As you’ve heard at the top of the news, two-term representative Julius Espat is under no illusions about the state of Belize’s governance, which he says can be traced back to the handover from colonial masters to Belizean ones. And he readily acknowledges the deep cynicism that pervades Belizean society, which tends to view P.U.P. […]
Belize is now a signatory to the United Nations Convention against Corruption, which was signed in December. But there has been no discernible movement to implementing its dictates and Cayo South area representative Julius Espat warned today that without a serious level of commitment from this or any future government, the UNCAC is toothless. […]
Incumbent Belmopan area representative John Saldivar’s slate came in together in the August thirteenth U.D.P. convention for the City Council, freezing out Anna Banner-Guy, who is left to serve out a second term. Banner-Guy supported Saldivar’s rival for deputy party leader, Deputy Prime Minister Patrick Faber, who was willing to return the favor. Today, Faber […]
With municipal elections coming up in March 2018, the speculation has been that the U.D.P. will be pulling a fast one and calling general elections at the same time so that the Prime Minister can proceed to retire early with no losses under his belt. Senior Minister Wilfred Elrington dispelled that rumor, saying that general […]
This weekend, there was political activity in two major western municipalities. The incumbent United Democratic Party sought to fill six councilor seats from seven participants in Belmopan, joining an incumbent mayor, while in San Ignacio and Santa Elena it was the other way around for the People’s United Party – three candidates for mayor to […]
In San Ignacio/Santa Elena, the People’s United Party gathered at Sacred Heart College. Former mayor Marconi Matus defeated rivals Javier “Colonel” Castellanos and Arthur Smith to head up the team. He received three hundred and forty-five votes compared to two hundred and sixty-one for Smith and two hundred and forty for the former Belize Defence […]
Last week we told you that Mayor Hilberto Campos of Corozal Town will not be seeking reelection in the upcoming Municipal Elections 2018 and already two U.D.P. hopefuls have put in their bid to replace Campos. Richard Quan and Rafael Castillo are going head to head at the convention scheduled for this Saturday in Corozal. […]
The Belize Network of Non-Governmental Organizations has joined the call for re-registration even though it has been put off to next year. In a press release, the organization says the Election and Boundaries Commission ought to reconsider, considering the importance of free and fair elections and defending the right to vote. The first and last […]
In political news….earlier this week, incumbent councilor for Belmopan, Anna Banner Guy, finds herself the odd woman out at the United Democratic Party convention scheduled for Sunday, August thirteenth. Guy topped the polls in the last municipal election and has been active among the city’s youth, but it appears she is on the outs because […]
While Vega is retiring from active politics, when we caught up with Orange Walk North area rep, Elodio Aragon Junior last Friday, we asked him about his party’s municipal elections preparations. He told us that the U.D.P. is moving ahead with their transfers and they will be ready to put forward their slate once all […]
In the northernmost municipality of Corozal, current U.D.P. mayor Hilberto Campos says he will not be contesting for a fifth term. Campos has been at the helm of the Corozal Town Council for twelve years and is stepping down for several reasons. While covering the weather, our News Five crew asked Campos about his future […]
And from the north to the west where Belmopan is in full swing lining up their candidates for the U.D.P. convention on August thirteenth. But all is not well and that there are signs of internal conflict boiling over. Over the past few days several Facebook posts indicate that there is dissention in the camp, […]
This afternoon, we spoke to councilor Philip Willoughby in the ‘Pink Jungle’ area of Pickstock, where he was donating garbage containers to residents of the hutments, as he did in the Mayflower Street area last week. It was clear that he was still smarting from the ‘double-banking’ he received from opponent Dion Leslie and Mayor […]
According to mayoral aspirant Phillip Willoughby, the slings and arrows of his opponents do not bother him, as he is concentrated on bringing even more services for residents of the Old Capital. One of the things he wants to see more of the council doing is a ‘social side,’ particularly addressing survivors and victims of […]
After two terms of David Fonseca as the first directly elected mayor of Belize City, the United Democratic Party has been on a run of four successive terms in office – two headed by Zenaida Moya, two headed by Darrell Bradley. And while the U.D.P. is the most successful it has ever been politically both […]
With less than a month to go before polling opens for the U.D.P. municipal convention, mayoral candidates Dion Leslie and Philip Willoughby have been actively campaigning on the ground and on the airwaves. Willoughby in particular has been making personal appearances in battleground communities such as the one we showed you earlier. On Tuesday, Leslie […]
Mayor of Belize City Darrell Bradley is heading back to private life at the conclusion of his second term in February of 2018. He confirmed the decision not to contest a third term in office at an interview this morning in the Old Capital. For all the rumors about infighting in the Belize City Council, […]
Love him or dislike him, there is no question that Mayor Bradley thought big. The City’s first ever municipal bond helped cement hundreds of streets and improve driving conditions in the Old Capital. Major infrastructure projects have transformed Belize City’s face and lifted its reputation both in the country and internationally. But there were many […]
Attention now turns to August twenty-seventh, when either Dion Leslie or Philip Willoughby will be chosen by United Democratic Party voters to replace Bradley. Already enjoying the open support of at least one U.D.P. area representative, Tracey Taegar-Panton, Leslie became the de facto front-runner when Mayor Darrell Bradley publicly endorsed his candidacy today, and pledged […]
Even if most think Leslie is the frontrunner on August twenty-seventh following that endorsement from Mayor Bradley and Albert Area Rep Panton, the aspirant and three-time councilor has been campaigning on air and on the ground since announcing his candidacy on July seventeenth. Today, he reiterated that he is willing to work with anyone and […]
But does that mean that the man in the Superman hat has met his kryptonite? This would not be the first time that Willoughby has not had party backing for higher office – he had to step aside for Bradley in 2012, and shortly thereafter for Tracey Taegar-Panton when she was the party’s choice to […]
It’s now official: Mayor of Belize City Darrell Bradley will not run for a third term in office. A decision not to contest the coming internal convention for the United Democratic Party brings to an end six turbulent, but productive years for the attorney-turned-politician and the city he transformed. Prime Minister and U.D.P. Leader Dean […]
Attorney General Michael Peyrefitte also weighed in on the matter from a legal perspective. According to the AG, the case will go before the CCJ in October. The crux of the matter, says Peyrefitte, is that government doesn’t see eye to eye with the Ashcroft Group as far as expenses go. Michael Peyrefitte, Attorney […]
Just now you heard Willoughby on the garbage in Ghost Town and the cleanup efforts. Today while the City Councilor was out, he was questioned whether his appearance was a part of his mayoral campaign. Willoughby shut down that speculation quickly and says that he is simply doing his duties. He went on to say […]
News Five has confirmed that the Senate Special Select Committee is taking a different tack for its hearing on Wednesday at the National Assembly in Belmopan. For the last two weeks, four Ministers of Government have been testifying about their activities in relation to the Immigration Department. Now for the first time, the Committee is […]
