P.U.P. brings out a crowd in Belize City
It was postponed from last month due to bad weather and the People’s United Party must be thankful. Their massive march on Belize City this morning provided what amounts to a dramatic climax for its virtually nonstop five year campaign to regain the office it lost in 1993. Patrick Jones reports.
The streets of Belize City turned blue this morning as thousands of supporters from virtually every village in the country were out in full force, all marching to the single beat of the P.U.P. drum.
Jorge Espat, Chairman, P.U.P.
“One of the purposes is to mobilize the party nationwide, to indicate to the country the strength of this party, to tell Belize that we are ready to govern Belize into the twenty-first century; in fact to demonstrate the strength of the party.”
George Price, Leader Emeritus, P.U.P.
“It gives them an uplift, it encourages them to continue the very hard work that is necessary to win the elections.”
Said Musa, Leader, P.U.P.
“This is the strike three set Belize free parade. It’s a march for freedom. This is the final push now before the general elections on August twenty-seventh. It’s also, the people have been demanding, they want to demonstrate, they want to show their support for the P.U.P. They want to show that the tidal wave and this momentum for this elections is with the People’s United Party.”
Said Musa and the rest of team twenty-nine are hoping that that momentum will carry them through the next six days and sweep the party back into power.
Patrick Jones
“Ever since they were voted into opposition on June thirtieth, 1993, the People’s United Party has never been shy about letting its feelings known through mass demonstrations. But did this massive show of force achieve the intended goal?”
Said Musa
“I can’t say we’ve realized all our objectives because we’ve
been dealing with a very repressive, very vindictive government. But the people every step of the way have stood up with their leadership and shown that the People’s United Party has won the hearts and minds of the Belizean people.”
Jorge Espat
“I think it’s a big moral boost for the party. It’s a big political indication of the strength of this party. It is an opposition party that is alive and is pregnant with hope and possibilities, a political party that is ready to be given the responsibility to lead Belize into the twenty-first century.”
But before the party can focus proper on leading the country into the twenty first century, it must first concentrate all its resources on winning the August twenty-seventh elections. But Musa and his party, couldn’t be more ready.
Said Musa
“We are committed to creating, generating fifteen thousand new jobs. We think that’s a very realistic program. We are committed to building ten thousand new homes. We will do it; it’s only a matter of time now.”
Patrick Jones
“When it comes to making things happens, the People’s United Party today once again demonstrated that it can mobilize a crowd. Will they have to do it again on August twenty-eight? Patrick Jones, for News Five, Yarborough Green.”
P.U.P. chairman Jorge Espat told News Five that if his party wins Thursday’s election there will be another March on Friday August twenty eight to celebrate the victory.
