City residents opted for a People’s United Party municipal slate in the last two municipal elections. Well, Dr. Nelma Mortis, the United Democratic Party’s Mayoral Candidate, and UDP councilor candidates Angelie Perez and Samson Jacobs have placed their names on the ballot and are confident of victory at the polls.

 

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

“I am a thirty years or over experience educator. I am also a researcher, a social activist and I am inspired for two various reasons. I am a person ho believe in service and that is the greatest effort you will get out of me, to serve the people. Additionally I am also trying to make, or at least give a better reflection to the younger woman than me to walk in political leadership where we are not well represented.”

 

Angelie Perez, U.D.P. Councilor Candidate, Belize City

“I am a paralegal and I decided to put my name on the ballot for two reasons, I want to be able to see more young people being represented and as well as women, because I believe we have a voice and in order for my voice and the voice of the young people to be heard there must be representations.”

 

 

Samson Jacobs, U.D.P. Councilor Candidate, Belize City

“I am a teacher at Edward P Yorke High School. I started off at Sadie Vernon Technical High School but prior to that my first place of employment was Hand in Hand Ministries where I use to work with persons who were infected and affected with HIV and aids. I am social workers by degree but I am also a trained teacher and I have a certificate in grant proposal writing and project management.”

 

 

Mortis and her team launched their manifesto last Thursday. The document has three key areas of focus, environment, economy and equity. She says most of the residents she spoke with on the campaign trail were more concerned about national issues as opposed to municipal challenges. She added that issues of food and citizen security are on top of the list of those concerns.

 

 

Nelma Jones Mortis

“One of the greatest thing that comes out from the people on the ground is more of national issues and I know I do have to do a lot of work in helping out people to understand the importance of local government. At this point there is not really much thing to say about the local government as much as there is thing to say about national government. And, that has to do with the nexus for food and security. People have to eat, people are hungry. People want to feel secure. Their lives and I have to say this, recently there have been a lot of electioneering where the streets are being fixed and close to election or upon election and that symbolize that us as politicians we are hinging people’s livelihood and quality for life to an election and it should not be that way.”

 

Mortis noted that the business community in Belize City already raised a number of concerns to her team that they plan to address if elected on Wednesday.

 

Nelma Jones Mortis

“Parking is a major issue for them, especially on Albert Street and Regent Street. So we have to create a vision for that. Either we do parking that goes up or we cut off a certain are just for parking, that is something that has to be assessed. Two, they speak a lot to the trade license, which is seems there is not equity across the board when it comes to that. Now that is beyond the Belize City Council’s purview, however again, collaboration as the mayor of this city that is where my leadership comes in having to bring this central government to point the way forward.”

 

And councilor candidate, Angelie Perez, says if young people are questioning what impact a youth can make through politics, she has a message for them.

 

Angelie Perez

“I think the kind of impact a young person can make, if we shy away from these roles we will never be heard. So we must step up. WE must embrace these leadership roles in order for our voices to be heard. When I decided to put my name on a ballot and told people, one of the questions people asked is if I was ready because politics is a very dirty game and I am very grateful to the good lord that this time it hasn’t been like that and my mayor also doesn’t believe in negative campaigning.”

 

Councilor candidate Samson Jacobs also voiced several concerns he heard from residents that he believes his team would be able to effectively address.

 

Samson Jacobs

“I remember on the campaign trail we were back in Gungulung area and some business owners were complaining about the drainage and the street. One of them actually said when they come to purchase in the store they could not enter because the water the cover the bridge to get in. I believe the same way they consider the north side people to pay their taxes and they get their services, the same needs to be done on the south side and that is where the equity comes in.”

 

Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.