Allan Pollard will Challenge Mayoral Candidacy in Belize City
Allan Pollard
Deputy Mayor Allan Pollard is running for municipal office as the next mayor of Belize City. His bid for the highest seat at City Hall was made official earlier today when he submitted his name as a mayoral candidate in the 2024 municipal elections. Pollard has served for two terms under the leadership of Mayor Bernard Wagner and has decided to step out from under Wagner’s wing to challenge the seat. In the November 2020 general elections, Pollard ran as the People’s United Party candidate in Queen Square against Denise ‘Sista B’ Barrow. While he lost that race in the U.D.P. stronghold, Pollard is optimistic that he has the leadership qualities necessary to head City Hall.
Allan Pollard, Deputy Mayor, Belize City Council
“From the onset, I‘ve always been one to believe that youths have a voice and noh just wahn voice fi seh we wahn speak pan issues, but we have the opportunity to correct them, once given that opportunity. So, from the onset, I‘ve always thought of myself as an inspiration to an entire generation in Belize City and I think that that has always been the fuel to my fire to keep on going forward. So everyday I wake up, I always think about, you know, what those people expect from me today, what those people watching my career expect. I was just sharing with some people how much applicants are asking me for advice and asking me about how to go about to represent and it‘s all younger people trying to come in and I think that we are in that space now where young people are getting that confidence and that courage to step up. And I think that it‘s only right that if they‘re getting that and we have been doing that then it‘s my task then to show them every step of the way, no matter what position, that they can do it. And I think that it‘s not about the position itself, it‘s whatever capacity that you can serve in and making sure that others behind you, you are making a good example for them. So that has always been my personal inspiration for going forward in my political career.”
Paul Lopez
“If this is to be taken to a convention, how do you believe you fair off against a more experienced mayor, by way of Mayor Bernard Wagner?”
Allan Pollard
“Well I don‘t think it‘s strictly because the mayor has expressed numerous times that he won‘t participate in a convention and I have told him that if he doesn‘t then I would definitely participate as well. And, you know, me and him, I‘ve always enjoyed his support and I always enjoyed his confidence within our council and we have an excellent working relationship. But as far as experience goes, I think that the people of Belize City can really enjoy somebody who is young. Yes, we have youth but I am also experienced as well. So you have a six-year municipal leader here, so I do, as far as city council goes, I do know the ins and outs of the council. So I don‘t think that experience is something that somebody else would fair off against me.”
News Five understands that there are other candidates who have expressed an interest in running against Mayor Wagner for a chance to represent the P.U.P. in the upcoming municipal elections.
