Last night the People’s United Party convened its second “People’s Assembly,” this time in Dangriga. Consistent with its policy of making specific proposals that it says will be implemented if the P.U.P. is elected, Party Leader Said Musa focussed on areas affecting youth. Said Musa, Leader, P.U.P. “Tonight we make the following proposal towards a […]
As promised in his public homecoming yesterday, political aspirant Derek Aikman has tendered his resignation to the Belize City Council… although not in writing. Aikman was appointed City Manager in 1994 when political pressure from Minister of Local Government Hubert Elrington propelled him ahead of other candidates deemed better qualified by a selection committee. Aikman’s […]
After weeks of speculation, the United Democratic Party today made it official. Derek Aikman has come home and is ready to once again throw his hat in the ring for a seat in the House of Representatives. After an hour long meeting at U.D.P. Headquarters in Belize City, Esquivel and Aikman emerged to greet an […]
Monday’s official release by the U.D.P. that it will hold formal talks with Derek Aikman on his political future have aroused a wide range of opinions and emotions on both sides of the political fence. While Aikman himself has not publicly commented on the meeting, scheduled for Thursday, his political opponents have pointed out that […]
The United Democratic Party today officially announced it has decided to enter into negotiations with former Freetown Area Representative Derek Aikman, regarding his possible re-entry into the party and into electoral politics. A press release from the U.D.P. Secretariat says the leadership of the party will be meeting with Aikman on Thursday afternoon to begin […]
Two days of debating the budget in the House of Representatives wrapped up today. Prime Minister Esquivel and his colleagues were the only ones doing the debate as the Opposition, People’s United Party, as was expected, boycotted the event. The four hundred and thirty two point one million dollar budget for fiscal year 1998-1999 was […]
While the opposition was a no-show in Belmopan for the reading of the budget or the debate, which followed, it did not stop them from saying what they thought of the presentation. Opposition Leader Said Musa used the platform at the St. Mary’s Hall in Belize City to make his rebuttal, during the first session […]
In news from politics, the office of the Prime Minister has announced the appointment of a Commission of Inquiry to investigate alleged irregularities and improprieties in the Economic Citizenship Program during the term of office of the last People’s United Party government. The alleged wrong doings are included in the Auditor General’s report on the […]
With the Opposition involved in an indefinite boycott of the National Assembly, the Government side could not resist the opportunity to chastise their opponents… Both the Prime Minister and his deputy claimed to take the matter very seriously. Manuel Esquivel, Prime Minister “I wish I could say it was merely silly. I’m afraid it’s more […]
Another opportunity the government just couldn’t resist was the proposal of an amendment to the Bankruptcy Act… that will have the effect of enabling former Freetown Representative Derek Aikman to once again run for a seat in the House. Manuel Esquivel, Prime Minister “Well that’s neither here or there. The question is whether it just […]
You will not see much blue and white in the House of Representatives on Wednesday and the only Guyabera in evidence may be that worn by Deputy Prime Minister Dean Barrow. The reason, of course, is the several month old boycott of the legislative process by the People’s United Party. Opposition leader Said Musa told […]
Jose Coye and Marshall Nunez have been re-elected as Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Belize City… But that’s about the only thing upon which all nine City Councilors apparently agree. A press release issued today by City Hall says that the vote was unanimous and that no other candidates were even nominated. Councilor Merilyn Young, […]
It may be the best kept secret in town, but as I speak tonight a new Mayor and Deputy Mayor are being elected at Belize City Hall. Although the contenders have managed to keep their campaigning for the top spot out of the public’s eye, indications are that the intra-party contest will be a fight […]
In political news a special sitting of the House of Representatives has been called for the morning of Wednesday, March eighteenth. It is believed that Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Manuel Esquivel will be presenting his government’s budget for the fiscal year which begins on April first. Since this is the last budget presentation […]
The party has been he party has been methodically carving out a public position on what it believes are the key issues of the day… And today it was the P.U.P’s time to focus on the issue of women… Or more specifically the absence of women in the higher ranks of government. The 1998 P.U.P’s […]
The office of the Prime Minister has issued a press release to clarify the status of Albert Representative Philip Goldson. Citing reports in several newspapers that Goldson has been replaced as Minister of Human Resources, the release states that despite his illness, Goldson maintains his status as Minister but under section 43 (1) of the […]
The two major political parties have agreed to square off in a series of pre-election debates later this year. The Society for the Promotion of Education and Research, SPEAR and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry will jointly coordinate the debates which according to the two organizations will be issue oriented. An eight member committee […]
It’s been twenty four hours since the announcement from the office of the Prime Minister that elder statesman Philip Goldson was being relieved of his ministerial duties due to illness; but like a bad hangover that won’t go away, followers loyal to the seventy five year old leader of the National Alliance for Belizean Rights […]
In news from politics, long-time politician and leader of the National Alliance for Belizean Rights, Philip Goldson has been relieved of his duties as a government minister. A government press release late this evening announced the move by the office of the Prime Minister. According to the brief statement, the move became necessary due to […]
In political news, the case of Marconi Matus and his allegations of bribery by the U.D.P. have receded to the background while the political protagonists on both sides of the aisle have retreated to lick their real or imagined wounds. With Matus’ charges well documented and the flat denials of Manuel Esquivel and Salvador Fernandez […]
In other crime news, the People’s United Party today delivered audio recordings to the Director of Public Prosecutions, Adolph Lucas. The recordings, revealed publicly last week, purport to show U.D.P. Minister Salvador Fernandez offering to bribe San Ignacio Town Board member Marconi Matus to throw his allegiance to the U.D.P. The D.P.P. has been called […]
In unrelated news, the United Democratic Party has announced that on Saturday, February twenty first, it will officially break ground on its new national headquarters. The building will be located at the southeastern foot of the Bel-China Bridge in Belize City. The U.D.P. is celebrating its twenty fifth anniversary this year and Saturday’s festivities will […]
It’s day two in the latest war of nerves and words between our two main political parties. And as usual the controversy boils down to how you want to look at it. The U.D.P. says that Marconi Matus is a liar. His specific statements about meetings with Manuel Esquivel have been proven false and thus […]
The rough and tumble world of politics returned to its best Belizean form today as the opposition made dramatic accusations against some of this country’s highest elected officials. News Five’s Stewart Krohn heard the evidence and tries to separate the smoke from the fire. The People’s United Party went back on the offensive this morning, […]
While his allegations fell somewhat short of accusing Prime Minister Manuel Esquivel of directly offering him a bribe, Marconi Matus did allege that the P.M. signaled his approval of the deal and even confirmed the details. This occurred, he said, both in person and over the telephone. But the Prime Minister had a different story…. […]
