Candidates for Belize City Mayor Participate in Evening Forum

The University of Belize has managed to persuade all four Belize City mayoral candidates to participate in a special debate which is ongoing at news time at the Bliss Center for the Performing Arts. Appearing on stage will be Bernard Wagner (P.U.P.), Dion Leslie (U.D.P.), Paco Smith (B.P.P.), and Ernesto Torres (Independent). According to the University of Belize, “The purpose of the forum is to provide an avenue for the University’s students to participate in the political process via discourse on key political and economic issues with current Belize City mayoral aspirants.” We asked Wagner and P.U.P. leader John Briceño what their plans and talking points will be.

Bernard Wagner

Bernard Wagner, P.U.P. Mayoral Candidate

“The students are the backbone of this society, the youths. And we have that enshrined in our manifesto; where we would engage the youths, empowerment of the youths. We have a point there in our manifesto where some of the youths will serve as shadow councilors. We will endeavor to have them serve on many of our Council groups, committee groups, to ensure that they play a role, because the youths have so much energy; they are technologically driven, and we want to harness that for the benefit of the Council and the benefit of the City.”

John Briceño

John Briceño, Party Leader, P.U.P.

“It would give an opportunity for the rest of the City to know him. Unfortunately, the time is limited, we had our nominations for candidates in October; it’s a big city, it’s been very difficult. Although they have been out every day it’s been difficult to go to every single home. So in the debate – he freely accepted, he readily accepted; because it will give him an opportunity to go into the homes of everyone.”