7 News Belize

Nomination Day: The Confident Incumbent
posted (February 16, 2009)

Earlier we brought you the story from the People’s United Party’s nomination day for its mayor and ten councillors. While the PUP had the morning– this afternoon it was for the incumbent United Democratic Party. Mayor Zenaida Moya hopes to lead her slate of ten councillors to another victory at the polls on March 4th And 7NEWS was at the Bel-China Bridge for the start.

Keith Swift Reporting,
This afternoon a slightly larger, certainly louder, and a bit more boisterous crowd of UDP supporters marched from the foot of the Bel-China Bridge to the C.B. Hyde building to nominate the party’s candidates for mayor and councillors.

The crowd was not overwhelming – particularly for an incumbent - and well below the number of supporters who accompanied them in 2006. Still proudly in the lead was Mayor Zenaida Moya flanked by Works Minister Boots Martinez, Housing Minister Michael Finnegan, and Education Minister Patrick Faber. Mayor Moya and her incumbent councillors were confident.

Zenaida Moya, Mayoral Candidate
“As Mayor of Belize City, I have led this team into progress and together with support of the residents of Belize City and the business community along now with a UDP central government, we have been able to really start the progress and I feel it is only under a UDP City Council that we will continue to see progress.”

Leila Peyrefitte, Candidate for Councillor
“I think for the past three years, from 2006 to 2009 we have done an excellent job concerning the residents of the city.”

Keith Swift,
By an excellent job you mean what?

Leila Peyrefitte,
“We have accomplished a lot. The Mayor mentioned a lot of accomplishments that we have done and we want to continue, like our logo says, keep moving forward. We know we can accomplish a lot more in 2009 to 2012.”

Phillip Willoughby, Candidate for Councillor
“Confident, whatever percentage or measurement you get out of it, we have all the confidence in the world going into this election.”

Keith Swift,
Everybody says they want change. What are you going to do different in the next three years than what you did in the first three years?

Phillip Willoughby,
“Well we just will continue to add on to whatever accomplishments we’ve had and continue working on the goods and services and social programs for residents of the city.”

Laura Esquivel, Candidate for Councillor
“Of course we feel very positive. On the campaign trail we know that people are telling us that they are looking forward to voting in another UDP City Council so of course we are excited about that.”

Keith Swift,
You think you deserve a second term?

Laura Esquivel,
“Are you talking me personally or the party?”

Keith Swift,
You and the party.

Laura Esquivel,
“Well definitely I would say I deserve a second term and as well of course I would have to say that the entire slate deserves to get in for a second time.”

That includes the embattled but never beaten Mayor Moya. Party Leader Dean Barrow is sure she’ll be re-elected but was less than enthusiastic about her performance.

Keith Swift,
What grade would you give Zenaida Moya and her Council for the last three years?

Hon. Dean Barrow, UDP Leader
“Well it depends, what is the….”

Keith Swift,
A, B, C

Hon. Dean Barrow,
“Pass.”

Keith Swift,
Marginally or overwhelming?

Hon. Dean Barrow,
“I think with enough room to spare.”

Keith Swift,
Enough to earn them a re-election?

Hon. Dean Barrow,
“Yes, I think so. I believe as I said that it would be silly to pretend that there have not been problems but I think the Mayor has established herself as a fighter, as somebody combative for and on behalf of the interests of her constituency which is the city, and I don’t think, I repeat I don’t see any alternative here in Belize City. So I am confident that she will be fairly comfortably re-elected.”

And hoping to join Moya are five eager new councillor candidates who were nominated this afternoon.

Roger Espejo, Candidate for Councillor
“I’ve been saying all along that I decided to get involved because I too want to see Belize City grow, I want to help come up with the solutions, long term solutions Belize City needs after 17 years of PUP neglect and non-maintenance of infrastructure in this city. The UDP did what they could in the last term and now I have availed myself to finding long term solutions for the city.”

Dion Leslie, Candidate for Councillor
“A kind of proud moment you know, a beginning step for this long road that I hope to have in politics. It is a beginning step for me. I had my father sign for me and Ms. Baeza, a prominent figure here in the Lake I community where I grew up, a lot of people don’t know. It is kind of a nice moment for me.”

Keith Swift,
How confident are you right now?

Dion Leslie,
“Very very confident. You see the crowd. If you’ve been on the streets campaigning like I have, the response from the Belizean community is outstanding, they want us back in there to continue the good work and so that is what we are going to do.

Included on the list of councillor candidates is Erick Chang – who made history today when he was nominated – the first Chinese Belizean ever.

Eric Chang, Candidate for Councillor
“I feel very excited because like I said this is another step for the Belizeans, for all of us, and there is a lot of work, we can work together hand to hand and get it done for Belize City. So we have to keep moving forward. Go UDP.”

And if Eric Chang and the UDP get their way – today’s march is just the first leg in a march to victory at the polls in March.

Similar nomination parades were held across the country.

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