Barrow: We are focussed and ready for March 5th
The P.U.P.’s might have been the first ones out of the gate this morning, but in the heat of the afternoon sun, the United Democratic Party standard bearers made their impression felt. And as News 5’s Jacqueline Woods found out, what they lacked in numbers, they made up in confidence.
Jacqueline Woods
“Following the 1998 General Elections, the United Democratic Party has been making the necessary changes and preparing itself for the 2003 General Elections. Now with only sixteen more days to go, the party believes it has the team in place to not only move the party forward, but to become the next Government of Belize.”
Dean Barrow, Party Leader, U.D.P.
“Well we tried to recruit new blood and we tried to involve as many people as possible in our brain trust, so that we could have revamped our constitution, and especially so that we could have come up with the policies and the programmes and the plans for these elections for the 2003-2008 term, and we’re happy. Nothing of course is perfect, but we think we’ve done the best we could ever have done, and we’re absolutely ecstatic.”
This afternoon, the United Democratic Party candidates for both the general and City Council elections, along with a crowd of supporters paraded to the administration building on Mahogany Street. There, the candidates in the company of their witnesses paid their respective fees and signed their names. The U.D.P candidates say with a little over two weeks to go, they remain focused and ready for March Fifth.
Dough Singh, U.D.P Candidate, Freetown
“Excited. Actually, I wish it was tomorrow. I think we’re geared up, we’re ready to go. It’s been non-stop energy from since it was announced. We put our plan in place and it’s working just nicely. We’re ready I think. I think the government, the P.U.P. party didn’t expect us to be ready. We’re ready, we’re on target and we’re going to take this government.”
Diane Haylock, U.D.P Candidate, Pickstock
“I feel fantastic. I’m ready for a victory in Pickstock.”
Jacqueline Woods
“Are you impressed by the number of people who showed up today?”
Diane Haylock
“Yes, definitely. We have a good turnout, this is a strong indication that our party is ready.”
Anthony “Boots” Martinez, U.D.P Candidate, Port Loyola
“And we are very upbeat and excited, and looking forward once more to the return match against Dolores.”
Manuel Esquivel, Former Prime Minister
“I think things are looking very, very good. Everybody always says, in politics a day is a year and that’s the way it is with elections too. The closer you get, the momentum is either building or falling and I think for us it is building.”
And while the U.D.P. turnout was not as big as the P.U.P. parade, the party remains unfazed.
Michael Finnegan, U.D.P. Candidate, Mesopotamia
“I don’t worry about what the P.U.P. have or had. What is important will be the turnout and the result of the elections on March fifth. And I can guarantee you a U.D.P. victory on March fifth.”
Dean Barrow
“The support is genuine, there is no question of our renting a crowd, paying anybody to wear t-shirts or to hold flags. Absolutely genuine, and we are overjoyed.”
Equally energized were the new U.D.P. candidates. It was their first Nomination Day, but they did not seem overcome by the process.
Marilyn Williams, U.D.P. Candidate, Albert
“Actually, it has been a lot more positive that I had anticipated. I mean, I had heard all kinds of stories about what people would and wouldn’t do, but it has all been good.”
Patrick Faber, U.D.P Candidate, Collet
“We are prepared, we are ready, the U.D.P. is committed to this country, we’re serious about change and we’re going to win this election. This hype out here, as you can see, is all with us, the people are ready for a change, they’re ready for a committed government and we are the ones to provide that for them. In my division, they are trying to make my age an issue. That’s not an issue at all. We are ready, we are able, and Mr. Montejo is going to see that one election day.”
Jacqueline Woods
“I know so much energy has been put into the general elections, not much focus has been put on the City Council elections. How has your campaign been coming along?”
Laura Esquivel, U.D.P Candidate, City Council
“I wouldn’t say that that’s necessarily true within the U.D.P. the U.D.P. City Council has is own manifesto, which is separate from the general. We are getting that out, we have been given a budget to do that. As well, we are working along with the standard bearers. On weekends we go out in full force, and during the week we tag along with them. We do something a little different, we switch into different areas, we don’t stick into one area, so we get to know everybody. I wouldn’t say we’re being swept away. Of course the general is a little bit more important at this point, but I would say our party places just as much importance on us.”
Wayne Usher, U.D.P Mayoral Candidate
“We will win the City Council elections.”
Jacqueline Woods
“So you guys are feeling rather optimistic right now?”
Wayne Usher
“Very much so, at the tremendous support we have gotten. Not only today, but through the campaign tells us that we will form the next City Council.”
The U.D.P. Candidates say they will continue to campaign right up until the last vote is cast on March fifth. Jacqueline Woods for News 5.
