The P.U.P.’s Path to Success in Old Capital Runs through Southside
Bernard Wagner
The gap between Darrell Bradley and Yolanda Schakron in the last election was significant, and one reason has been the U.D.P.’s stranglehold in the Southside constituencies. Amid reports that Collet representative and Deputy Prime Minister Patrick Faber has been active in nearby Lake Independence, the P.U.P. has set up its own office to capture targets in Collet, Queen’s Square and Mesopotamia, all considered heavily U.D.P. With the P.U.P. mostly in control of north side, the south side showdown, says mayoral aspirant Bernard Wagner, will be the difference between victory and defeat.
Bernard Wagner, P.U.P. Mayoral Aspirant, Belize City
“That was back then. I just have to deal with what’s now, and this slate is one of the most competent, professional slates that has ever been put forward by the People’s United Party, and the figures at the end of the day on March seventh will justify what I am saying here. That the people see us as a viable option, they see this group as the change group; this is the new group that will lead the People’s United Party back into victory.”
Reporter
“If you are defeated on March seventh, will you continue to seek political office?”
Bernard Wagner
“I’ve not considered it, actually; I’ve really not considered it. Maybe it’s a one-off thing for me but probably down the road I look at it again. But I don’t see that happening. (Laughs) I don’t see [Patrick Faber] playing any role in Lake I; as a matter of fact I think he is a non-entity in the Lake I area. His showing up there is like next to nothing. While he is concentrating in Lake I, he might pretty well be losing ground in his own division. So he should be spending more time in his area. But we are certain that we have been able to close the gaps in Collet; we think we are solid in the Port Loyola area; we are strong in Lake I; we believe that we’ll be able to do better in the Pickstock division; and we will hold our own in Mesop, Queen’s Square and the other divisions.”
On Nomination Day, the P.U.P. will be first in the morning to officially nominate their candidates and the U.D.P. will follow in the afternoon. Both parties are inviting their supporters to come out.
