Zenaida Moya sworn in for second mayoral term
She endured a rough ride leading to the municipal elections but Belize city U.D.P. Mayor Zenaida Moya pulled through and made history, becoming the old capitol’s first two-term female mayor. Moya took the oath of office today along with ten councillors who will run the city for the next three years. At today’s swearing in ceremony Moya’s speech was philosophical, yet sober.
Zenaida Moya, Mayor, Belize City
“I feel like a five-star general who has faced the full blast of the critics of our United Democratic Party and the critics of Zenaida Moya. And through all of it I feel like a champion with only political scars and not lost of limbs. For all of these, I want to thank you; my friends, my family, my supporters, my fellow colleagues. All of you who pray with me, who cried with me, who donated to my campaigns, who stood shoulder to shoulder with me, who called me on the phone and generally were there for me, thank you very much. I will be even more vigilant in carrying out my duties and will do my best to neither create nor leave any cracks or holes for anybody to miscarry or misconstrue any good intentions.”
And while the mood was celebratory, the newly installed mayor hit the ground running and spoke about some early plans to streamline the budget and keep the city clean. Minister of Local Government, Gabriel Martinez, whose ministry will be the watchdog for the council, outlined what needs to be done to keep the budget in check.
Gabriel Martinez, Minister of Local Government
“One of your first tasks as a council, as a collective unit, will be a review of the annual plans in relation to local revenue projections to ensure that you will be able to meet your goals and objectives. Councils, not just Belize City, need to make realistic and achievable plans of activities for the year and determine appropriate revenue sources to improve financial sustenance. Making these plans is one thing, living within them is another. However, the council must have the resolve and will to do just that.”
Marion Ali
“What’s key on your priority list, the first thing you want to accomplish?”
Zenaida Moya
“Well, definitely the financial situation is one whereby we have to ensure that we deal with new revenue streams and we beef up the collection efforts—not adding anything new, no new taxes or anything—just making sure that whatever needs to be collected is collected so that we can get more works done. So that is definitely one of the key areas we want to ensure. We want to put in place in terms of the garbage collection, we want to ensure that the new amendment to the Trade License that in fact we work with the respective business owners to once and for all put in a mechanism to have a smooth picking up or collection of the garbage. Definitely, I would also say that in terms of overall services to the residents of the city, we definitely want to move to an even higher level.”
Marion Ali
“The prime minister mentioned only recently that he will be streamlining things here at the City Hall and he will be I think introducing a supervisor. How do you receive this news?”
Zenaida Moya
“We have been informed that, as the act says, if at anytime the Minister of Local government feels that there is a need for a financial controller to come in and assist, they would do so. Again, that would have to come if there is a need. We, at the council, we’re already looking at areas of improvement and that doesn’t only involve the mayor, it involves all the councilors, our director of finance, the technocrats; everyone to ensue that whatever processes that need to be strengthened or even to be introduced are introduced so that we never have to move to that level. However, it is something that somebody like me I always welcome support and so however the government give to the Belize City Council I will appreciate it.”
Mayor Moya says the Council will also take its public monthly meetings to the respective constituencies. As for the portfolio assignments, those will be announced next week.
