Third party seeks to make inroads in Belmopan

To avoid political confrontation the Elections and Boundaries Department set up a nomination day system in which the P.U.P. candidates appeared in the morning, the U.D.P. in the afternoon, and any independents or third party aspirants used the lunch hour. And that’s just when News Five’s Karla Vernon showed up in Belmopan.

Karla Vernon, Reporting
Around 12:30 this afternoon, a beaming contingent from the third party, Vision Inspired by the People, V.I.P., arrived at Our Lady of Guadalupe Roman Catholic School. Greeted by Chief Elections Officer Stuart Leslie, who wished them luck in the campaign, they stood one by one before Chief Returning Officer, Henry Marsden. Their supporters nominated them and watched as their names were taken down.

Paul Morgan is the V.I.P. running for Mayor. He is flanked by six other councillor candidates, Camil Espat, Elvira Brown, David Gonzalez, Hubert Enriquez, Henry Dueck, and Bobby Lopez.

When the official paperwork was over, they joined hands in prayer for a few moments then congratulated each other for having made it this far. And while history has not been kind to third parties, Secretary General Hubert Enriquez says their movement has been growing for some time and will only get stronger.

Hubert Enriquez, V.I.P. Secretary General
?Actually, we have been working at this for many, many years; this isn?t just today. We have actually run already, myself and Mr. Morgan we ran in 2000, we ran in 2003, and now we are here again. And we think every time we run, we double our votes, so we expect to get more than double this time and I think we?ll do, very, very well.?

Morgan says the V.I.P. decision to run in Belmopan transcends the local municipal election. He believes Belizeans all over the country will be watching the outcome.

Paul Morgan, V.I.P. Candidate for Mayor
?We need to recognise that this election is of local and national importance. Local importance, our advantage is that we have the best team with respect to experience, education, and heart. Nationally, the people of Belize want a change, they need a change. The two parties have led us down this road to the fifth stage of corruption. It is time for us to plant a seed in Belmopan, the appropriate place to plant it, in the heart of the country, the nation?s capital, that it could grow and rid ourselves of corruption and give ourselves a chance.?

Reporting for News Five, I am Karla Vernon.