The reform movement calling itself “We the People”, is careful to say that it is not a political party… but that did not stop it from today announcing a federation of independent candidates for the upcoming general elections. Numbering eleven and counting, the new politicians–all men–range in geography from north to south. They are Roy […]
From the information in the press release, the event looked like a dry panel discussion on the intricacies of voting. But what transpired at the library this morning was anything but dry. News 5’s Marion Ali has the play by play. Francis Gegg, Independent, Fort George “So that is basically the basis of the We […]
It is an issue that is yet to emerge from the clutter of the 2003 campaign, but the People’s United Party believes that its past accomplishments and future plans on behalf of the nation’s women will be an important factor on March fifth. This morning I was on had at the Radisson when the P.U.P. […]
Confirming what we had reported last week, a joint press release by the Belize Business Bureau and Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry today announced their sponsorship of a public debate between the leaders of the two major political parties. The debate will be held the night of February eighteenth in the Radisson’s Caracol Room […]
In some late breaking political news, the United Democratic Party has registered its strong disapproval of what it claims is the granting of an exclusive fifteen year national license to the Novelo’s Bus Line. According to a U.D.P. release, the license gives the company exclusive rights on all major bus routes, including runs to Chetumal […]
If there is any special characteristic to this year’s general election, it is the large number of independent candidates. And today, one more aspiring representative officially threw his hat in the ring. As News 5’s Marion Ali reports, while the race may be nominally for the Albert Division, his campaign is clearly directed against a […]
It’s the largest electoral division in the city…and if the TV ads are any indication, then it is also the scene of one of the old capital’s biggest fights. Over the last few days I got to spend time with each major candidate in Lake Independence and found that confidence is not lacking on either […]
It’s a problem that grows a little worse with each election, yet neither political party seems to have the slightest inclination to do anything about it. That is the growing numerical inequality between the nation’s twenty-nine electoral constituencies. Despite a constitutional mandate that “each electoral division shall have as nearly as may be an equal […]
What started as a nationwide journey to inspect his government’s accomplishments and gauge the citizens reaction, has, not surprisingly, turned into a non-stop campaign photo-op in which no project is too small for a ceremonial ribbon cutting. Today Prime Minister Said Musa’s blue and white electoral machine pulled into Belize City, and returned to the […]
She has been a community activist all her adult life, but somehow managed to avoid the realm of partisan politics… at least until now. As the U.D.P. candidate in Pickstock, with two formidable challengers, Diane Haylock will have her hands more than full between now and the fifth of March. As part of our continuing […]
Like most Belizean elections, the one in March is being fought over broad national issues. But, as in every campaign, certain constituency races have emerged as key battles in the overall war. Over the next five weeks we’ll focus on some of these high profile races and candidates that, for better or worse, are becoming […]
With the election date now officially set for March fifth, over the weekend politicians from all over the country jumped into high gear, plastering every naked lamp post with signs and going house to house with renewed enthusiasm. In the Pickstock Division, three people will go head to head for area representative: Diane Haylock represents […]
The nervous anticipation was palpable on Independence Hill today as the House of Representatives convened in Belmopan…and when Prime Minister Said Musa took the floor, he did not waste any time. He began with the words: “it is the Prime Minister’s responsibility to set the date for general elections”, and the House went silent. Minutes […]
Following the P.M.’s announcement, it was time to engage in the annual battle of the budget. Leader of the Opposition Dean Barrow, as usual, came out smoking. He referred to the P.U.P. budget presented last week as a “whap”, a con, a hoax, a fraud, nonsense on stilts and blatantly false…and these choice adjectives were […]
As I speak, the Members of the House of Representatives are still making their presentations in support of or against the budget. Earlier this afternoon, the members for the Albert and Belize Rural Central constituencies respectively had their turns at the microphone to counter the arguments put forth by the Leader of the Opposition. Mark […]
But clocking in at close to three hours, was the Member representing Mesopotamia that, not surprisingly, had the most to say. Regrettably, we can only offer a short excerpt. Michael Finnegan, Area Rep, Mesopotamia “Under this yah crowd Madam Speaker, and under this new leadership, dah wah hustle, dah wah grub tub, dah wah government […]
Several months ago U.D.P. Leader Dean Barrow said that if he becomes the next Prime Minister he will not hold a specific portfolio. Since Manuel Esquivel cannot constitutionally–even as a Senator–be appointed as Minister of Finance, the most likely candidate for the post has become Freetown standard-bearer Douglas Singh. That speculation ended on Friday when […]
One noteworthy occurrence at the National Assembly this morning was the absence of Leader of the Opposition Dean Barrow. According to the honourable member from Mesopotamia, the U.D.P. Chief was out campaigning. But Barrow or no Barrow, Michael Finnegan was not shy about offering his opinion of the Prime Minister’s budget. Michael Finnegan, Area Rep., […]
As Prime Minister he is charged with the task of leading the nation…and as head of the ruling political party, he is also expected to lead the partisan cavalry into its battle for re-election. In case you haven’t noticed, over the last three months Said Musa has been playing both roles in a constituency-by-constituency nationwide […]
Its initial appearance on the public scene a few years back was greeted with a mixture of scepticism, enthusiasm and curiosity. Thumbing its nose at traditional fundraising and flipping the bird to both political parties, the reform movement calling itself We the People, proclaimed that it could revolutionize the Belizean political scene from the ground […]
In related news, the proliferation of independent candidates appears to be extending to the March municipal elections. Today we received a release from a group call B-SAFE, the Belmopan Social Action for Fairness and Equality. On Wednesday afternoon B-SAFE will present its slate of four candidates for the seven-member Belmopan City Council. Those candidates include […]
With the country infected by election fever, politics and its attendant non-stop campaigning is running rampant. Over the weekend, the canvassers of every partisan persuasion hit the streets in force, and in Belize City, the People’s United Party held its previously postponed City Council convention to endorse incumbent mayor David Fonseca and his slate of […]
With an as yet undeclared general election less than two months away, a factor is emerging that may have a major influence on the outcome. In fact, 2003 may well go down in political history as the year of the independent candidate. Nomination day has not even been announced, but if all those who have […]
And while traditional wisdom dictates that third party candidates are little more than spoilers, it doesn’t mean that voters want to see those names removed from the ballot. Today roving reporter Marion Ali was back in the streets…and she found that although the electoral appetite of most citizens is confined to a few familiar dishes, […]
And while we led this newscast with the phenomenon of independent candidates, we’ll end with a rundown of the fifty-eight men and women carrying the standard of the traditional red and blue. Janelle Chanona, Reporting We begin in the north: In the Corozal Bay division, U.D.P. candidate’s Carlos Castillo will face off with Vildo Marin […]
