U.D.P. presents manifesto to packed rally
The crowd was big, the spirits were high … and if the U.D.P. manifesto was pretty much an expansion of the previously ballyhooed twenty-one pledges, it really didn’t matter. What was important was electoral momentum … which the U.D.P. displayed in abundance. News Five’s Janelle Chanona reports.
Janelle Chanona, Reporting
By the busload and on foot, on Wednesday night thousands from all over the country gathered in front of the United Democratic Party’s headquarters in Belize City for the official launch of the 2008-2013 manifesto.
Dean Barrow, Leader, U.D.P.
“We in the United Democratic Party know as sure as the night follows day that we will form the best government that this country has ever seen.”
“There are those who have worked long and hard in putting together this manifesto; a people’s manifesto. I pay tribute to them tonight.”
In twenty six pages, “Imagine the Possibilities” lays out the U.D.P.’s plans for the next five years. Under the good governance section, the party promises to reduce crime and violence, empower the Senate, legislate a recall mechanism for elected officials and outlaw unjust enrichment.
Patrick Faber, Area Rep., Collet
“So if you see I start to drive wah Mercedes Benz, if you see I get two three four big house, if you see I got account dah Montevideo and Panama, and all ah these places, then you know dah neva unu pay me dah money deh, then I can prosecuted and each and every single U.D.P. Minister can be prosecuted. And the only reason you would be afraid to do something like this is if you downright thief like the P.U.P. The U.D.P. is not like the P.U.P.”
Eden Martinez, U.D.P. Toledo East Candidate
“Under education, our motto is very simple. Better schools, better citizens, better Belize. We will therefore create and provide access to high quality preschool programmes to prepare children for primary school. We will introduce a national school feeding program at the primary school level. We will expand mandatory education to include ten years of compulsory education for all.”
The U.D.P. is also committing itself to providing financial incentives to teachers who acquire higher qualifications, upgrade the nation’s hospitals and build five thousand houses.
Pablo Marin, U.D.P. Corozal Bay Candidate
“We will reduce the cost of electricity and telephone rates. We will restructure the Public Utilities Commission to restore the public trust and support. We will continue to pursue alternate means of electricity. We will review the Belize Water Service to improve and increase distribution, maintain quality and achieve financial independence. Imagine the possibilities for our infrastructure with good governance and the U.D.P.”
John Saldivar, U.D.P. Belmopan Candidate
“The U.D.P. will make investment in particular in the tourism sector, which we plan to create a minimum of five thousand new jobs within the next five years. And this, ladies and gentlemen, is no empty promise. We already heard the promises of the P.U.P. made ten years ago when they promised ten thousand jobs. Well we are going to show them how to do it.”
“You and me and all ah we wah could own wah piece of this oil industry. We will insure that the benefits of this natural resource goes directly to the improvement of the quality of life for each and every one of us.”
With their manifesto now public, the U.D.P. says it is now organizing the motorcades which will transport their thirty-one candidates to Elections and Boundaries offices on Nomination Day, January twenty-first.
Dean Barrow
“I and all my colleagues are extremely conscious of the fact that it is a great trust that we hold in our hands. It is a trust that we can never violate. It is a trust we must vindicate. It is a trust that we must and will prove worthy of. We, ladies and gentlemen, are sworn to uphold and defend democracy and we are sworn to take the nation of Belize to higher heights. Long live Belize. And long live the United Democratic Party.”
Reporting for News Five, I am Janelle Chanona.
