5 Mayoral Candidates in Belmopan

Khalid Belisle

In the capital city of Belmopan, the field is crowded with as many as five mayoral candidates, who were nominated today for the upcoming elections. While the U.D.P. is the incumbent and has been in office at city hall for three consecutive terms, it is Khalid Belisle’s first run for office and so is newcomer Jose Chacon for the P.U.P. In between there are two independent candidates and another from the VIP. News Five’s Isani Cayetano has a report.

Isani Cayetano, Reporting

The nomination of United Democratic Party mayoral candidate Khalid Belisle, endorsed by Belmopan area representative John Saldivar, was the last of all nominations in the capital city today.  It was also the biggest where it concerns crowd participation.  The gathering would make its way from Saldivar’s office unto the Ring Road toward Belmopan Civic Center where the slate, in the presence of their respective witnesses, was formally registered for the March fourth municipals.

Khalid Belisle, U.D.P. Mayoral Candidate, Belmopan

“I’m no stranger to politics.  I think it’s vital that we get involved in the political process in our country and so here I am, I am offering myself as the mayoral candidate for the U.D.P. for Belmopan.  I think that in collaboration with the U.D.P. central government the next UDP city council would be able to do wonderful things for our city.”

That is, however, if the party is able to return to office for a fourth consecutive term.  The sentiment from the independent mayoral candidates, as well as the opposition is that development in Belmopan remains at a standstill.

Noel Avila

Noel Avila, P.U.P. Councilor Candidate, Belmopan

“The last nine years we have had the stewardship of the other party and things are not happening the way it supposed to be in terms of the development or the continual development of the city and I think that a person like myself being that this is my home, I have four children and this is their home as well, I think it’s time for me to step up to the plate and I spoke with some friends, I got the blessing from my wife of course and, you know, it starts there with the family.”

That prospect, according to mayoral candidate Richard Smith, is about galvanizing residents of the Garden City.

Richard Smith

Richard Smith, Independent Mayoral Candidate, Belmopan

“It’s about empowering the people and moving them from political dependency to be self-sustainable and I believe the time is now.  I believe one of the serious factor that I am not trying to do, I’m not adding on to my plate, it is who I am, Belmopan cannot forget the elderly of this city.  They were the pioneers that gave us the legacy of which we have.  The young people are coming up and we need to establish them in a vibrant future.”

To get a feel for the pulse of the people Belisle, like his opponents, has had to hit the ground running.

Khalid Belisle

“It’s been a humbling amazing experience Isani; we’ve been welcomed into the homes of Belmopan.  Yes there are complaints, make no mistake about it, as a matter of fact when we arrive at a house we don’t launch into all these grand plans that we supposedly have, we actually ask the people what their concerns are, what their complaints are, what suggestions and ideas they would want to see out of the next Belmopan City Council.”

Hubert Enriquez

That vision includes changing the status quo.

Hubert Enriquez, V.I.P. Mayoral Candidate, Belmopan

“The change has to do with the change in the quality of life.  They have seen over the past years that in fact Belmopan has really deteriorated whether it be in terms of infrastructure, whether it be in terms of the fact that there are less amenities.  What we have proposed in our manifesto for Belmopan is a series of measures which are designed to arrest those things so that we have an increase or perhaps a better quality of life for residents of Belmopan.”

Jose Chacon

It is an outlook that is shared by P.U.P. mayoral candidate Jose Chacon.  Along with his team they were the first to parade from their office to the civic center to register their names in an effort to bring about change.

Jose Chacon, P.U.P. Mayoral Candidate, Belmopan

“On March fourth we will make history by installing a new P.U.P. city council in Belmopan, in the city of Belmopan.”

Reporting for News Five, I am Isani Cayetano.