Aikman is back! The only question is where
After weeks of speculation, the United Democratic Party today made it official. Derek Aikman has come home and is ready to once again throw his hat in the ring for a seat in the House of Representatives. After an hour long meeting at U.D.P. Headquarters in Belize City, Esquivel and Aikman emerged to greet an anxious crowd of supporters and reporters. Here’s what they had to say.
Manuel Esquivel, Prime Minister
“It was agreed that Mr. Aikman would run as a candidate for the United Democratic Party in the upcoming General Elections. In addition, Mr. Aikman will also take on the responsibility of National Coordinator for the 1998 General Elections on behalf of the United Democratic Party.”
Derek Aikman
“I’d like to say that I’m very encouraged by the discussions we’ve just had and I am very, very confident that this was the right choice for myself and it is the right choice I believe for my family and for Belize. And I have no doubt that joining forces together with you, the people, I have no doubt in my mind that it will be for the country a victory in the election for the United Democratic Party.”
Q: “Mr. Esquivel, what was the one thing that led to the clinching of the deal, so to speak, of Mr. Aikman coming back to your party?”
Manuel Esquivel
“Well obviously there were lots of things that had to be considered. He mentioned his family, that is an important consideration and also our assurance that his coming back would be unanimously welcomed by the executive of the party, which assurance he has been given.”
Q: “Will the U.D.P. foot the bill for his paycheck from now until elections because he has to give up his job as City Manager?”
Manuel Esquivel
“Well the U.D.P. is going to, as I said just now, require him to be the National Coordinator for the elections, and as such, I think it is fair that he will expect some kind of stipend. He will not be paid a salary but we will certainly assist him and his family so that he can devote full time to that job as well as the job of winning in his constituency.”
Derek Aikman
“I feel convicted and committed to make a contribution as I have done in the past in the economic, political and social development of Belize and I have made a choice today that that I will do that with the United Democratic Party.”
Q: “You now have to give up your job as City Manager – and that’s a pretty decent salary you’re giving up? Is it worth the while?”
Derek Aikman
“Well first let me clarify, I don’t have to give up my job. I know that there have been statements made suggesting that if I were to decide to be a candidate that I would have to resign. I just want to say that that is not so. There is no part of my contract that talks about anything like this. I have indicated to the Council that if I were to make such a decision, that on ethical grounds I will tender my resignation, and that is what I am going to do.”
Q: “But is there a particular constituency you have a preference for running in?”
Derek Aikman
“Well having been out of electoral politics for almost eight years, it is difficult to talk about a preference at this time and this is the reason why we need some more time to look at certain conditions in constituencies and to make a valid judgement.”
Both Aikman and Esquivel say negotiations will continue and that a follow-up meeting is scheduled for next Wednesday at which time a final decision will be made regarding the constituency which Aikman will embrace. The early betting is on Fort George, with Freetown a distant second. In a late afternoon press release, Belize City Major Jose Coye stated that under the terms of his contract signed in 1994, Aikman is prohibited from engaging in any political activity. The Mayor added that he expects a letter of resignation to be on his desk Friday morning.
