For weeks we've been telling you about the struggles of distance learning, a critical one being a lack of access to all too necessary electronic tablets. It's an issue that BPP candidate for Fort George Will Maheia isn't taking lightly. We met up with him at Belize's City's memorial park where he told Cherisse Halsall about his commitment to education and what he feels are his chances for victory in Fort George.
BPP Candidate for Fort George, Will Maheia held a low-key handing over ceremony at Belize City's memorial Park today.
Will Maheia - Candidate, Fort George "Today our purpose here is to show that we as a party, we are serious about education and we want to make sure that every kid in high school and university have access to the internet and have their own computer or tablet so that they can do their online classes, no kid should be left behind. Today I want to make a pledge out here that when elected in Fort George, my first 5 or 6 salaries will go directly to buying tablets for the youth, I will not take a penny of my salary for myself, it will go towards the youth who need tablets."
A small gesture much appreciated by the 10 recipients and their parents.
Reginald Lopez - Recipient of a tablet "Well I would like to thank Mr. Will for giving me a chance, giving whole Fort George a chance to help us with our education because a lot of kids don't have tablets or internet at home to help with their online classes especially with the COVID-19. So, it would be a good help especially so we can get in contact with our home room teachers, so they could help us and the tablets are a good resource for us to start that."
But while Maheia's gifts were warmly received we wondered what it means for his fish out of water candidacy.
Cherisse Halsall "But Sir, you have to acknowledge that your candidacy in this division is strange and in this division the Musa name and his son Henry Charles Usher, is an institution. How do you have any hopes of winning here and how do you think that one tablet is going to even increase your chances by any percent?"
Will Maheia "Ok, I don't want to use the tablet to increase my chance, I want to use the tablet to increase the youth chance, I want the youth to grow up. Look right behind me you have millions of dollars in investment, the Belize Audubon Society, I want these kids to have an open-door policy to go there. You have BTIA, you have the Taiwanese Embassy that has pump hundreds of millions of dollars into Belize and where is that in Fort George? So as much as the Musa and Usher the PUDP have had a strong hold in this division for many years, I want to say that they have failed the people of Fort George for the past 40 years. So like David coming after Goliath, that's what happening now."
And while Maheia waits to be anointed with the sacred oil of Fort George there are a few people in the constituency that have his back
Micheal Usher AKA "Jigga" - Resident of Pinks Alley "I know Mr. Will Maheia from before time you know and apart from being a part of BPP, I know he stand up to the whole of Sarstoon and the whole country, hence my reason why I support Mr. Will Maheia. The current government, UDP don't seem to care, Mr. Elrington say we have an artificial border, I don't know where he got that bright idea from. Mr. Maheia come with a level of opportunity, he come with a change, he come with versatility in regard to just give away some tablets, that's for the kids right. So that is just an avenue in regards to change in general because if you no give the man a run, you can't judge the man either, if you don't give BPP a run neither, just vote red and blue, everybody have their own choice, that is just the natural order of how it use to be but that's my personal opinion."
For now, Maheia is hopeful. Today he told us that he got his start in Fort George and plans to make his mark there.
Cherisse Halsall "But Sir, I'll frame it in a different way because the nature of politics is what it is now you may have all these great plans for these children, their education but do you think you stand a real chance in this division?"
Will Maheia "I think that I stand a real chance in this division. Remember when Derrick Aikman, a man that I have taken to the Sarstoon with me and I have discuss running in this division a long time ago because I've told you before, I've worked here over 20 years ago and me and Derrick Aikman had this conversation and Derrick tell be boy Will, you know what, your dream of running in Fort George is not farfetched, he said that he told me the story of when he ran against George Price, who have never lost before. Derrick came in there and really took down George Price right, George Price which to me, is one of the greatest Belizeans and Derrick took him down. So, there is no reason why I, Will Maheia can't take down the Musa or the Usher or whoever live in Fort George."
And while 10 Tablets were distributed today. Maheia says that, if elected, he plans to use his own salary to get a tablet into the hands of every child in Fort George.
