125 Applications to Run Under PUP Banner in Municipals 2024

Prime Minister John Briceño

Last night, we told you about the People’s United Party’s meeting at Independence Hall where the national executive discussed the municipal elections slates for March 2024. As many as one hundred and twenty-five applications were submitted, including twenty-four applications for mayor and one hundred and one for councilor candidates. On Monday, Prime Minister Briceño was asked if the growing interest is because supporters are seeking to take advantage of the power the party is enjoying. Here is what he said.

Prime Minister John Briceño

“We need to be optimistic in this country. Optimism can help us move forward. That cynicism. But the truth is that a lot of people, when they run, they want to win. And in 2009, a lot of people said, if I run, I think I’ll lose. So why would I run? People run to win. It’s not about to eat. It’s about to be able to serve. But if I would not be able to win and serve, so why waste my time? It’s just a cycle in politics, unfortunately. And in this moment, the PUP is in a very strong position. We’ve been doing very well by every metrics. Even you, grudgingly, would accept that. Far from perfect. We could do more, of course, we can. But we do much better than what Dean Barrow was talking when he was grieving for Belize and we have to go to the IMF, fire people and raise taxes. None of that has happened because we have managed properly. So, people want to be in a position to say I believe I have a better chance of winning this time and wanting to serve. So I look at it from that angle.”