Mayor Wagner Backs His Deputy as City Hall Transition Looms 

With his time at City Hall winding down, Belize City Mayor Bernard Wagner is beginning to signal what the future of city leadership could look like. While the final decision rests with the PUP executive and, ultimately, voters, Wagner is making it clear who he believes is best prepared to take the helm, his deputy, Eluide Miller. When News Five asked the mayor who he sees as ready to step into the role, Wagner pointed to Miller’s steady rise through the ranks at the Belize City Council. He described him as someone who understands the inner workings of City Hall, has earned his stripes, and is positioned to offer continuity at a time of transition.

 

Bernard Wagner, Mayor, Belize City

“We have different induvial who certainly have the competency and capacity to fulfil the role of the mayor. So we are anticipating it and look forward to continue the great work. We have done nothing but tremendous work in the past  nine years. we have created over three hundred streets, concrete, chip and seal and hot mix. We have been big on social infrastructure. We have been able to build capacity at the council. Not one day have we been unable to pay our workers. We have had a good relationship with the union. So we feel that all of these great work you have seen in the city should continue going into the future.”

 

Paul Lopez

“Which one of your councilors or who among you do you favor for this role?”

 

Bernard Wagner

“That is a though question, but I certainly look at Mr. Miller, Mr. Eluide Miller, he has been beside me for quite some time. And he has worked his way up form being an intern, to a staff working in the finance department, to a councilor and deputy mayor. So there have been gradual succession coming up. But again it is up to the party. I don’t know where that will end.”

 

Mayor Wagner will demit office in February 2027 and says he intends to serve out the entirety of his term.

 

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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