All Eyes on PUP Convention as Allan Pollard Joins Mayoral Race

A quiet ambition is now turning into a full-fledged political push for Belize City’s top job. Councilor Allan Pollard has officially stepped forward, filing his application for the mayoral race with a growing base of supporters backing his move. Arriving with energy and visible momentum, Pollard is no longer on the sidelines, he’s actively making his case to lead the city. His entry now sets up a much-anticipated showdown at the PUP convention, where he’ll go head-to-head with fellow councilor Eluide Miller. News Five’s Paul Lopez takes a closer look at how this race is shaping up.

 

Paul Lopez, Reporting

After being told to wait his turn in 2023, Allan Pollard is no longer on pause. The Belize City councilor is now pushing ahead at full speed, making a decisive move toward his goal of becoming mayor. With renewed momentum and a clear sense of timing, Pollard is shifting from patience to action, signaling that this time, he’s ready to compete for the city’s top job.

 

Allan Pollard Jr., Councilor, Belize City

“I am formally submitting my application to become the next mayor of Belize City to support and represent the beautiful people of Belize City and the party. So, that is here in my hand and I am going to do that now.”

 

Reporter

“You have a big support out here, did you ask for this?”

 

Allan Pollard

“No, well I asked family and friends to come, but you cant tell people to come but you cant tell people you can’t come. So they came out and support and this is all love, convention day you will see the support.”

 

On convention day Pollard will face off against fellow councilor Eluide Miller. The deadline for application is Friday, but when Miller submitted his application last week, he did not have this kind of public support. Instead, he had seven of his fellow councilors standing by his side. And today, his father, Allan ‘Duck’ Pollard, didn’t hold back, delivering pointed remarks aimed at those councilors.

 

Allan “Duck” Pollard Sr., Father

“My son is too straight for those bunch of snakes. All of them is a snake, because my son put out his head for one of the councilors and the minute he get elected he turned on him. So he is a snake and the rest of them is a snake, plain and straight.”

 

“Duck” Pollard also spoke highly about his son’s integrity and leadership abilities.

 

“Miller, Miller you father-in-law wah endorse you? Dah the people, this dah the people you know, dah the people.”

 

Supporters in the crowd chanted that they do not want what they described as ‘a Wagner enterprise.’ Pollard himself gave a humbler response to the question.

 

Paul Lopez

“Do you frown on the familial ties between the Mayor and Mr. Miller and his endorsement of Mr. Miller.”

 

 

Allan Pollard

“No man if we were suppose to frown on that we should have from the time he ran as a councilor and I don’t see any conflict there. I don’t see any now. The people have opposing views but that is their views and right. For me, I respect anybody that wants to run and I respect anybody who the mayor wants to support. The mayor cannot deny my capabilities or myself as a candidate.”

 

And there is no denying his past success at the polls. After outpacing his fellow councilors, and even Mayor Wagner, in both the 2021 and 2024 municipal elections, Allan Pollard is now setting his sights on the top job. This time, he’s aiming higher, making his bid for mayor clear. Pollard says he’s ready to put in the work, planning to spend the next nine months on the ground, connecting with residents and shaping a manifesto he believes can win over the city. Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

Watch the full newscast here: