Interview with the Candidates
Q.: Why did you choose your particular political party?
A.: To me the philosophy of the PUP has a better outlook for the people.
That is my purpose for being a candidate; to do my best for the people of
San Pedro.
Q.: Have you held political office before? If so, what office?
A.: Yes. I served on the Town Board for 3 years beginning in 1989. After
that I was very busy with my work and didn't have the time to participate in
politics.
Q.: Have you ever been a political appointee?
A.: Yes. Mostly with the Sports Committee. I had charge of the Youth's Group
and was on the National Sports Committee for participation in the September
10th and September 21st celebrations.
Q.: What community activities have you participated in?
A.: I am a member of the High School Advisory Committee and have
participated in Work-a-thons like the one for the 5-a-side court. I am also
President of the Semi-Pro Football League.
Q.: Why do you think you would make a good representative of the people?
A.: The town is behind in a lot of work and that is why I am running for
office again. They are especially behind in work involving young people.
I've done a lot of work with youth groups before and right now what we are
seeing is a government doing things only because they have to. They are not
really putting anything into it. Just doing things is not enough; they
should be done with the proper attitude and commitment.
Q.: What do you feel is the most important part of your party's political
platform and why?
A.: The P.U.P. has a much better view of what the country needs than the
U.D.P. has. One of the reasons our party can represent the people better is
because we don't promise things that we don't have. The U.D.P makes promises
and can't deliver on those promises. When you do this, the people suffer.
Everyone always wants to look good to other people, but we must realize that
we are a poor country and when government plays with the budget the whole
country suffers. At election time the politicians will promise everything
but we must base our promises on what we actually have available. The
present government is trying to fulfill their promises but they don't have
the resources to do it. The town board has a loan right now and they have to
make a payment each month, so when they increase their debt to fulfill a
promise where are they going to get the money? They can only implement more
taxes.
Q.: What new projects would you like to see undertaken should you get elected?
A.: Some of the new projects I would like to see are in the areas that are
being developed right now. Areas like the one behind the airstrip and even
near Boca del Rio need better streets, water and sewerage. It is taking
forever to get these things done. I would like to see our football field be
the best in Belize. I have done a lot of work when I was not on the town
board and I believe I could accomplish even more if I was elected. I have
talked to the other 6 candidates from our party and one of the first
projects will be a building with 10 classrooms for the primary school. When
you have a problem, like we do with overcrowding in our schools, the problem
must be faced and something must be done. We must have an answer. You can't
run away from it. On a project like this, the town board would back the
project by buying the material, but we would supply the labor through
Work-a-thons. I think we should use volunteer labor whenever we can.
Q.:In the event that the town board is a split election with part of each
party getting elected, do you anticipate problems? If so, how would you go
about solving them?
A.: It doesn't really matter to me personally if we have a split Town Board
but we have to look at it practically. We have a lot of work to do and if we
have a board that is split four to three for the P.U.P., four are going to
work hard and three are probably not going to be putting a lot of effort
into it. Right now the town has a split town board with a U.D.P. majority.
They want everyone to work but they don't want to consider the opinions of
the opposition members. The board works much better when it is not split.
Q.: Do you have any other comments?
A.: I think it is important for the public to be informed about the town
board through public meetings. Since the U.D.P. has had a majority there has
been only one of the quarterly meetings held in three years. The people of
San Pedro have no way of knowing what is going on with the budget without
these quarterly meetings that are open to the public.
Right before the last election the U.D.P. ran a column in the San Pedro
Sun called "We The People." I know because I was featured in it almost every
week. Why aren't they speaking about these issues now? Why are they never
mentioned? Once they even came to me about how bad it was to have alcohol on
the school grounds at the 5-a-side court. If it was bad then, why haven't
they closed it now?
While I am at it, I would like to mention our PUP government. We were
trying to pass a 5% tax from the tour guides. People were consulted and they
disagreed with the 5% tax. Everyone was having money problems then, so the
proposed tax was canceled. The U.D.P. doesn't do it like that. They just
shove it down your throat like a capsule. Right now they are trying to
implement a 7% tax on condominiums. When they do that, the investors
immediately back off. The contractors don't have the work anymore, their
employees don't have jobs and there is no money to spend to keep the economy
going. In addition, the 15% VAT has stopped the growth of our economy.
No matter what the Central Government says, the Town Board goes along
with it. No one fights them even when it is something that is absolutely
wrong for the people of San Pedro. The water rate business is a good
example. The Town Board has an obligation to at least try to work out
something. Things don't have to be that expensive.
Our candidates will administer our town's affairs together with our PUP
mayor (of which we have seven options for this position). We are competent
candidates and will take "Isla Bonita" into the 21st century. Our board will
not be a one-man show like the present one is.
Q.: Why did you choose your particular political party?
A.: I first believe in God and then I believe in political parties. I chose
the U.D.P. party because of its basic principle of helping everybody and as
everybody can see, we have clearly shown this principle here in San Pedro.
Q.: Have you held political office before?
A.: No.
Q.: Have you ever been a political appointee?
A.: I served the U.D.P. party as Vice Chairman of the Executive Committee
for six years. For the last three years I have been Chairman of the
Executive Committee.
Q.: Do you participate in community activities?
A.: Yes. First of all, I am the Vice Chairman of the Ambergris Caye Planning
Committee. I am also an advisor to the Town Board. The advisor's role is to
advise the Board on new projects; for example, the new parks and other
beneficial projects.
Q.: Why do you think you would make a good representative of the people?
A.: I think I make a good representative of the people because I have shown
it. I always emphasize priorities that are good for all the people of my
town, like achieving the Health Center.
Q.: What do you feel is the most important part of your party's political
platform and why?
A.: The most important part of my party's political platform is unity and
solidarity. My efforts and encouragement go to the town for achieving this
as it is very fruitful. We must continue to join hands and forces with the
U.D.P. to make San Pedro continue growing into a prosperous town.
Q.: What new projects would you like to see undertaken should you get elected?
A.: The most important project that I would like to see undertaken if I
should be elected is something that not only am I trying to get resolved,
but the entire community is looking forward to. I am speaking of the
diversification of youth activities. Instead of building a new liquor bar I
would like to build a recreational center so the youths can learn a trade,
perhaps drafting, electricity, sewing, cooking and so forth. We also need to
do something for the elderly and the poor of San Pedro.
Q.: In the event that the town board is a split election with part of each
party getting elected, do you anticipate problems? If so, how would you go
about solving them?
A.: If you love your town, it doesn't matter if the Town Board is on a split
party basis. The important factor is that you want to do something good for
the community and not for party affiliation.
Q.: Do you have any additional comments?
A.: The last and most important thing I would like to ask everybody in
Belize and especially here in my home town of San Pedro, is that to please
put God in front of everything and forget about political problems. It
doesn't matter for which party you want to vote, just remember that no
political party is going to make you win your way to heaven. During election
time avoid discrimination and selfishness. Vote for a party that shows total
respect for you and all. May God guide you and bless you.
