Gary Versus Manny for U.D.P. Rep for Belize Rural South

Gary Grief

Minister Heredia Junior is a four-term area representative of Belize Rural South and has not lost an election in his political career. He has also been the Minister of Tourism, while the U.D.P. has been in office in the last three terms. But he is now facing a challenger from within the ranks. A two-term councillor, who is also his cousin, is mounting a campaign to unseat Heredia Junior at convention. He is Gary Grief, whose time, according to Heredia Junior, has not come. Grief is from an established family on the island and also in the tourism industry. As a senior minister, Heredia Junior believes that the challenge is disrespectful.

Manuel Heredia Jr., Area Rep, Belize Rural South

Manuel Heredia Jr.

“Personally, I believe that I have helped all these young people to move up in their political careers and yes I agree that for someone of that calibre challenge me is a total disrespect to myself because it’s like you build someone and afterwards they feel like they are better than you. So it is a total disrespect and that is they believe of almost our total executive. I would say ninety-nine percent of our executive believes it’s disrespect; they are fully onboard with me. And again, any younger one is supposed to sit down with our executive and myself and talk it over and see if it is right and then look at the interest of the party first and then and only then… It is the same; a number of my colleagues were taken by surprise. Nobody expected that that would happen and particularly from a young politician.”