Meet the Belmopan Municipal Candidates for the UDP and PUP
Tonight, we continue with our weekly coverage of the upcoming municipal elections. In this installment of Meet the Candidates, we take you to the City of Belmopan, the nation’s Capital. Both the People’s United Party and the United Democratic Party are fielding candidates for March sixth. So, who are these aspiring municipal leaders and why did they decide to run for office. News Five’s Paul Lopez travelled to Belmopan to hear from both mayoral candidates and a couple of their councilor candidates. Here is what he found out about them.
Pablo Cawich
Pablo Cawich, PUP Mayoral Candidate, Belmopan
“I believe that the PUP is the best party in Belize. This party has been behind some of the movements the people have clamored for, for example independence. There are others of course. So, that would be one of the first reasons why. My dad was also a representative for the PUP for Belmopan as well as Cayo South and for myself, the option of which party it was, was very clear. This is the best party for representing the people.”
Jacklyn Burns
Jacklyn Burns, UDP Mayoral Candidate, Belmopan
“I always tell people that God dictates my journey because I never aspired to be a mayor or I never had it in my dream. But what I know I want to do is to be actively involved in assisting people, being in a mayoral seat, being a counselor allows for access to resources, it widens the expanse of what you are able to do, the amount of people you are able to reach and contributes to the development of your country. That is the whole goal, the bigger picture.”
Chris Enriquez
Chris Enriquez, PUP Councilor Candidate, Belmopan
“One of the biggest reasons I decided to enter into politics is because youths tend to shy away from politics and I wanted to encourage youths to be a part of politics. By us taking part in politics, it gives us an inclusive society for sustainable development and so I am trying to be the one to advocate for the youths and be the voice for the youths.”
Radin Santos
Radin Santos, PUP Councilor Candidate, Belmopan
“Yes I am son of the soil, born and raised in Belmopan, proud to say that I have attended scholl in Belmopan, right from the preschool, junior school, upper school, Belmopan Comprehensive and the University of Belmopan. I believe I am a people person. Majority of the people in Belmopan know me as a sport enthusiast. I have a passion for sports. In particular if I was to chose, I would say volleyball is my first preference, but I love all sports.”
Paul Casey
Paul Casey, UDP Councilor Candidate, Belmopan
“Most people know me as “Supa P”, the DJ. Born and raised in Belmopan, I am a song of the soil. Most people know my mother too. She is the person that created or started the first preschool in Belmopan, from 1984 to present. She is still there and I don’t know when she will leave. The way how Belmopan is right now, is not the way how we know it growing up when we had activities and people helped out each other and were united together.”
Leslie Zelaya
Leslie Zelaya, UDP Councilor Candidate, Belmopan
“It is just the love for the community. As it is, through my business I have been able to reach and help a lot of people within the community, whether it be with assistance with medical or needing to send their kids to school and stuff like that. While it might not be much it has helped a lot. It just wants to get the networking and be able to do more for the community. Having a small business I am a bit limited in that, but not only that, but to see the community move forward.”
