In Dangriga, we heard from incumbent Mayor, Robert Mariano who is seeking a second term in office under the People’s United Party. Mariano and his slate were officially nominated today in that municipality. We also heard from the United Democratic Party’s Mayoral Candidate, Alex Lucas who was also officially nominated today along with his slate. Here is what they told us.
Robert Mariano
Robert Mariano, P.U.P. Mayoral Candidate, Dangriga
“As you know we are coming out for nomination day and as you can see we have so much of our supporters who have turned out already to give me that support for nomination day. We will be having the Sweet Pain Band who will be backing us up all the way to Town Hall and from Town Hall we go to drums of our fathers and back to the party hall where we will be having a small social among our supporters and then we end one thirty pm.”
Alex Lucas
Alex Lucas, U.D.P. Mayoral Candidate, Dangriga
“I am offering myself because we have a lot of work to do in beautiful Dangriga. WE need proper streets, proper drainage, we need assistance for tuition for students. We need elderly care, feeding programs in our school because kids are going to school hungry. We need employment opportunities for our youths. People are graduating and don’t have a job. We need to invite entrepreneurs and business people to Dangriga so we can improve our way of life in Dangriga.”
The time is drawing nearer to the 2024 municipal elections. On March sixth, Belizeans from all over the country will gather at the polling stations in their respective city or town to cast their votes for the new council. Until then, electoral candidates set off on their campaign trail, visiting the homes of voters in their area in the hopes of securing vote in their favor. Tonight, we are heading west to the town of Benque Viejo Del Carmen where you will be introduced to the mayoral candidates of the People’s United Party and The United Democratic Party, as well as a few of their councilors. Here is tonight’s episode of Meet the Candidates.
Marco Tesucum
Marco Tesucum, U.D.P Mayoral Candidate, Benque
“My name is Marco Antonio Tesucum. Most people know me as Marky. I have lived here all my life and I have been a teacher for approximately thirty-five years and so basically I know most of these people in this town. We are looking forward to work with the institutions, the high schools especially, and try to assist them as much as we can with students. Many students go to classes without, um, breakfast perhaps, or even though they might go, but they might not have for lunch. So we are planning, for example, on a Saturday, they can work at least half day and they can earn some money for their week.”
Jorge Rosales
Jorge Rosales, P.U.P Mayoral Candidate, Benque
“So really why I got into politics. I’m the mayor of Benque Viejo at the moment, 2021 to 202. And why I got in into the mayor candidacy was because the area where I live, which is at the Carolina area up in the hills, we never had the roads fixed and I was a contractor at a time. Being a contractor I had some vehicles and the way of life that was over there. I didn’t like it. So I decided, I said one day I will be mayor and I’m trying to come and fix everything that is wrong in Benque. We will try to implement two hundred thirty works like call center and remove the where the, bus terminal is at the moment, which is not a terminal. It’s just a parking area where they’re parking and move, uh, Make a central bus terminal by the cancha where that’s where the call center will be and that will bring in the socio- economic businesses to a point that will be the center area of Benque Viejo”.
George Iglesias, U.D.P. Councilor Candidate
“I’m pushing for opportunities for the young people, for single mothers. For a better like clinic, have a 24 hours clinic so people don’t have to go to Ignacio. So that’s about it. And how is the campaign going so far? It’s going very good. I think we do have an opportunity for the 6th of March. I think we’re gonna OUT 0:33 come out victorious.”
Jenny Martinez
Jenny Martinez, P.U.P. Councilor Candidate
“I’m a medical scientist by profession and an entrepreneur in Benque and I’m looking forward to serve my community, which is a passion of mine. We are campaigning on various issues social issues, education. Health is one of my priorities. Prioritize the health sector, education, and the social well being of the community on a whole.”
Britney Gordon
“What inspired you to join the campaign this year?”
Maria Martinez
Maria Martinez, U.D.P. Councilor Candidate
“Of course my love for my beautiful town and to also to uplift it from where it is. To take it to another level because my whole life I’ve been a teacher and I’ll always look for the benefit of everybody in this country, the children, the adults and the youths in a whole. So that’s where got my inspiration and because I’ve also been in politics before. So I feel like I have that to be with the people and help people.”
Shamir Polido
Shamir Polido, P.U.P. Councilor Candidate
“We have a lot of youths in BenqueViejo and if I go in the municipality on March seventh, I want to help the youths to start their new businesses. Start giving them incentive so they can prosper. Or also, help them with trainings or other forms of materials so they can use for their businesses.”
Last weekend was bustling with activity in Benque Viejo, as both U.D.P. and P.U.P. candidates set off to continue their campaign trail and secure voters for the upcoming municipal elections. Leading the red campaign is former councilor and first-time mayoral candidate, Marco Tesucum, while the blue is led by current Mayor of Benque Viejo, Jorge Rosales. Tesucum believes that there is much social work to be done in the area with an emphasis on youth involvement, while Rosales seeks to further the development him and his team accomplished in infrastructure and industry development. Ultimately, it will be the voters who decide who is most fit to fill the positions. We visited Benque Viejo to find out what the residents of Benque Viejo are most hopeful for this election, Here’s News Five’s Britney Gordon With that report.
Britney Gordon, Reporting
Although quiet in the weeks approaching elections, Benque Viejo is still decorated with banners and flags, signaling the big event to come and the PUP and UDP parties are both hard at work on their campaign trails trying to secure the votes for the big day. The UDP candidates who were out in the afternoon comprised of Mayoral candidates, Marco Tesucum and his councilors who emphasize their desire to assist the youths in the community through sports programs, jobs, and education.
Marco Tesucum
Marco Tesucum, Mayoral Candidate, U.D.P.
“We are looking forward to work with the institutions, the high schools especially, and try to assist them as much as we can with students. Many students go to classes without, um, breakfast perhaps, or even though they might go, but they might not have for lunch. So we are planning, for example, on a Saturday, they can work at least half day and they can earn some money for OUT 2:00 their week”
The PUP candidates are comprised of current mayor, Jorge Rosales and his councilors who are seeking to further their infrastructural work and create job opportunities.
Jorge Rosales
Jorge Rosales, Mayoral Candidate, P.U.P.
“We will try to implement two hundred thirty works like call center and remove the where the, bus terminal is at the moment, which is not a terminal. It’s just a parking area where they’re parking and move, uh, Make a central bus terminal by the cancha where that’s where the call center will be and that will bring in the socio-economic businesses to a point that will be the center area of OUT 3:51 Benque Viejo”.
But what are the residents of Benque Viejo asking for come March sixth? We asked a few residents what they are hoping to see implemented in their hometown. Some residents expressed a desire to see further infrastructural development.
Britney Gordon
“What are some concerns that you have about Benque and what are you hopeful for this upcoming election?”
Elias Castellanos
Elias Castellanos, Resident, Benque
“Well, just to make them fix good then streets.”
Britney Gordon
“What’s one change that you would like to see implemented as a result of the upcoming elections?”
Raul Jimenez
Raul Jimenez, Resident, Benque
“Well, one result I would like to see is that they can kind of fix the streets because there’s where Like places, like up there, there’s like a lot of streets that have a lot of holes, so when it rains a lot, it gets really muddy, really horrible to be in there.”
Alongside the roadworks, a reoccurring issues was the need for jobs in the area.
Marion Ali
“The next municipal government, which will be elected on March sixth, what would you like for them to address?”
Errol Coleman
Errol Coleman, Resident, Benque
“As I have been seeing from them is that they have been working on it, make them keep it on working and on, and if they could develop more, what. We have not been seen here in Benque or what we usually is, we need is that create more employees for the youth that they come on for from high school or whatsoever. It’s, they prefer to go outside. It’s something that we doesn’t have as much as creating maybe one call center here. Jobs, like great jobs so that people could have their money.”
Britney Gordon
“What are you hoping come out of this election?”
Gustavo
Gustavo, resident
“We all hope that if the government changes or not we need jobs in this town.People are jobless here.”
Whether the vote will skew red or blue, only time will tell on March sixth. Britney Gordon for News Five.
As you all know, today the entire country was teeming with activity as the candidates for the upcoming municipal elections were officially nominated. That, off course, includes Corozal which saw its P.U.P. nominees parade through the streets in the morning, followed by an Independent candidate, and the U.D.P. candidates later that day. Then, after the respective festivities of the parade, candidates entered into the Corozal Magistrate Court to be nominated. We attended the event today in Corozal to see it unfold.
Britney Gordon
“So you’ve officially been nominated, can you tell me what this means for you and your candidacy?”
Rigo Vellos
Rigo Vellos, P.U.P. Mayoral Candidate, Corozal
“It’s always a privilege to be able to give and be given the opportunity to serve our people of Corozal. So we are all excited and we’re happy. We’re happy that this process has happened. We can leave it behind and we can focus now on what we need to focus. Which is to make sure that we win on March sixth.”
Britney Gordon
“And what will you be doing moving forward to ensure that?”
Rigo Vellos
“The work continues. As a council, because we are elected, the work continues. But of course, on the campaign trail, we’ll still be visiting our people asking and pledging for that support on March sixth.”
“I’m very privileged and honored. I’m feeling energized. I thank all the supporters who came out this morning. It is showing that the PUP is still strong here in Corozal. We are ready to continue the work with Mayor Rigo Vellos and my team PUP7.”
Britney Gordon
“So it’s much harder to promote yourself as an independent candidate. So what are you doing to let people be aware that you’re running?”
“I have been, like I told you, I’ve been working with the for years. I even have, things that I did in the past about Christmas parade, giving our gifts, back to school, the kids giving away, some food to some people, some all over the area that they incur that, I mostly deal with the, mostly the needy person though, the ones that need the help in Corozal.”
Ricardo Ake
Ricardo Ake, U.D.P. Mayoral Candidate, Corozal
“Nomination Day, the day that everyone is looking forward to put their name on that ballot. But nevertheless, a little bit nervous but at the same time very enthusiastic, energized. Words cannot express what the people are bringing to me here. Even if they are not here, even if work has them, or showing their support in being here.”
Benjamin Maestro
Benjamin Maestro, U.D.P. Councilor Candidate, Corozal
“I feel very enthusiastic. I feel that we have the support of our people. Our people know what’s coming, and it’s a good message for all of us the candidates in the street for the UDP.”
Glenfield Dennison, the vice chair of the People’s Constitution Committee, has been elected to replace Senator Elena Smith in the upper house. On Saturday, the membership of the National Trade Union Congress met in Belmopan where two candidates, including longtime unionist Marvin Mora and Glenfield Dennison, faced each other for the soon-to-be vacant seat. It was a close race but in the end Dennison emerged victorious over his opponent by a single vote. On Friday, we announced that Elena Smith has submitted a letter of resignation from parliament, to come into effect on April first.
On Saturday, the People’s United Party mobilized hundreds of supports from across the country and bused them into Belize City for a massive rally at the Memorial Park. It was a national event held by the ruling party to introduce all mayoral and councilor candidates ahead of the March sixth municipal elections. There were speeches, music and dance, as well as libations and the P.U.P. was in its glory. Addressing the crowd was Deputy Party Leader Cordel who acknowledged the importance of the people that his party serves.
Cordel Hyde
Cordel Hyde, Deputy Party Leader, P.U.P.
“Ah wahn tell mi ministers, ah wahn tell di mayors, ah wahn tell di would-be mayors and would-be councilors that we are nothing without the people. Dis da wahn serious elections, yoh know, cause dis elections da bout di future. Dis election da bout weh we want fu wih pikni, dis da weh we wahn fu wih families and communities. Dis da noh know play-play elections, dis da serious business. Dis da if we wahn turn back or we wahn stay pan trac. Dis da if yoh wahn more free education or yoh wahn more cement house and if yoh wahn more free education then yoh haffi stay pan track. If yoh wahn more NHI, yoh haffi stay pan track. If yoh wahn more cement house, yoh haffi stay pan track. If yoh wahn more land… There can be no turning back. We have to stay pan track wid di social justice ideals ah George Price because when we da George Price PUP nothing can go wrong. When we put di people first, nothing can go wrong. When we tek care ah di people weh need our help di most, nothing can go wrong. So we haffi stay pan track.”
Prime Minister John Briceño also took the stage a short while after and wasted no time in going after his political opponents. The considerable show of support is the People’s United Party in its prime and listening to the party leader from the podium, the P.U.P. is poised for another victory.
John Briceño, Party Leader, P.U.P.
“The UDP done di talk dat deh wahn get rid ah Shyne because dehn know dat Shyne cyant win no election fi di UDP. But I wahn mek di UDP know, mek ih be John Saldivar, mek ih be Patrick Faber, mek ih be Dean Barrow, mek ih be any UDP, that on March sixth, it doesn’t matter who leads the UDP because Belize will once again vote for the People’s United Party. We are going to go blue, blue, blue down the line. And ah sih Micho and Cayo North out here. I was with them last week and I have good news for you because Trapp di try trick di people da San Ignacio and Santa Elena. He once seh that he only wahn be mayor fi six years, but Trapp has been in the UDP town council for twenty-one years and everywhere we go now, their saying, we tyad a Trapp. We wahn beat Trapp fi di People’s United Party. Ladies and Gentlemen, I am so proud to be leading this party because right now we are going to have nine exceptional candidates for mayor and in Belize City, guess what? Mayor Wagner is going to win once again for the People’s United Party.”
The opposition is chiding the Briceño administration after Cabinet denied a request from the Senate Special Select Committee. In its request, the committee sought documents pertaining to the Portico Definitive Agreement that were tabled in Cabinet. News Five is in possession of a copy of one response from Cabinet Secretary Stuart Leslie to the Senate Committee. It says “I have been obliged to seek legal advice on the matter. That advice was sought from the Attorney General’s Ministry. Based on the legal advice received, I regret that I am unable to accede to the request”. As a rule, every member of Cabinet takes an oath to keep Cabinet deliberations confidential. Furthermore, section twenty-three of the Freedom of Information Act prohibits the release of Cabinet documents to the public. Notwithstanding these conditions, a copy of the Portico Definitive Agreement was leaked to the public back in May 2023.But a body like the Senate Special Select Committee that is undertaking such a serious task may not be able to rely on a leaked document for official deliberation. Today, Michael Peyrefitte, the Chairman of the United Democratic Party weighed in on Cabinet’s refusal to release those files.
Michael Peyrefitte
Michael Peyrefitte, Chairman, U.D.P.
“The committee asked him for the documents that they considered, they looked at, to help the committee do its work and they have just flat-out said no. And, I don’t know what the committee will do from here. Technically it is like this, you have a committee formed to produce and agreement and the government doesn’t even want to produce the agreement. So, how, what does that tell you and the terms of reference were clear, the terms of reference were clear, we want to know what were the circumstances that lead to the signing of that agreement and we want to know what was the circumstances that led to the Prime Minister tabling that set of papers in Cabinet, asking Cabinet to approve a document with accompanying legislation, even after one of the best lawyers in the world told him that that agreement was essentially trash.”
Paul Lopez
“Is it your view then that a request from the senate committee trumps the constitutional convention which indicates that Cabinet papers are considered confidential?”
Michael Peyrefitte
“Show me in the constitution where documents in Cabinet can never be released to the public, show me that.”
Paul Lopez
“Section 23 of the Freedom of Information Act states that Cabinets documents are exempted from disclosure.”
Michael Peyrefitte
“When we were debating the bill, none of the six PUP senators, not even the leader of government business who many like to think is the greatest lawyer since Terry Mason, not even he objected to this because Cabinet papers are confidential and cannot be released to the public based on this particular law. Nobody said that until now, where you get that from? The committee in its request did not ask for a tape recording of the Cabinet. It said, listen the documents that were sent to Cabinet, what are those?”
But, is the Chairman of the United Democratic Party being sanctimonious in his criticisms against the Briceño Administration? On Wednesday when the former Lands Commissioner, Wilbert Vallejos, was called before the Senate Special Select Committee, he was reluctant to answer any of the questions posed to him. Vallejos served under the U.D.P. administration as lands commissioner for eleven years. He appeared before the committee with Senior Counsel Dean Barrow, former Prime Minister and U.D.P. Leader. Hugo Patt, the Deputy Leader of the U.D.P. and former Minister of Natural Resources, has also indicated to the Senate Committee that he does not intend to answer any questions his legal counsel deems irrelevant to the investigation.
Michael Peyrefitte, Chairman, U.D.P.
“There is a reason why you have terms of reference and you must stick within the terms of reference and the committee yesterday, in my view, was trying to go outside its terms of reference. And, this is the thing. If you don’t like the terms of reference then change it. We were in a Senate meeting last week. Mr. Barrow was right in telling Mr. Cal that it is a shame you nuh adjust your terms of reference to indicate where you want to go with your investigation.”
Reporter
“You can’t have it both ways. You cannot be criticizing the PUP for a lack of transparency when all the UDP personalities involved in the land transaction or adjacent to the land transaction have been willfully obfuscatory. Now, the former prime minister has appeared to block any ventilation of this Portico adjacent issue.”
Michael Peyrefitte
“That nuh mek no sense. You have the terms of reference. If it is so important to the Portico investigation, if it is so critical, so central, such a thing that it cannot exist without it, well put it in your terms of reference. If it is not in the terms of reference of an investigation you cannot go into it. That is a simple thing. And I don’t care what anybody says, it is not having it both ways, it is one way. We have terms of reference. When they called me to testify I went. They could call me back if they want. But what I am saying you cannot go outside the terms of reference and if you want that to be in the inquiry then put that in the terms of reference.”
Outside the considerations of the Senate Special Select Committee, Peyrefitte was asked if he believes that the seventeen questionable government land transactions that occurred only weeks before the 2020 general elections warrant an investigation. As we reported, some eight hundred and fifty acres of public land were sold and seventeen titles were issued for them, all on November fourth 2020. These parcels are located in close proximity to the proposed site for the Portico cruise ship project. Here is how Peyrefitte responded.
Michael Peyrefitte, Chairman, U.D.P.
“If you are a private individual, and attorney representing your client or whatever and you are engaged in transactions that has to be approved by the government, say for example, I buy a piece of land from you and I have to take that to the Natural Resources Ministry to get the transaction approved in terms of stamp duty or whatever. Or if I am buying land from the government and the government has to approve the sale of it, it was enunciated very well in a court appeals case recently, the responsibility lies on the government or the public official. You and I can do whatever we want to do, the government still has to approve it. So, you and I can get into a million ideas of what we want to do with government land or the transfer of land. All of that has to be stamped and approved by the government. So, if two private individuals gets into land transactions and it is approved by the government, then how can you blame those private individuals. In a case like that you will have to question the minister and those who approve it, yes. But that is not for this terms of reference with Portico, that is a separate thing all together. Whatever questions they want to ask Mr. Vallejos or the honorable Hugo Patt, just check the records. Go to the ministry of Natural Resources and ask them to produce the records of all transactions and the committee can have it.”
