Three candidates fight for nomination in Albert
This Sunday Bird’s Isle will be the venue of the city’s last major contested political convention. The Albert Division, once the preserve of the legendary Philip Goldson and considered to be a UDP stronghold, shifted solidly to the blue column in 1998 with the election of Mark Espat. This time around, three candidates are vying for the opportunity to face Espat in 2003. Today Ann-Marie Williams walked the streets of Albert with each of them and files the following report.
Ann-Marie Williams
“The race to select a standard bearer for the Opposition United Democratic Party in the Albert Division is underway. Three of the contenders say they have what it takes to win the convention.”
Delroy Cuthkelvin
“I have courage and I have support. As you can see, I have quiet a lot of people supporting me in the Albert Division.”
Sydney Fuller
“A new change for Albert, to develop Albert.”
Dale Trujeque
“I’m a worker. I will do the work, it has to be done.”
Sydney Fuller is one of the three contenders who have been working in the area from 1998. His claim to political fame is longevity.
Sydney Fuller
“It’s something I’ve been doing for some time now with my father. Ever since he’s been working in the Albert Division, I’ve always been campaigning with him, that’s way back in the 70s. My father was Theodore Fuller, T. Fuller, the man who had Goldson in this division, so I just continue from there.”
Journalist, Delroy Cuthkelvin entered the race six months ago.
Delroy Cuthkelvin
“We want to make sure that we get rid of this government. But we also want to ensure that when we get into office this time around, that we serve the people as best as we can. If I am going to assure the people that we are going to do that, the best way to do that is to make sure that I am in it myself, an integral part of this thing. And that’s the reason why I’ve decided to run this time.”
And it’s only a month ago that Dale Trujeque has decided to throw in his hat.
Dale Trujeque
“For me, it’s a personal decision to be a part of solutions, rather than a part of problems. I’m not saying that Delroy or Sydney Fuller are not good candidates, but I’m saying that when I look at myself against these people, I am the better candidate and I present the people of Albert with a better choice.”
Not so said Tom Morrison, the division’s incumbent who lost to the PUP’s Mark Espat in the 1998 general elections. His endorsement of Cuthkelvin came a couple weeks ago.
Tom Morrison
“Cause I truly feel that Delroy is the better of the three candidates who are contending for this division. Delroy is the candidate who I believe can really take on the PUP incumbent candidate and can beat him.”
Fuller too feels like he can beat him, but admits he has to first win Sunday’s open convention. And he has a plan to do just that.
Sydney Fuller
“I want to bring jobs for the people, I want to create jobs for the people. I want to make Albert a better place of people to live in, a safer place, something that Albert has been before; I want to bring it back.”
Delroy Cuthkelvin
“I believe that I have the ability to understand what people need and I have the commitment to deliver on those needs. If you notice in this Albert Division, as I move around here, the guys who are supporting me, a lot of guys who don’t have jobs. This is a government we have in office that promised to offer the people fifteen thousand jobs, those jobs are not available at all.”
Ann-Marie Williams
“How organised is your machinery?”
Dale Trujeque
“The best it can be with what money cannot buy. I have people in place. Tonight we’re going to complete our organisation and our strategy for Sunday. I have everything ready basically, it’s just a matter of making sure my people will be fed, they’ll be contented on that day, they’ll be out there aggressively checking the voters on the list, getting them out.”
Sydney Fuller
“I’m set for Sunday, I’ve been doing my work, I have my people ready, my team is together. We’re ready to move on for Sunday and voters promise to come out and we’re getting the voters out on Sunday.”
And no matter what happens on Sunday, Trujeque says you haven’t seen the last of him.
Dale Trujeque
“Seriously because I still believe that the PUP is not the right thing for Belize. And as long as I believe that, then I have to always weigh the option of throwing in my hat somewhere else, maybe in the City Council or whatever. But it’s time for me to stay in the forefront.”
Ann-Marie Williams for News 5.
If your name appears on the register of electors for the Albert constituency, you are eligible to vote in Sunday’s convention. The event takes place at Bird’s Isle from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
