Belmopan’s UDP Mayoral Hopeful Confronts Political Baggage

For Richie Galvez, the upcoming municipal election is about more than winning City Hall, it’s about convincing Belmopan voters that the past does not define the future. The former UDP deputy mayor is now seeking the highest office in local government, campaigning under the banner of “A New Era” and promising a fresh direction for the capital. As he ramps up community projects and voter outreach, Galvez is also confronting lingering questions about the controversial UDP administration he once served under, an era marked by reports of financial setbacks and governance concerns. Can he persuade residents to turn the page and trust him with the city’s leadership, or will the shadow of the past prove too difficult to overcome? Tonight, we look at Galvez’s bid for mayor and the challenge of selling voters on change while carrying the baggage of history.

 

Isidoro “Richie” Galvez, UDP Mayoral Candidate, Belmopan

“I am more, Belmopan first, people first, community first, rather than putting any political party first. That is my belief and I am sticking to that. The new era movement that we are pushing in Belmopan, the momentum is crazy. You have a lot of young people who had no interest in politics who wake up and are going to the elections and boundaries office getting ready. 2018 when I entered politics, I was a rookie councilor. I learnt a lot. Entering Belmopan City Council, you feel like you could get so much done, access to certain resources and it is not like that. Any of the councilors there presently or been there once can attest that you don’t have much say as the council. Even when I served as deputy mayor I had two weeks of normalcy. Two weeks after we went into COVID and the pandemic. I didn’t do much during that period. I hear the cries; I hear what the opponents are trying to sell that I am part of the Belmopan City Council back then and as a rookie councilor I can say a lot of what I wanted to do I never got done.”

 

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: