Espat told News Five that the original rationale behind the Petrocaribe program, conceptualized and implemented by the late President Hugo Chavez, has been bastardized to further the political ambitions of the government of the day. Julius Espat, Chairman, Public Accounts Committee “Social projects fostered by the Petrocaribe agreement should empower all people, not only […]
And from Petrocaribe to P.U.P. politics… Reports have circulated of high-level changes in the party following the devastating loss in municipal elections. Espat wouldn’t offer details, since he says those would have to come from Party Leader Francis Fonseca, but he did confirm that indeed there will be a shakeup in the grand old party […]
This morning, the V.I.P. jumped on board with the church, unions, business sector and P.U.P. – at least when it comes to roundly criticizing the Petrocaribe Bill. At a press conference called to express the Party’s stance on the bill and other issues, the candidates on hand pulled no punches. The V.I.P. says that by […]
And although Petrocaribe dominated the conference which lasted almost two hours, there were other issues. V.I.P. front man Bobby Lopez reiterated the Party’s position on declaration of assets under the Prevention of Corruption Act. But this time he took it further, warning that there is a hefty fine for non-disclosure and when the V.I.P. does […]
And finally, the V.I.P. called for a re-registration exercise to clean up voters’ lists which are widely believed to be anything but accurate. It’s an exercise which is a long time in coming, and neither of the mass parties has seemed too adamant about it. But the V.I.P. is…and as they’ve done at every opportunity…they […]
Mayor Darrell Bradley has been anointed the U.D.P. candidate in Caribbean Shores, no messy convention, no nasty mudslinging, no big spending and no bloodshed – just…well for lack of a better word – suavecito. The announcement came from U.D.P. leader Dean Barrow at the Party’s headquarters today. Flanked by both Santiago “Santino” Castillo Junior and […]
The sudden departure of Castillo raises eyebrows, since when last we spoke to him he was very critical of Bradley, and very confident of victory in any convention. He claimed that he had the support of the people and in fact the entire Cabinet. Almost overnight, it seems, that tune has changed from salsa to […]
So on June seventh, there will be a convention, but it will be an endorsement of the U.D.P.’s crown prince Darrell Bradley. It’ll be the Mayor’s first time in the big leagues, but true to form he is unfazed and ready to roll. Darrell Bradley, New Caribbean Shores Candidate “At this present moment I […]
In political news….Prime Minister Dean Barrow has two years to call general elections, but very few, if any, political observers are betting that he’ll wait that long. In fact, political wisdom is suggesting that elections could likely be held by the end of the year. News Five caught up with senior minister, Manuel Heredia Junior, […]
One convention which everyone will be watching in a couple months is the fight for the Caribbean Shores seat, currently held by Santiago “Santino” Castillo. Castillo has the Prime Minister in his corner, but he’s going against Mayor Darrell Bradley who is riding a high after municipal victory recently. News Five today asked Heredia who […]
And since Mayor Darrell Bradley conveniently attended the same event, we asked him for an update on his run to convention. He admitted that it’s hectic balancing City Hall and Caribbean Shores, but is still confident that when the votes are counted he’ll be sitting in a different seat. Darrell Bradley, Belize City Mayor […]
Belize City Mayor Darrell Bradley, riding the wake of victory in municipal elections on March fourth, today announced he will be contesting the Caribbean Shores seat in a convention to be held on June seventh. Today, at the entrance to the almost completed Blue Marlin Boulevard, Bradley made the declaration. While it’s no surprise to […]
According to Bradley, residents of Caribbean Shores have been asking for new representation, better service and better leadership, and he says that in those areas his record speaks for itself. Santiago ‘Santino’ Castillo, the current area representative is considered a serious player since his family has been a loyal financier of the U.D.P. – but […]
Prime Minister Dean Barrow has stated openly that he will support his Cabinet colleague in any convention in Caribbean Shores. That doesn’t bode well for Bradley, as we’ve seen the fate of others like his predecessor Zenaida Moya who dared to buck the leadership. But Bradley is unfazed. He says that like the prime minister […]
Looking ahead, however…if the mayor is to step down, who will replace him as municipal leader for Belize City? Today, premature or not, the media asked Bradley about a possible successor to his seat. Darrell Bradley, Belize City Mayor “I’ve had the pleasure of working with the ten councilors, both in the first term […]
Notwithstanding the mayor seeking higher office, Bradley says that as a council, they have been aggressively looking at new plans for the city which will be rolled out in the short-term. Darrell Bradley, Belize City Mayor “Going into the next term, we are working very closely…for the last month, we have been meeting with […]
There were two debates held in the House of Representatives last week – one on the 2015-2016 Budget and one on a proposed Petrocaribe Bill. The Bill is a controversial one which will allow government to draw down Petrocaribe monies without taking it to the House, and also to use those monies for any purpose […]
With that, Fonseca emphasized that they cannot approve a Bill which seeks to bypass and do away with National Assembly authorization. And to show that he’s dead serious, Fonseca made the emphatic gesture of refusing any future Petrocaribe handouts because, he says, neither he nor the P.U.P. will be a party to something that is […]
That’s a grand gesture by the Leader of the Opposition, but almost immediately there was some confusion in the House. According to P.U.P. Deputy Leader Julius Espat, any Petrocaribe monies spent in Cayo South will be more than welcome. Julius Espat, Area Representative, Cayo South “The Prime Minister is going down the worst road […]
And Prime Minister Dean Barrow wasn’t finished there. He has always reserved special attention for Cayo South Area Representative, Julius Espat, and Friday was certainly no exception. Prime Minister Dean Barrow “Before you became formally involved in public life…I don’t know how you suddenly donned this garb of self-righteousness…try to pass yourself off as […]
And today, the Senate met in regular session to debate the Petrocaribe Bill which passed through the House on Friday. The government has the majority in the Senate, so the fate of the discussion was foretold, but that didn’t stop the Opposition Senator Lisa Shoman who says that she cannot and will not support the […]
Business sector Senator Mark Lizarraga had a lot to say about the Prime Minister’s budget today, particularly where borrowing is concerned. The Opposition coined the phrase ‘Borrow and Spend Budget,’ and today Lizarraga cautioned that when the government comes down off this borrowing and spending high, the hangover will be unbearable. Mark Lizarraga, Senator, […]
Elrington was followed by the Area Representative for Orange Walk South Jose Abelardo Mai, who criticized the budget because he says it offers nothing for the agricultural sector, and no programs to assist the farmers of Belize. According to Mai, the budget is short-sighted and lacks vision, since G.O.B.’s only plan to raise revenue is […]
Following that back and forth Cayo South Area Representative Julius Espat, definitely not a favourite of the Barrow administration, got up to make his presentation on the budget. When the inevitable heckling from the government side died down, Espat gained no favour by claiming that the document disguised as a budget is useless. Julius […]
The debate on the very controversial Petrocaribe Bill, introduced in the House on Thursday, was scheduled to follow the debate on the Budget. But Espat got in some early shots before he was closed down by the Speaker, saying that where Petrocaribe is concerned, the Prime Minister is behaving like an addict. Julius Espat, […]
