UDP holds national convention
Elections might be two years away but you’d never know it the way both political parties have tried to dominate the public stage. On Sunday, the United Democratic Party held its national convention at the Belize City Centre and by all accounts, music played, people came and the politicians took to the podium. News 5’s Ann-Marie Williams was there.
Dean Barrow, UDP Party Leader
Let them hear it from the Hondo to the Sarstoon, UDP…”
Crowd
All the way!”
Dean Barrow
“UDP…”
Crowd
All the way!”
Ann-marie Williams, Reporting
They came from as close as the Albert Division and as far as Toledo East–all twenty-nine Standard Bearers, delegates and constituents converged at the Belize City Centre for the United Democratic Party’s National Convention: Destination-Victory 2001″
A sea of red, white and blue packed the walls of the auditorium. The massive crowd came not only to listen to speeches, but also to vote, for Second Deputy Party Leader that is. The contenders were Carlos Castillo, who previously held the post, veteran politician Elodio Aragon, and Cayo West representative Erwin Contreras. At the end of the day, Contreras emerged the victor. The party’s interim manifesto “Leaving no one behind”, was also unveiled.
Cayo North member Vanessa Neal, was among various speakers for the convention. She gave a woman’s perspective on politics.
Vanessa Neal, Cayo North Constituent
“Women have had to struggle in order to gain the right to be seen and treated equally as men in a wide number of fields. Therefore, let us be all we can be and continue getting involved in decision making at all levels of society. We have suffered tremendously as women, in childbearing, spousal relationships and family affairs. But just like how we have survived these instances, we can get involved in politics and accept the many criticisms without defeat.”
Former Prime Minister Manuel Esquivel rose to endorse new Party Leader Dean Barrow, who later presented the UDP-29.
Manuel Esquivel, Former Prime Minister
“There is no team that is victorious without a victorious leader. And there is no army that can be victorious without a victorious general. Ladies and gentlemen, Party Leader Dean Barrow.”
And then come the main address of the day by the party leader himself.
Dean Barrow
“We are once again the mighty force that we were in 1984, that we are marching forward to that great victory that shall surely be ours, that we are taking all before us and leaving no one behind us.”
However, judging from all twenty-nine males standard bearers, it’s clear that half of Belize’s voting population is being left behind, the women. Ann-Marie Williams for News 5.
It is estimated that as many as ten thousand people attended the convention.
