Belize CitCo Sworn In

The new U.D.P. City Council was sworn in today fresh off a landslide victory at the polls last Wednesday. Mayor Darrell Bradley was returned as mayor by a huge margin and so were the ten councilors, who except for one had served before. The swearing in of the new council took place at City Hall from where Isani Cayetano reports.

Darrell Bradley, Belize City Mayor

“I Darrell Bradley, being duly elected as a member of the Belize City Council, do solemnly swear that I shall at all times, to the best of my ability, exercise the powers and perform the duties of my office in the best interest of the residents of Belize City in accordance with the constitution, laws and regulations of Belize and of Belize City.  So help me God.”

Isani Cayetano, Reporting

The induction of Darrell Bradley as two-time Mayor of Belize City succeeded the swearing in of ten councilors this afternoon at City Hall.  Their investiture, as the new Belize City Council, follows a massive victory at the polls last Wednesday where the ruling United Democratic Party trounced the opposition soundly.

Darrell Bradley

Darrell Bradley

“It has really been an honor for me to be Mayor of Belize City over the last three years and it will be an even greater honor for me to go into another three years at the helm of what I believe is really an amazing cadre of outstanding people.  The ten councilors who you see here before you, who just took the oath of office are distinguished individuals themselves, eight of them have served our city before and they are going into another term joined by two new councilors.”

That pair includes Jason Edwards, a newcomer to City Hall.

Jason Edwards

Jason Edwards, U.D.P. City Councilor

“We remain unflinching in our commitment to continue the transformation of this city.  We remain totally unwavering in our resolve to uplift this city through its ongoing initiatives in infrastructure, sanitation, business development, technology and empowering of our women and youth.  I stress that while these men and women I share the stage with today are the stewards of those commitments I spoke on earlier.  Undoubtedly, every single man, woman and child are even more exponentially important stakeholders in making Belize City an even better municipality.  Today serves as the beginning of greater things to come for Belize City.”

Mayor Bradley’s second term in office, as he has mentioned recently, is the result of running on his own track record.  He does, however, widely acknowledge the support of staff at City Hall and pledges that the effort to serve residents of Belize City will continue.

Darrell Bradley

“That passion, that family orientation will continue.  We are also supported by an impressive city council staff, the city administrator and the staff of the city council have been very warm, welcoming, engaging and that was really one of the joys of being mayor; to see so many people in this administration, from the top down, give their all for the growth and development of our city.”

While a deputy mayor is yet to be named, it is of note that with the exception of Edwards all other councilors have served at City Hall in the past, under various administrations.

Philip Willoughby

Philip Willoughby, U.D.P. City Councilor

“I, Philip Willoughby, being duly elected as a member of the Belize City Council do solemnly swear that I shall at all times, to the best of my ability exercise the power and perform the duties of my office in the best interest of the residents of Belize City in accordance with the constitution and laws and regulations of Belize and of Belize City.”

Three-time councilor Philip Willoughby, who has been served the longest, won a total of eleven thousand four hundred and thirty-one votes.

Darrell Bradley

“In the work going forward, in the work of building a better city we must first of all work together.  I was very, very pleased with the election.  Most of all, I was pleased with the civility of it.  You go out during the election season and you look at every lamppost and there are P.U.P. banners, there is a U.D.P. banner.  That symbolizes a mature society.  It symbolizes a respect for differences but that we can all come together at the end of the day for the betterment of our community so that we could salute in this signing in ceremony, members of the opposition.  Our candidates who offered themselves as councilors and mayor because they enrich our democratic process.”

Reporting for News Five, I am Isani Cayetano.