Miller: “No Instruction to Stand Down” and “Won’t Entertain Any Offer”

Behind the rumors, closed-door meetings, and growing political chatter, Deputy Mayor Eluide Miller says he has no intention of stepping aside. After speculation surfaced that Prime Minister John Briceño had asked him to withdraw his candidacy for mayor on the P.U.P.’s Belize City slate, Miller moved quickly this morning to set the record straight. In a press release, he denied the claims and sought to reassure supporters that no such request had been made. This afternoon, News Five sat down with Miller to discuss his recent meeting with the Prime Minister, the rumors swirling around his campaign, and whether anyone within the party has asked him to reconsider his bid. Here’s that conversation.

 

Eluide Miller, Deputy Mayor, Belize City

“The narrative that I have somehow been defiant of an instruction or of a request made by our Prime Minister and party leader, Honorable John Briceño. And so I wanted to make it clear that no such instruction or request was made by our party leader, and to reassure the delegates that it is my full intention to participate in the upcoming mayoral convention.”

 

Shane Williams

“Now, we understand that there was a meeting, though, with the Prime Minister. What was the nature of that meeting?”

 

Eluide Miller

“Yeah, I had a very, I would call it a very good meeting with our Prime Minister. It’s always, of course, a privilege to sit and speak with him. We had a conversation surrounding the upcoming municipal elections across the country, but specifically Belize City and all the dynamics surrounding the upcoming municipal elections. And as a part of that discussion, of course I stated to him that it is my full intention to participate in the convention. I spoke to him about why it is that I am participating in the convention and why I feel prepared to. And in the end, he said that he respects my decision to participate.”

 

Shane Williams

“What’s your response to some of your party colleagues who believe that you should wait your turn, so quote, unquote, and they say that’s what Alan Pollard did?”

 

Eluide Miller

“Yeah I can’t speak to the specifics of his case back in maybe late twenty twenty-three, twenty twenty-four. It is my understanding that the national executive of the party at that time did not see it fit for a two-time sitting mayor to be contested at a– in a convention. But this time around, in my view, you have a completely different situation. There’s an open seat and you have two young vibrant candidates who are seeking the same position, right? Both sides have communicated interest in participating in a convention. He has said that he is ready and willing to do I have said that I am not expecting for anything to be handed to me, but I am willing to participate in a clearly defined process.”

 

 Shane Williams

“Has any offer been made, any at all from any higher-ups for you to step down?”

 

Eluide Miller

“Absolutely no offer has been made to me. And I can publicly say that I would not be welcoming of any offer.”

 

Miller will face three term councilor Allan Pollard in a delegates convention. Our efforts to reach Pollard for comment have gone unanswered.

 

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.

 

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