People’s National Party to contest election in 2008
In Belize’s young political history, third parties and independent candidates have never had electoral success in national elections. But that fact is not deterring a growing list of hopefuls who are hoping to break that tradition in 2008. The latest entrant to test the third party waters is calling itself the People’s National Party and is led by Punta Gorda based environmentalist Wil Maheia. The P.N.P. has yet to complete its manifesto, but under the slogan “A New Path for Belize”, the party is promising to “break down the corruption.” According to campaign manager Andre Price, candidates on the slate are currently limited to only Maheia and farmer Dionicio Choc, who will run in the Toledo constituencies, but talks are apparently ongoing with persons in both the Stann Creek and Cayo districts. The party will hold an official launching ceremony in San Antonio Village on Sunday afternoon to “share its vision for the future of Belize.” Sharing any vision, however, is an expensive venture and tonight we understand that the party is being financed by the personal funds of Maheia and contributions from concerned members of the public. The P.N.P. is the third non-traditional party movement to announce plans for 2008.
Belmopan based Vision Inspired by the People made its intentions known in January. Headed by Paul Morgan, the V.I.P. also has national hopes but for the time being, its candidates are mostly in the Cayo district with only one member, Patrick Rogers, running in Belize City.
And then there is the mysterious National Reform Party, led by businessman Cornelius Dueck. The N.R.P. has been keeping its candidate pool a secret, but this afternoon Dueck informed us that the party will be holding a press conference at its headquarters at mile one and a half on the Northern Highway on Wednesday, February twenty-first to inform the public of the latest developments in their political plans.
Of note is the fact that all three third parties are running on a platform of anti-corruption.
