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Now, you may know of the financial difficulties that PG has been experiencing under a PUP Town Council. Nontheless, Mayor Anthony Fuentes believes that he can convince the PG voters to give him another term even though the UDP Central Government will still be in power for most of this new administration:

Anthony Fuentes, Mayor - Punta Gorda Town
"The Punta Gorda Town Council, since being elected on the 7th March, 2012, have been diligently working from day one. The difficulty that we have is that we are operating a UDP central government which is more than hostile to the Punta Gorda Town Council, but nevertheless, through the efforts of both myself and the other councilors, we have been working and getting assistance from people from America and they have assisted us tremendously, which would be the other way around. The government of America of America should help Belize government and Belize government should help the Punta Gorda Town Council. They should also respect the decision of the majority of the people that went to the polls. I keep on saying that they are not only hurting Anthony Fuentes as the mayor, but also their UDP supporters who supported them on March 7th, 2012. So, they are hurting the people of this municipality, which is unfair, because people down here also pay taxes and we deserve a fair share on the country natural resources."

Daniel Ortiz
"How do you respond to those who say that while you've done, it's not enough and you don't deserve a second term?"

Anthony Fuentes, Mayor - Punta Gorda Town
"We will always have these types of people. The bibles says, those who have eyes, let them see. And of course a number of them have criticize me, but I always tell them, the best revenge is success and I continue to do good for the benefit the citizens on Punta Gorda Town. I am from here. To date, this municipality brags about a credit union because of me, the Toledo Teachers Credit Union, which is benefitting thousands of people."

Border Activist and member of the People's National Party, which often allies itself with the political Party, Vision Inspired by the People, (VIP) believes that PG should elect him as mayor. His reasoning is that over the years PG has tried both the PUP and the UDP without getting much results:

Wil Maheia, Mayoral candidate - PNP
"People of Punta Gorda see that this town has been neglected. Both persons who are running for mayor, the PUP and UDP, they are elected and like in the UDP case, Ms. Fern Guiterrez, her government is in power and there is not one job that could be pointed to that she has created or Mayor Fuentes. I could tell you right now, myself, lobbying for jobs to come to Punta Gorda. I am the founder of TIDE which hires over 30 people right now. So, that's just one example where I have already brought jobs to Toledo. The BelCampo investor, I am the one that lured them to Punta Gorda and hires well over 100 people and so I am looking and fighting for Punta Gorda, for jobs to come to Punta Gorda and I hope that the people of Punta Gorda realize. I think they do, despite the fact that the Petro Caribe money is flowing right now - it's a temporary thing and I think people hear are familiar with the phrase of "one day belly full, no fatten maga dog" and I think that's what the people are thinking right now. They realize that have been taken likely for too long."

The other candidate in the mayoral race is UDP's Fern Gutierrez, presently the only elected UDP councilor in that town, who now wants to be Mayor. She told us yesterday that residents should choose her because she brings new ideas, as well as the ability to dialog and collaborate with the UDP central Government:

Fern Gutierrez, Mayoral candidate - UDP
"I've always been a solemn member of the United Democratic Party, but my decision to offer myself as the mayoral candidate for the party springs to my connection with my community. I believe that we need to be the change we want to see in this world and so, as the young adult in our community it's important that we get prime leadership and I believe it comes with the correct people. The main things that I will be able to offer is: do we approach the leadership, meaning that it's not about Fern Guiterrez, it's simply not about Anthony Fuentes, it's simply not about Will Maheia, UDP or PNP. At the end of the day after elections, it's about working with my community, making sure that Punta Gorda is first and foremost and the fact that I am directly committed to my community. I am from Punta Gorda Town, my desires, my roots is directly connected to this community and I want to see it grow and transformed. And last and not least, the fact that central government at this point is Unite Democratic Party and our ability to network with central government, to work with the business community, to work with the skillful persons in our community, to look for funding outside of Toledo and to galvanized change in our municipality - is what I will be able to offer."