P.D.P. unveils candidates, manifesto
If history is any indication, third parties in Belizean politics are about as welcome as a case of pink eye. But that hasn’t stopped prospective candidates in the past and likely won’t deter them in the future. As for the present, the People’s Democratic Party invited the press to see what it has to offer in campaign ninety eight… and News Five’s Patrick Jones spent Sunday afternoon at St. Mary’s Hall finding out.
The small gathering of party supporters and the media were on hand to launch the P.D.P. manifesto for the upcoming elections. A slate of fourteen candidates was announced, with a promise that more will come forward as the People’s Democratic Party intends to field a candidate in each of the twenty-nine constituencies.
Estevan Perera, Leader, P.D.P.
“Everybody and all other political party might look at the People’s Democratic Party as a little plaything, but let me tell you something today, come 1998 they’re going to find how many
playthings they have in politics, because this is one political party that does not play games.”
But the game that these brave men and women have engaged themselves in might just be one that is out of their league. Having garnered less than three percent of the vote in the 1996 City Council Election, the P.D.P. is still somehow hoping to gain a place on Independence Hill. And how they hope to get there is outlined in their manifesto.
Ivan Roberts, Pickstock Division
“Since utilities play a vital part in the nation’s path to economical growth, we will seek to nationalize all the utilities of the land. That means getting back the electricity and the telephone company into the hands of the government.”
Ruth Smith, Albert Division
“Because health care is becoming increasingly privatized and expensive, the People’s Democratic Party propose the formation of a national health scheme to be accomplished through existing insurance companies and the social security board. Policies will be implemented to ensure that practitioners are held accountable for their action or failure to act which may result in a harmful outcome or even death of a citizen.”
There is no mention of youth or sports in the P.D.P. Manifesto, but the candidates say these issues are not forgotten and pledge to adopt existing proposals including the People’s Manifesto.
Luke Palacio, Dangriga
“We the People’s Democratic Party would like to see policies implemented which will unite and not divide the nation; we the People’s Democratic Party would like to see the restoration of our democracy which has been subverted in the past.”
The party got a boost on Sunday, when out of the audience another candidate stepped forward to join their ranks.
Master of Ceremonies
“I would like to a officially announce that Mr. Abel Rodriguez, he will now declare himself a candidate for the People’s Democratic Party, Mr. Rodriguez…”
But the party’s bubble was almost burst, when a member of the audience questioned why anyone should even consider a P.D.P. slate that has lost its deposit in every election it has contested.
Ivan Roberts
“Next question from the next public please.”
And the question may be, if the P.D.P. has anything serious to offer, when are they going to show it? Patrick Jones, for News Five.
While third parties or independent candidates have had little success in winning seats they have on occasion played the role of spoiler in individual constituencies. With some races decided by as little as a single vote it is conceivable that a P.D.P. candidate — even one which attracts few ballots — could still swing an election to the red or the blue.
