P.U.P. Sec. Gen. says his party is ready
This afternoon I had the opportunity to speak to one man who deals with the art and science of electoral politics twenty-four seven.
Francis Fonseca, Secretary Gen., PUP
“We’re working, we’re working, that’s the big difference between us and the UDP. We work, and we work hard everyday.”
Enter Francis Fonseca, P.U.P. candidate for Freetown…PUP Secretary General…and confident of a second term for the People’s United Party.
Janelle Chanona
“Given that, since Independence no party has ever won back to back elections, is that playing whatsoever on the psyche of P.U.P. candidates?”
Francis Fonseca
“No, the candidates, I think we’re all confident because we’re doing our work. I think confidence comes from work. If you’re doing your work, you can feel a real sense of confidence. And I think that’s the big difference.”
Janelle Chanona
“The party thinks all of its incumbents now are working, they should feel that level of confidence?”
Francis Fonseca
“I think yes, we feel that level of confidence. Some have started to work a little later than others, but obviously we feel a good sense about our candidates. I cant tell you yesterday the Prime Minister was very clear in talking to everybody, addressing everybody and saying to those who we felt had not been working enough, you have to do more.”
With general elections right around the corner, Belizeans everywhere are wondering will there be enough time to make good on all those political promises…especially in those areas where there is still lots of work left to be done?
Francis Fonseca
“Tremendous work has been done in the Southside of Belize City as has been the case throughout the country.”
But what about the hundreds of families living in swamps?
Francis Fonseca
“Obviously the southside is a very challenging part of our country and we have a tremendous amount of problems in that area in terms of improving quality of life to a level that our party and our government would be satisfied with. We’re not satisfied with the work that has been done there because we want to do better for the people in the southside. But I can tell you, we’re very proud of the record of work and achievement that we have on the Southside of Belize City.”
Janelle Chanona
“Is the People’s United Party feeling any pressure by all these rumours of an early election being called?”
Francis Fonseca
“Everybody is pumped up. The party is ready. Everybody has been working very hard, before leading up to Christmas. Everybody has their committees well organized and ready to go and we’re prepared. Everybody told the Prime Minister yesterday very clearly, Prime Minister, whenever you make the decision, whether it’s early or after March, before March, in August, we will be ready. So we are very excited about the few months and weeks ahead.”
Janelle Chanona
“Can the People’s United Party afford to continue campaign at the level it is right now, just given our own experience at our station when it doesn’t know when the election date is? Can you guys afford to keep spending the way you are?”
Francis Fonseca
“Depending on the decision of the Prime Minister we will have to budget accordingly and make sure that we have enough funds to sustain the campaign. But that decision is his. And we will have to make our decisions based on what the Prime Minister decides in terms of our budget. But our strength is not money. As a party, our strength is organisation, the strength of our volunteers throughout the country. We have a lot of good solid PUPs throughout the country, who have worked in various divisions for twenty, twenty-five years.”
When asked about the reason for presenting the Prime Minister’s budget speech two months early, Fonseca said that the exercise had been completed and an early presentation would clear the decks for the upcoming municipal elections scheduled for March fifth.
