Are the PUP Bosses Asking Miller to Step Aside for Pollard?

After weeks of public statements supporting a convention for the People’s United Party’s Belize City mayoral nomination, sources tell News 5 that efforts are now underway behind the scenes to persuade Deputy Mayor Eluide Miller to step aside and clear the way for Allan Pollard Jr.

Miller, however, has no intention of stepping aside and remains committed to taking his candidacy to a convention.

Information reaching News 5 indicates that Pollard’s camp has been lobbying senior party figures, and reportedly the Prime Minister himself, to get Miller to reconsider his bid. The request is said to have been relayed to the Prime Minister by Deputy Prime Minister Cordel Hyde.

Sources stress, however, that Miller has not been instructed to step down, only asked to consider it.

Fuelling the discussion is a Facebook post by Belize City Councillor Kaya Cattouse, who publicly declared her support for Miller and criticised what she described as attempts to change course after initially encouraging an open contest.

“A week ago, we were told that everyone had the right to run and that democracy should take its course. Today, because the numbers are not lining up the same way, there are now attempts to force a different outcome,” Cattouse wrote.

She went on to call for a convention, stating that delegates should be allowed to decide who will lead the party into the next municipal election.

Neither Miller nor Pollard had publicly commented on the latest developments.