Massive P.U.P. Rally

The March seventh municipal and general elections are drawing closer. Up north in Orange Walk, the P.U.P. staged its biggest rally. The numbers were impressive as a sea of blue washed through the streets of the town ending up at Banquitas Park. News Five’s Delahnie Bain reports.

Delahnie Bain, Reporting

Thousands of supporters turned out on Sunday in Orange Walk for a massive People’s United Party rally. The crowd was energized as the P.U.P. candidates addressed a number of issues with the U.D.P. government.  Also among the speakers was Marcel Cardona, former U.D.P. area representative who has now turned to the blue.

Marcel Cardona, P.U.P. Supporter

Marcel Cardona

“They do not deserve another chance. The economy is in shambles; we need to see economic development. We need to see more job creation in this country in order to help fight against the growing poverty in this country and that, ladies and gentlemen can only take place under young, dynamic, creative leadership like what your P.U.P. team has to offer you today. Que viva el partido Unido Del Pueblo P.U.P.!”

Former party leader and incumbent Fort George area rep, Said Musa, also honed in on the economic troubles, which were recently highlighted with another credit rating downgrade by Standard and Poor’s.

Said Musa

Said Musa, Fort George Area Rep.

“Standard and Poor’s told us all, we’ve been downgraded again for the second time within two months. We’re now a junk bond status country and my friends, when you realize that the unemployment situation has gone from eight point something percent when we left office in 2008; in four years it has gone up to twenty-four percent. These are thousands of people, especially young people who cannot find work in this country. When you see rising crime in our country, rising murders—over four hundred in four years—rape, home invasion, people are suffering, the cost of living has gone up.  Have you ever asked yourself the question why is it that Barrow called the election one year before it is due? Why call it one year before? And the reason my friends is simple… because the country is going straight down the road into a hole, a deep hole and when April the first comes, Mr. Barrow was not able to present a balanced budget, he could not find the money to present a balanced budget, the deficit is so high now.”

Francis Fonseca

Meanwhile, party leader, Francis Fonseca held strong to his stance of working toward the future instead of dwelling on past wrongs.

Francis Fonseca, Leader, People’s United Party

“This victory is about the future. The U.D.P., my friends, want to talk about the past. They want to forget that they have been in government. They want you to forget that they have been in government for the past four years. But we will not allow them to forget these past four years because we have all punished under the U.D.P. these past four years. This election is not about 1998 or 2008, this election is about 2012. This election is about the future, this election is about your family, this election is about your community, this election is about creating jobs for the people of Belize, it’s about creating an economy that gives our people opportunities to live their lives with pride and dignity.”

John Briceño

And the cheers continued, even in Spanish, as the former party leader, John Briceño, stepped up to the podium with a message that the P.U.P. is ready to do what the U.D.P. did not.

John Briceño

“El U.D.P. no le tuvo compassion… Estamos listos! Estamos Listos! Estamos listos por el partido unido del pueblo! “

Said Musa

“The time has come for a real change. The people are ready you know. When I look at you today, I realize that you all have just been waiting. You feel it is God send that this man has called early elections because we got something fu ah come March the seventh. We’re gonna vote for the People’s United Party. Adelante companeros, forward with the P.U.P.!”

Francis Fonseca

“As we have said yo the prime minister and we have said to the U.D.P. government, you noh give we nothing fi four years but on March seventh, we got something fi give you!”

Delahnie Bain for News Five.