U.D.P. appoints three new Senators
With the People’s United Party command structure locked down in an introspective retreat at Caye Chapel, the Opposition United Democratic Party had the media spotlight all to itself. The U.D.P. used the opportunity to introduce some brand new faces. News Five’s Janelle Chanona reports.
Janelle Chanona, Reporting
This afternoon, the United Democratic Party announced its appointment of three new Senators. They are Diego Bol from the Toledo District, Dr. Deborah Mencias McMillan of San Ignacio and Esther Ayuso Ramirez from Belize City.
Esther Ayuso, Senator Designate
?I thank you for the experience that I will have, thank you from now. I look forward to do my utmost best for my country and for you guys. Thank you very much.?
Dr. Deborah Mencias McMillan, Senator Designate
?I make this promise and pledge to you: I will do best to serve my Belize in my capacity as Senator. I will always remember that in this capacity, I will be first and foremost a servant of the people. I will not fail in your trust.?
Diego Bol, Senator Designate
?I also like to pledge this evening that I would do my very best to ensure that the people of Belize are given a voice in the house of Senate. I pledge that I will do my very best to ensure that decisions that are taken in the house of Senate are decisions that will be for the betterment of Belize.?
Dean Barrow, Leader of the Opposition, U.D.P.
?The idea of the three new appointments is to indicate to the electorate that the United Democratic Party has a pool of talent on which it can draw. In other words, it?s not just those that are running for office, it?s not just our thirty-one standard bearers. This party is in fact supported and aided by a number of extremely well qualified individuals whose services will be available to the next United Democratic Party government.?
The senate is designed to allow the ruling party to bring in unelected professionals to fill important cabinet posts, but according to Leader of the Opposition Dean Barrow, circumstances usually dictate otherwise.
Dean Barrow
?Of course everything depends on if you win, the majority that you win by. If you win get a huge majority, then it means that there are more elected representatives who will be pressing for positions as ministers, and it makes it less doable when you want to actually use the Senate as a way of placing people with special skills who did not run for election in a Cabinet. So at this juncture, I think that all I can say is that it is certainly a thought that I entertain and entertain strongly but whether one can implement it will depend on the circumstances after the elections.?
The other news from the United Democratic Party this afternoon is that the Belize City Council has finalized the details of a three million dollar overdraft facility with the Bank of Nova Scotia. Secured by a mortgage on the Commercial Centre, Belize City Mayor Zenaida Moya says the idea is to use the funds as a financial buffer against low tax collection rates.
Zenaida Moya, Belize City Mayor
?Clearly this council will not sit idly by and be dependent on any Central Government. And we will take whatever steps to ensure that we are not simply placed at the whim and fancy of any Minister of Central Government. Clearly everybody sees the need for the City Council, and it sees the need for our services. So I would appeal to all residents: ensure that you come into the council make payments on your property taxes and for the business owners, on your trade license, liquor license and everything.?
Nestor Vasquez, Financial Advisor, Belize City Council
?We have recently also reached an agreement with the Belize Tourism Board where they will be sending a small amount monthly, but nevertheless, it was something that was given to the previous city council and had been discontinued. But that too has been arranged through the intercession of the leader and the workings of the Mayor the advisors, and that is in place as well. So we have every reason to believe everything will be fine.?
According to the city council, collection rates currently stand at eighty percent but the Mayor told us this evening that she hopes to raise that figure to eight nine percent by next March.
Reporting for News Five, I am Janelle Chanona.
Interest rate for the three million dollar City Council line of credit has been set at fifteen percent. Central Government has agreed to wave the stamp duty on the mortgage.
