P.U.P. Standard Bearers bring head in Corozal

In Belize City, the opposition party is outing constant fires, but in the north, the People’s United Party drew thousands at a mammoth rally held on Sunday in Corozal Town. By any measure, it was a gigantic crowd that was energized as the four standard bearers seized the moment to tackle their opponents and advance their platforms. News Five’s Delahnie Bain reports.

Delahnie Bain, Reporting

Another successful rally was held in the north by the People’s United Party over the weekend. Supporters came out by the thousands in Corozal to cheer on the standard bearers and party members. In his address, Gregorio “Papas” Garcia, who is running for Corozal Bay chastised his opponent, Minister of Health, Pablo Marin, for the poor medical facilities in the district.

Gregorio “Papas” Garcia

Gregorio “Papas” Garcia, .U.P. Standard Bearer, Corozal Bay

“Corozaleños want greater access to quality health service. We want NHI, queremos el NHI. Why Corozal, being the second poorest district does not have NHI? Ask yourself that.  Four years we don’t have the basics so how can we expect this dream of having an operating theater here in Corozal when we don’t even have the basics? Ni una aspirina, ni un Tylenol. And that is because we have the so called minister of health as the area representative for Corozal town.”

And since the rally was held in a primarily Spanish speaking constituency, Corozal Southeast Standard bearer, Florencio Marin Jr., spoke to the residents in their first language about the change needed in the north.

Florencio Marin Jr.

Florencio Marin Jr., P.U.P. Standard Bearer, Corozal Southeast

“Nosotros tenemos el poder de…. Corozal en el suelo.”

But the most impassioned of all speeches came from party leader, Francis Fonseca, who reminded the Corozaleños of the U.D.P.’s broken promises and urged them not to sell their votes.

Francis Fonseca, Party Leader, P.U.P.

Francis Fonseca

“This is an election where the Belizean people will have to stand firm. We will have to stand together. We will have to make sure that we say no to the U.D.P.; all of their promises, all of the giveaways that they’ve been giving. You know you’ve heard about it; millions of dollars they have been giving to their candidates to try and buy this election. They know that they can’t come to the good people of Corozal and say look at my great record, look at all that I have done for you these past four years, give me another five years. No they can’t do that because they have done nothing for the people of Corozal, they have done nothing for the country, for the people of Belize. So what they have to do now is come to you and lie to you. Well guess what, we are going to say to them we noh want yoh money, we noh want to hear from you. Where were you for the last four years? Where were you when I needed you? Where were you when I wanted to see you? Noh come to me now. It’s too late. It’s too late. It’s time for the People’s United Party.”

Delahnie Bain for News Five.