Said Musa: we are confident of victory
If anything has characterized the People’s United Party’s campaign this election year, it has been it’s festive atmosphere awash in blue and white, and dances set to the tune of their theme songs. And true to form, today, when the P.U.P. took to the streets of Belize City on this, Nomination Day, they lived up to their reputation. News 5’s Janelle Chanona reports.
Janelle Chanona, Reporting
Nomination Day found the People’s United Party running on all cylinders as the standard bearers from Belize City paraded through the streets to the tune of live music…and the battle cries of supporters.
Crowd
“P.U.P., all the way!”
Francis Fonseca, P.U.P. Candidate, Freetown
“We are very excited, we are pumped up. We have a lot of good support from the Freetown Division, a lot of people have come out here to support us. It’s a very important day for me, my family. It was an important decision to run for electoral politics. We have no regrets, it’s been very good, very exciting and we’re pumped up, we’re gonna stay focussed for the next two weeks leading up to March fifth, and we feel very good about Freetown and a decisive victory on March fifth.”
Godfrey Smith, P.U.P. Candidate, Pickstock
“Very excited, very energised. I think the people are pumped up, and once we get the horse locked into the gate today, it’ll just be left to hear the sound of the bugle on March fifth.”
With Prime Minister Said Musa leading the way, one by one, the delegations from each division merged, creating a blue river of dancers and diehards.
Prime Minister Said Musa, Party Leader, P.U.P.
“I am feeling very good…I think we’re heading for a great victory.”
And when the Belize City P.U.P.’s converged for a brief rally at the Belize City Centre, party leader Said Musa too his confidence to the stage.
Prime Minister Said Musa
“We are going to whap dem!”
Crowd
“Seven by seven.”
Prime Minister Said Musa
“We are going to whap dem!”
Crowd
Eight by eight.”
Prime Minister Said Musa
“We are going to whap dem.”
Crowd
“Nine by Nine.”
Prime Minister Said Musa
“We are going to whap dem.”
Crowd
“Ten by ten.”
Prime Minister Said Musa
“P.U.P.”
Crowd
“All the way!”
Prime Minister Said Musa
“Now dah no time fi talk, now dah time for action. P.U.P.”
Crowd
“All the way!”
And after talking their talk, these men and women began the long walk down Mahogany Street to the government complex to have their six constituents officially nominate them as candidates in their divisions.
Mark Espat, P.U.P. Standard Bearer, Albert
“We are very confident that we will deliver the Albert constituency. We have six of easily a fifteen hundred that we could bring out this morning. But only six we need and we’re very confident that we will deliver Albert in two and a half weeks time.”
Cordel Hyde, P.U.P. Candidate, Lake Independence
“We had four candidates 1998 and I feel just the same way, positive and feel like we’re gearing up for a big victory.”
Janelle Chanona
“You personally, what were you thinking about this morning signing up?”
Cordel Hyde
“Well I put on my orange shirt because I my feel hype and happy. And when I’m in a good mood I put on my orange shirt, fi blend with the vibes.”
At the same time, the P.U.P. candidates for the municipal elections were also registering their names.
For the incumbent Mayor of Belize City, David Fonseca, the double election has not negatively impacted his council’s campaign.
David Fonseca, P.U.P. Mayoral Candidate
“I don’t think it has really taken a back seat. The work continues in the municipalities, and there is a coordinated campaign taking place-at least with our party-and we are campaigning for both municipal and general elections in the same time. We’re giving the same emphasis on both of them. Our programmes are basically the same, so there shouldn’t be any problem with it.”
And using today’s numbers as evidence, the P.U.P.’s don’t think they’ll have any problems come election day. Reporting for News 5, I am Janelle Chanona.
