Politics is in the forefront in San Pedro
as the election speeds toward us like a
freight train. Banners and posters adorn
most lampposts with three Mayoral candidates,
fourteen Town Councilor candidates,
and four Area Representative candidates
vying for space.
The San Pedro Sun and Reef Radio/
TV have announced the first ever Area
Representative Candidate Debate to be
held in Belize. It will be Wednesday 15
February at 7pm in San Pedro.
Monday night on Decision 2012 Bobby
Lopez announced his candidacy for
Area Representative Belize Rural South
as Standard Bearer for the V.I.P. Mr. Lopez
resides in Belmopan and owns Hummingbird
Furniture that has an outlet in
San Pedro where he also maintains a residence.
Mr. Lopez is the Chairman of the
V.I.P. and Leader of the fledgling Belize
Unity Alliance that he conceived over a
year ago.
Mel Paz, Independent candidate for
Mayor of San Pedro and Marcel Bedran,
candidate for Area Representative Cayo
North Division, accompanied Mr. Lopez.
Mr. Bedran spoke at length about the
problems of Cayo North and how we all
had the same kinds of problems associated
with the red/blue system and how
the people wanted a change. He strongly
endorsed Bobby for the Area Representative position.
Ms Paz also endorsed Mr. Lopez
and complained that the Party teams
were telling voters that a split ballot
would not count and they must vote
straight seven for their vote to count.
Of course this not true and everyone
has the right to vote for whomsoever
he or she chooses and splitting your
vote does not ruin your ballot, it will
be counted x by x.
Hector Silva, ex PUP Minister,
called in and said how much he liked
Bobby and expected him to carry on
in the traditions of George Price and
emphatically endorsed Mr. Lopez in
the contest for Area Representative.
Mr. Lopez spoke at length of the
history of the V.I.P. in Belmopan and
how his son had been victimized in
school because of Bobby's political
positions and how he had used it as
a learning experience for his son. He
spoke of when he founded his business
and his intentions of retiring
in San Pedro and handing over the
business in Belmopan to his son.
Mr. Lopez stated that he had
decided to enter the race because
there were only two candidates
running for Area Representative in
San Pedro and he believed the people
needed another choice rather than red or blue. Mr. Lopez referred to
the V.I.P. as being part of the Independent
Movement, which is distinctly different
from the Third Party Movement, and stated
that as Leader of the B.U.A. he would
be visiting all the constituencies countrywide
campaigning for the B.U.A. slate. He
extolled the accomplishments of the V.I.P.
and offered himself to serve the people of
San Pedro and Caye Caulker.
Mr. Lopez stated that he had eight pages of notes of recommendations for
San Pedro. Job creation was mentioned
with focus on the promotion of San Pedro
as a tourist destination of all kinds
including eco tourism and cruise tourism.
The date for the next edition of Decision
2012 will be announced soon but
will be after the live Area Rep debate to
be held Wednesday, 15 February 2012 at
7pm.
The Independent