Seven More Candidates for Belize Progressive Party
Javier Molina
A third cohort of candidates was inducted into the Belize Progressive Party earlier today, ahead of nomination day on Friday. While the BPP is attempting to beat the clock, its addition of seven aspirants brings its present team to twenty-five men and women. The fledgling party intends to fill that void by all means and this afternoon introduced the new and not-so-new faces. News Five’s Isani Cayetano has the following story.
Javier Molina, BPP Candidate, Belize Rural Central
“I really sat down, prayed about it, thought about it and I know that I love this country so much and all of us love this country so much. So, I stepped up, I’m putting myself out there and I’m doing my part. Now it’s up to the Belizean people to do theirs, to open their eyes, you know, to think about the children and our future and the potential that this great country has to be a great country.”
Isani Cayetano, Reporting
The introduction of seven additional candidates, their declaration of entry into the 2015 political race made known this afternoon, has grown the BPP’s slate to twenty-five nominees. As it stands, the party is still shy of six should it contest all thirty-one constituencies on November fourth.
Robert Lopez, National Campaign Manager, BPP
“I want to congratulate the seven fine gentlemen. I want to say that we did have a couple ladies we were hoping would have stepped up today. They may still step up.”
Anthony Petillo
The coming together of various, alternative parties, as well as independent candidates, is seeing, to some degree, a galvanization of public support, particularly among voters who are clamoring for change. Offering himself in Dangriga is former B.D.F. soldier, Anthony Petillo.
Anthony Petillo, BPP Candidate, Dangriga
“I, Anthony Petillo, hereby declare my candidacy for Dangriga constituency and commit to serve without fear or favor and will disclose my income, assets and liabilities in accordance with the Prevention of Corruption Act…Signed, Anthony Petillo.”
Rollin Powery
Rollin Powery, BPP Candidate, Fort George
“Nothing is impossible. Nothing. As long as you are set to do it and I ask that we come together everyone and make history this November fourth. History! A third party! We give U.D.P. seventeen years. We give P.U.P. seventeen years. Give BPP seventeen years fi fix Belize.”
With nomination day less than forty-eight hours away, the newly formed Belize Progressive Party is racing against time if it is to field a complete roster. Despite the challenge, its executive is confident that a call for the remaining six candidates will be answered by day’s end on October sixteenth. The BPP is also self-assured that it can win in the upcoming general elections.
Patrick Rogers
Patrick Rogers, Political Leader, BPP
“When di win happen ih noh wahn be because ah no flukes, ih wah be because ah one, we won when we amalgamated. When we brought the PNP from down south and the We the People from up north and the VIP members that came up in this new body we effectively gave ourselves wahn national platform. That is why the north have eight candidates up there fully recruited by the northern executive of our party. The south is fully staffed with four members down there with Brother Wil’s executive team taking charge and ensuring we find candidates. And of course, here in the center as the campaign manager seh, we noh di close di door ‘til four o’clock. Dehn di try and tell we go reveal wih six nominees right now. Elections and Boundaries di play games with wi. Da noh just we the candidates weh yo sih stand up here you should be proud of Belize. There are six brave people in every constituency that will go under scrutiny come Friday and yoh wahn sih dehn di watch dehn, “Oh da you di nominate Mr. Rogers. Oh da you di nominate Mr. Williams.” So, dehn people weh stand up to nominate us, I wahn seh wahn heartfelt thank you. You are some of the bravest, bravest people in this country.”
Reporting for News Five, I am Isani Cayetano.
