UDP Brings Flow and Finesse To Virtual Campaign Launch
Each candidate that is nominated must pay a deposit of two hundred dollars and be nominated by 6 persons. Only candidates who get 10% of the vote or more can get a refund of their deposit.
Many third party and independent candidates will not meet that threshold - but for the UDP and PUP, that 10% vote share is virtually automatic.
The UDP hopes that it can get 50% or more in 16 seats or more - and, moving towards that, last night the party launched its general election campaign in a slickly produced three hour virtual rally - where Dean Barrow handed over the leadership to Patrick Faber.
Jules Vasquez has the recap:
In 2015, this was how the UDP launched its campaign for the Belize District - with a huge rally in front of its headquarters. There were the usual speeches and wild boasts, uproarious ovation from the crowd and all the political bells and whistles. It's standard political fare, but…fast forward to 2020, and this is how they did it….all virtual. COVID forced the UDP to re-think the word rally, and reduce it to a virtual event, while adding flow, flash and finesse, a sort of addition by subtraction.
But, lest the seriousness of this historical moment be lost in the virtual victory lap, the outgoing party leader opened up by setting the tone:
Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow, Former UDP Party Leader
'I wonder if I could just take a moment to offer condolences to all that have died in consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic that we are still struggling to overcome."
And from the sombre to the bittersweet, Barrow made a quick and agreeable exit after 20 years as leader:
Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow, Former UDP Party Leader
"With highest confidence, with surest conviction I now seed the mantle of the United Democratic Party leadership to the Hon. Patrick Faber, the lion of Collet, the greatest minister of education this country has ever seen and the new political champion of all the people of Belize."
And with an elbow bump rather than a handshake to mark the handover - Faber was no longer leader elect, finally leader of the party he has dreamed of leading since childhood.
He took a seat with leader and deputy carefully calibrated racially - a creole and a mestizo and took in the show
A UDP victory lap - or their greatest hits cataloguing their works all over the country with in house entertainment, flag waving and Party leaders Faber ended on an up-note.
Patrick Faber, UDP Party Leader
"I humbly accept the honor of serving you our loyal members and our great nation as we roll on to victory on November 11th."
Whether he will rule for an era or just a season will be a history that is only beginning to unfold.
Channel 7