Pre-election politics plays out in Port Loyola
With less than eight months to go before general elections it would be extremely surprising if the government in power did not initiate capital projects designed to influence as many votes as possible … and it would be equally shocking if the party out of power did not complain of the underhanded and unfair use of public funds for partisan campaigning. Welcome to the unsubtle world of Belizean politics … and a taste of what the future may hold for voters nationwide.
Jacqueline Godwin, Reporting
The Southside Poverty Alleviation Project is underway in the Port Loyola Division, but one day after heavy equipment started moving into the area already there are complaints of political interference and the unfair distribution of landfill.
According to U.D.P. area representative Anthony “Boots” Martinez he was made to understand that the project would be supervised by the Ministry of Works, but he claims that the supervision is being done by campaign workers for P.U.P standard bearer Oscar Rosado, Jr.
Anthony “Boots” Martinez, Area Rep., Port Loyola
“If you wah run it politically then give it to Mr. Rosado. If the ministry wah run it, the ministry is not in politics because the ministry claim they will run the project, but you don’t have nobody from the ministry running it. I stand right there and saw a truck come and dump some filling, noh conscious that lee bit under half is still left in the truck. The people weh just check just di sign. You noh see nobody from the ministry out here running the project, you see raw political people.”
On Monday, the bull dozers started rolling onto Freedom Street and so far ten lots have been filled. Martinez, however, claims that not everyone has been receiving their loads of material.
Anthony “Boots” Martinez
“Because the residents are complaining; one that, how you pass me and give dah one, oh how yuh pass dah one. Oh how yuh give me three and give he two, how yuh five he five and give me four.”
Oscar Rosado, Jr., PUP Standard Bearer, Port Loyola
“It’s a P.U.P government and that’s why I come in here, to give credit to the People’s United Party government that’s doing this project. It has nothing to do with P.U.P. or U.D.P.”
“When it comes to the people that are spearheading, Miss Lorraine Thurton and Miss Dana Young, Miss Dana Young has been chosen as a Yabra Citizens Development Committee person that needs employment and she is in the area. … I recommended her to the Ministry of Works and based on that recommendation, maybe her own credentials because she is a person that’s capable of doing it. … She was asked to come to the P.U.P. convention last week because you will see the face familiar as a person that’s involved in a committee that is trying to reduce crime and violence in this area.”
Dana Young says she does not campaign for anyone, but that she is only a member of the Yabra Citizens Development Committee. She is also trying to earn money to send her children to school.
Dana Young, Project Supervisor
“I went to Mr. Rosado asking for a job. I am a mother of seven, school has just closed and I need to purchase books, uniforms, and I need to pay bills.”
According to Young, they have been visiting households in the area to see just how many people are in need of the assistance.
Dana Young
“We want to go from house to house not pick pointing anybody, no blue, no red. It’s for everyone and I stress, everybody.”
“We give from three to fifteen loads of sand depending on the way the land is, depending on the water or how deep they are in the water and so forth.”
If you live in Port Loyola and are in need of fill for your yard, please call Dana Young at 620-3369 or Lorraine Thurton at 600-6822.
