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Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 84,397
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OP
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Wil Maheia is one of a little more than 10 candidates who will run for the
Belize Progressive Party. He has the support of his political leader,
Patrick Rogers, who says that he has a sterling reputation.
Today, Rogers said that his party is appealing to the regular Belizean
who wants to see their country improve for the better. Here's his sales
pitch about how the BPP values honesty and integrity among their
highest ideals:
Patrick Andrews - Political Leader, BPP
"As the chairman said, there is no way in hell would I Patrick Rodgers be a
part of any organisation that has anything to do with the likes of a Mr.
Michael Ashcroft but having said that, we will always work with Belizean
business people who understand that word investment should remain in their
business activities. So, big respect to Mr. Yohny Rosado for having telling
me Mr. Rodgers I don't have money but I need for Belize to know that BPP is
out here. There's a lot of business people who are honest people, who are
just trying to survive in this environment that is but they don't
understand that you know, when PUP Mr. Ashcroft win, then UDP win, Mr.
Ashcroft win, doesn't matter, we've seen that through the years that man
has been in this country. So that is why it is so important for the BPP to
represent the voiceless in this country and that has been my mantra from
the day I started speaking publicly a couple years ago. That me Patrick
want to be a voice for the common people. I have contested by first
election as commoners, the second election as vision inspired by the
people, third election as Belize Progressive Party and yes Belize, this is
my 4th time offering myself - I've changed from then you know, that unno no
ready yet, when unno ready for the change, unno come and vote for the
change and unno will be real change because the house of representative has
lost all it's honour Belize, there is no honour in that house, unno see
when unno listen to those debates. So we need to ensure that we elect
honourable people to go put back honour in that honourable house. I will
explain to you strategy wise, why it is we have opted to go in lesses
candidates this time around because as we alluded to, the corrupt business
man no want give we no money, so we are left with begging the small
business man for 2 5,500 dollars and with that now we can service and
support maybe 10-12 candidates with under 100 thousand we anticipate we may
get if we do the same thing like last elections. But with that, we would
have given our 10-12 candidates a better change at delivering a win, which
we believe now is the time, if not now when? If not the BPP who? But
clearly, we need to do something different this time around. This time
around we have been very strategic in making a decision to give the green
light to returning candidates who have been vetted. We've also said we will
not turn away a good prospect that approaches us but because we know the
corrupt business people are not going to be giving us their money and we
may not raise over 100 thousand dollars again, we made a conscious decision
since there is another alternative party out there, so just focus on fewer
candidates to enhance our chance at delivering a win. So, if you ask if
are, we ready, yes we're ready."
But, as viewers are aware, the BPP's sister organization, the Belize
Peace Movement, has a lawsuit in the Supreme Court, in which it is
attempting to force the Elections and Boundaries Commission to conduct
a redistricting exercise before the elections. They were prepared to
get an injunction to stop the elections altogether, and so, Patrick
Rogers explained why they will attempt to participate in an election
that they don't think is fair and democratic. Here's what he had to say
about that lawsuit:
Patrick Andrews
"The issue of redistricting is needed to make us more democratic yes, but
we also need to then proportional representation. So those were the one two
punches me and brother Wil brought to the table. We decided that this
redistricting case needed to be fought, Mr. Ashcroft gone join the case and
now we don't know if he with the interjection of experts, we don't know if
he just the stall this thing to catch us with our pants down. Now if you
recall 2015 was a snap election, the prime minister announced an election
and in 5 weeks times, we were at the polls. The BPP had just amalgamated,
we the people, the BNP and the bulk of the elements of VIP but we didn't
even have a name because we got our name through the internet in a naming
competition to ensure we have participatory democracy from inception. So,
I'm saying this time around, we wanted to get our troops, the BPP members
within the Belize Peace Movement, we wanted to get them battle ready, in
the event of an early election. So that is what this press conference is
all about, to let Belize know, that the BPP cannot wait for a decision from
the Chief Justice as to the situation with the redistricting before
election. And although we have a clause to kick in to enforce an injunction
if the prime minister were to call the election, we do not expect the
supreme court to rule on the redistricting and we expect the prime minister
will go ahead and announce this election and so that is why we are here to
tell you, Belize the BPP will be ready, we will be on the ballot."
Yohny Rosado Will Bankroll the BPP
And the BPP has the support of the independent cruise tourism operator
Yhony Rosado, who's made a name for himself as an outspoken
personality, who isn't afraid to call out what he sees as injustice.
Rosado has come on board as one of the BPP's lead financiers, and
today, the head table called him up to share a few words as to why he
has decided to back them.
Here's an excerpt of those unscripted comments:
Yohny Rosado - Supporter/Funder, BPP
"It is time to make up your mind because you're gonna tell me, the whole
family and the whole nation, oh we messed up again. We have elections
coming up, I made up my mind in one night. I said the cries are out there,
UDP have had 3 terms and I Yohny Rosado have been working 20 years in the
cruise industry and I cannot get a loan, I cannot sell a vehicle, I cannot
move anything, it is ridiculous but the government is fulling their mouth
saying that they are helping us. So the PUP might take over and I'm telling
this nation again, that the PUP won't be able to help this nation because
they have the same system, the only difference now they are broke, they
have our country broke, indebted, going close to 3 billion and people don't
understand what is a million much less a billion. A billion dollars, this
room is not big enough to put even 20 million dollars much less a billion
and so, I made up my mind to endorse Patrick Rodgers, I made up my mind to
give the 3rd party a good opportunity so the next time I take lick in my
country, I can't blame PUP nor UDP and I will be able to open my mouth free
and they can't oh you vote them in - our Belizean saying, you vote them in.
Even my family don't believe I'm making the right decision by supporting a
3rd party because they know they are going to lose, why? Because we know
the level of corruption the parties are playing with, money, they are
buying elections every time. I was once taught that the politicians were
corrupt not knowing that our business people are the ones who corrupt them.
I have spent my little money on Patrick and wife is out there mad because
in this time, spending 100 dollars is like spending a thousand dollars and
you don't know if you're going to make it back. I just got a letter before
I got here from Atlantic Bank that they give me 10 days to come and see
them or else I lose my building, 10 days you know in a middle of a
pandemic. They don't have no pandemic, no government protection, nothing
but I'm ready, they can do me anything but they can't get rid of me. I'll
be here. We want politics but without the dirty names, without the dirty
money, we just want to help our nation to be better and this is why I'm
here today to make sure that I'm not sorry that elections came and I didn't
do the right thing."
Channel 7
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Entire Thread
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BPP Party Will Put Up 10 Candidates, Yohny Rosado to Bankroll
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Marty
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09/18/20 10:30 AM
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