Corozal mayoral candidates say they should be elected
This morning P.U.P. Mayoral hopeful Ivan Castillo and incumbent Mayor of Corozal Town, Hilberto Campus were guests on our Open Your Eyes show. Both had an opportunity to explain their visions for the town. Castillo and Campus also discussed accountability and though both candidates had a different response about the current council’s financial records, both men said they want the best for Corozal Town. Here’s a clip from this morning’s show.
Ivan Castillo, P.U.P. Mayoral Candidate
“We would provide the basics for Corozal. Basic means the better drains, better streets, better collection of garbage…the basics. And apart from our manifesto, our manifest deals a lot with basic needs of the people. In our manifesto we have financial statement here that says that we will reduce property tax and trade license because we believe if we reduce the trade license, the businesses can hire more people because they would save some money, hire security for the safety for the business. But apart from that, we want to create good ties with Chetumal because we could get a lot from Chetumal. If we go by we could have a lot of exchange sports, cultural exchange etcetera. Not only that, we would like to work with the Immigration Department because we believe that our Immigration Department is stopping the Chetumal people from coming to Corozal. If they come and spend their money in Corozal we can develop the place in various ways; tourism. If they spend money in a restaurant, the people may need more cooks, more waitresses. So we need to try and facilitate them. On the third of December I sent a letter to the Mayor asking him for the financial reports. I haven’t gotten any response. About last week I got a letter from the Town Council, they are inviting me for some event that they had at the Town Board. When I went to the Town Board, the mayor was there and he gave a report and his report that he gave was what he did on parks and walls they painted and so forth. So at the end of his session, his report, I stood up and I asked him Mr. Mayor, if I’m not mistaken I asked you for a financial report and up to now I haven’t had it as yet. We will provide a quarterly report. And more than that, we will provide an annual report to the people of Corozal because we believe in transparency and accountability. The people pay their taxes to the Town Board and they have all rights to know what the Town Board is doing and where their money is going.”
Hilbert Campos, Incumbent Mayor, Corozal Town
“I have to mention right now that from when 2006-2009, we have been having quarterly meetings faithfully. We announce it on the radio and we have it transmitted live on both radio stations in Corozal. We have had poor attendance. Now this was transmitted live for the purpose of accountability and transparency. Now what I don’t agree with is the fact that for three years we were having these town meetings broadcasted, we had the town council books open for any comments, suggestions and then we allow three years to go by and one month before elections parties coming at your door and knocking and creating political mischief. Now, that is unacceptable, not in my administration. I had two years of accountability opening my books to anyone, having quarterly meetings on both radio stations in Corozal, and inviting the general public. This was done on a quarterly basis, more accountable than that you cannot get. We started a work in 2006 and I definitely want to follow it now, that is why I am seeking reelection. I can see Corozal Town—first of all, when I’m talking about the Town Council after I leave in 2012 because I am confident that I will be reelected in office—a Town Council that will be more autonomous in the sense of proper machinery, first of all. I would like to leave as the mayor of Corozal that brought a grader to the Town Council. So we don’t have to be much dependent on the Ministry of Works for any street repairing or stuff like this; fully equipped. We have had the vision and I say we because it’s not only the mayor, it’s a council, it’s a team and we have this vision of having a sandy beach in Corozal. We heard that Belize City now is looking forward to that, but we have been enjoying a beautiful Miami Beach area for the last…as far as I can recall. Nevertheless, it has never been exploited to a certain extent. So we have a plan—we have a project that we’ve been planning these last few years, a development plan for the Miami beach area and this includes architectural design for beach development and of course, an artificial sandy beach for the area. I can see leaving the office in 2012 and acquiring these two things for Corozal.”
Next week Monday, the aspirants to head the Orange Walk Town Council will be guests on Open Your Eyes.
And in another programming note, the guest on tomorrow morning’s Open Your Eyes show is Lord Michael Ashcroft. So you want to stay tuned.
