Darrell Bradley’s Political Future…Is He In or Is He Out?

Darrell Bradley

There is a lot of speculation that Belize City Mayor Darrell Bradley is calling it quits and that there is growing friction between him, councilors and his party. In fact, the mayor has says that he has been overruled more than once by his councilors. He has gone further to say that the agreement to hire one hundred and seventy sanitation workers is a source of headaches.  So will he contest the next municipal elections set for March of 2015? That’s the million dollar question after reports that the mayor had cleared out his office and packed up his things. On several occasions, Bradley has been asked to confirm whether he will seek reelection and today, when the media grilled him about it, he refused to give a straight answer.

Reporter

“Yes you have been set and you have been formalized as the mayoral candidate for the U.D.P., but there is been speculation that you have been having second thoughts and thinking about actually backing out. Could you…”

Darrell Bradley, Belize City Mayor

“Well I won’t directly comment on that…I will only say this because people and this is with respect to all the question, there is nothing wrong and I have been very frustrated by this. There is nothing wrong in a leader saying that certain decisions are things where I have a difficulty with. There is nothing wrong with a leader saying that I have a different view than you; that creates a better form of government. To go from there to a point where people are saying you clear out yo office and yo this and that…I think and I will say this, I will work in this three year term very aggressively to get done the things that we need to get done to make our city and all our cities and towns in this municipality better. How yow ah say I left my office and we had this launch today. I’ve been working on being the chief coordinator of finally putting in place this document which is the culmination of eight months of work. Really being a champion in creating these regulations. How can one then say in the midst of all of that yon oh want go dah city hall and yon oh want this.”

Reporter

“So just to allay the fears of a lot of people. You have a wide fan base whether you want to concede to it or not, you have a very wide fan base, you have a lot of people who are relying on you to take on another term and continue the work that you are doing, so now you left people a little bit unsure if that is what is going to continue under your leadership…”

Darrell Bradley

“No, but this is what I am saying—I can understand that—but this is what I am saying.”

Reporter

“But it is either yes or no. Are you going to run or not?”

Darrell Bradley

“I’m saying, I’m saying that…I think I mentioned this eight months ago and I’ve mentioned it before, people are fixated on certain things and I am not where…we are doing which I think is very significant…workers, unions….there has never been a time in history where nine mayors have gathered together and have signed a regulation.”

Reporter

“So when I got to the polls and I go to vote in the municipal elections, are you going to be an option for me to put my X beside?”

Darrell Bradley

“I don’t know where people…this whole thing. I actually don’t know where this…I am saying that this is a certain thing and I am trying to answer. This is part of the frustration that I have.”