If you keep up with American celebrity news, you’ll know that all those
shows like Access Hollywood, Entertainment Tonight and Extra are in the habit
of coining names for celebrity couples: Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, become
Brangelina, Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes become TomKat.....and it goes on and
on. Here in Belize we’re nowhere near that level of media or celebrity:
except when it comes to Phillip Willoughby. He’s always up for an interview
– even when he clearly shouldn’t be anywhere within 100 feet of
a microphone. But, regardless, there he is, every time – rushing in –
superman cap and all – where any other politician would fear to thread.
Which brings us back to the top of our story: cute names for celebrity couples.
He’s not a couple, but his media imprint is so huge that Phillip Willoughby
has been dubbed by the media: “Philloughby.” And tonight the news
is that “Philloughby” is the new Deputy Mayor of Belize City. He
was elected at a council meeting today which 7 councilors attended.
The outcome was mildly surprising because councilor Dean Samuels – who
had expressed interest in the post – suddenly withdrew and shifted his
support to Philloughby. With that, Philloughby was elected with four votes,
while Leila Peyrefitte got two with one councilor abstaining. Philoughby will
hold the post for a year.
In other surprising council news – at the Mayor’s discretion, the
portfolio for sanitation has been shifted from Roger Espejo – who got
it around Christmas to Andrew Faber. As we understand it Espejo was not at today’s
meeting.