Third party? N.R.P. makes it five
With the credibility of the P.U.P. at an all time low and the opposition U.D.P. acting like a government in waiting, it seems that the urge to form a third, fourth and even fifth party is proving irresistible to would-be politicians from every corner of the nation. Today, on the heels of the V.I.P. and P.N.P., it was the N.R.P.’s turn to bask in the media spotlight.
Stewart Krohn, Reporting
To the tune of their theme song “Let Us Rise”, this morning the executive of the National Reform Party officially presented nine of their candidates to the Belizean public.
Announcer
“Jesus better known as Manuel Avila lives at Patchakan village, he’s a high school teacher and he will be a standard bearer for Corozal North. George Boiton Jr., he is from Santa Elena, Cayo Central. Fermin Choc from Punta Gorda, Toledo West. We have our leader, Mr. Cornelius Dueck, from Spanish Lookout and he is running for Cayo North East. Enio Lopez from Guinea Grass, Orange Walk South. Mr. Alden McDougal from Santa Elena for Cayo North. Mr. Hilberto Nah, Orange Walk Town for Orange Walk North. Mr. Charles Selgado from Punta Gorda, Toledo East. Derick Stuart lives at Burrell Boom for Belize Rural Central.”
Estevan Bejerano, Campaign Manager, N.R.P.
“The National Reform Party has one goal – and one goal only – and that is to see this country rise from the poverty state we are in and to move into a place of economic stability to advance this nation into a first world nation.”
According to campaign manager, Estevan Bejerano the N.R.P. colours: orange and white, signify purity and peace…as do the men and women who are running on their ticket.
Estevan Bejerano
“We are very family oriented. We believe that a healthy family structure is the foundation for a strong nation. We believe in the principle of a leader being faithful to one partner. And when I say that I overemphasize, we believe in faithfulness to one and one only partner. We also believe if a leader cannot lead or rule his house well, it will be difficult for him to lead our nation. That one principle is one of the foundations that governs each one of these men that are sitting here, and these reps that are here and the others that will come.”
Like their other new party counterparts, the main plank in the N.R.P. platform is anti-corruption but the usual promises: better healthcare, increased educational opportunities and a higher standard of living are not far behind.
Cornelius Dueck, Leader, N.R.P.
“If it doesn’t work?”
Audience
“Fix it!”
Cornelius Dueck
“If it doesn’t work?”
Audience
“Fix it!”
Cornelius Dueck
“Alright, and we’re here to fix it.”
When he took his turn at the mic, Cornelius Dueck painted a dark and gloomy picture of life in Belize … a reality he contends will change only with the N.R.P.
Cornelius Dueck
“If you need help today, if you go to any area rep … what will happen? If they know that you come with a problem, they will not see you because they are people that call themselves leaders, they run away from problems. You must face problems at any cost. A leader is there to face problems and solve them. In fact, we only have problems when we run away from them. As long as we are looking for a solution, we have no problem.”
“Corruption always starts from the top, always start from the top … and it trickles down. We see today that we have twice as much prisoners as five years ago. Is that because they are cleaning up the streets? Is that because they are brining less crime to this country? No, it is not. It is because corruption has trickled down.”
“As this diplomat that came from Panama, we know already the outcome of him. We know that no justice will be served as long as this government is in control. But Belizeans, take courage, because a change is coming to Belize.”
“The one that we call the Opposition right now, they have nothing to offer. It is a hard word but that is the truth.”
The nature of the N.R.P.’s international allies also emerged during today’s press conference.
Cornelius Dueck
“The U.S. is the best option. I don’t think we should look at Chavez for help. I don’t think he has the solution for Belize. I don’t think Cuba has the solution for Belize. I don’t think China has the solution for Belize but the United States they have the solution what we need.”
“You see that we have a handful of area reps here. There is a group that has not come that are already in the group and we also have several of them that are working for the government. They cannot expose themselves yet but they will come out of the closet as soon as possible.”
“We have support out there and we are here to do whatever it takes to move Belize forward. We can do it.”
And according to Dueck, they are going to do it with big money.
Cornelius Dueck
“Members from the core group have given quite a bit of their funds for it. We have business people in Belize that help us finance it. I have done quite a bit on my own. I have a savings in different countries that I will bring to Belize eventually and we are not ignorant of the cost. We know that the U.D.P. and the P.U.P. they spend in the area of fifty to a hundred million dollars for an election and we are here to contest them. If elections were to be called today, we would have thirty-one candidates on the field, within a few days.”(audience clapping)
Two additional N.R.P. candidates not present at today’s event are Darlene Graham and Mervin Jordan who will run in Belize Rural North and Cayo South respectively. According to Dueck, N.R.P. candidates will also contest the upcoming village council elections. If you would like more information on the party, you can visit their website www.nrpbelize.org.
