It was beverage industry magnate Barry Bowen versus the PUP in San Pedro this weekend. On Saturday night Bowen and the UDP town council teamed to open up San Pedro's first ever bridge, spanning the Boca del Rio split. We say "teamed up" because the event was clearly timed to give the UDP town council slate a pre election boost and in fact the bridge opening segued directly into a political rally at the same location. But not ever to be outdone, the PUP had its own major rally on the island.
Tonight we examine, the simultaneous staging of the two events and the broader implications of Bowen, former PUP financier and senator, publicly throwing his support and that of his corporate apparatus behind the UDP's San Pedro team. Jules Vasquez was on the island.
Jules Vasquez Reporting,
It had all the trappings of a UDP rally but for once the red and white of the Coca Cola logo seemed to fit in with the theme of the event. And in the event sponsored by Bowen beer was stacked in cases and at one dollar per, it was flowing freely. And in a town where it's hard to find a local brew for less than $5, you can see how 210 cases were consumed by the end of the evening.
And while Barry Bowen waited for the event to start by sitting on the fence, by the end of the night, it would be clear that he wasn't sitting on the fence. He greeted UDP party leader Dean Barrow like an old chum and in his speech, he made known his support:
Barry Bowen, Businessman
"I will do everything in my power to support Manuel Heredia and that is why I will support Elsa."
A quite remarkable endorsement by San Pedro's wealthiest resident, and a former PUP senator, just 72 hours before an election. And speaking with us later, Bowen justified his affection for Jr. Heredia and Elsa Paz:
Jules Vasquez,
On the microphone you said you support Manuel Heredia, you support Elsa Paz. Mr. Bowen if I didn't know better, I'd say you are a UDP.
Barry Bowen,
"You know I was a PUP senator, appointed by the PUP government, the Prime Minister is a very good close personal friend of mine. I really can't say that I am a UDP or PUP because I am not a card carrying member of either party."
No card, but it's certainly a mutual admiration society with bouquets being tossed on all sides:
Hon. Manuel Heredia Jr., UDP Belize Rural South
"I am very thankful and I will always remember my good friend Barry because he loves this UDP administration, he loves San Pedro."
Elsa Paz, San Pedro Mayor
"I would like to acknowledge the kindness of a great man who came to our aid to make this dream a reality. I am speaking of Mr. Barry Bowen."
Hon. Dean Barrow, UDP Leader
"I think this evening's inauguration is in testament to the vision of Jr. Heredia, to the commitment and hard work of Elsa Paz and our councilors, and to the public spiritedness and the philanthropy of Mr. Barry Bowen."
And while Bowen got much love from the UDP for financing the bridge, he made it clear that he's not ready to get back into politics, just yet.
Jules Vasquez,
Have you given the PUP campaign funding in the past, as any wealthy or successful business owner is free to do, provide campaign financing, have you given them in the past and is that a practice you would continue?
Barry Bowen,
"I have supported the PUP party in the past, very obviously, because the Prime Minister is a very good personal friend of mine, I like him, and I support him a great deal. I have not supported the UDP a great much because Mr. Esquivel and I do not get along. Today I support neither party financially for the simple reason that I feel that what little money I am making today, the PUP is trying to take away and I don't know much about the UDP."
And while Bowen may not be sold on the UDP outside of Jr. Heredia and Elsa Paz, the fact that he has publicly stated that he is not supporting the PUP is victory enough for Barrow.
Jules Vasquez,
Is this an indication, are you all trying to court him, to bring him over as a possible financier for the UDP?
Hon. Dean Barrow,
"No, no. I think that for us though it is interesting to hear if he said that, that Mr. Bowen is not any longer going to finance the PUP. That in itself is a plus for us because it means less money for the PUP. So I think we would be content with that. If Mr. Bowen chooses to help us, we would welcome that."
One man with a unique perspective on it is Prime Minister Said Musa. He was on San Pedro for his party's pre-election public rally. But at the PUP event,
there wasn't even a Belikin tent, and the beers were selling for $2, twice what the UDP event had it for. As to what Bowen had to say, the PM was circumspect.
Jules Vasquez,
What do you make of the timing of it and Mr. Bowen, he said in his speech out here that he supports Elsa and Paz and he supports Junior Heredia. He said that on the rostrum in his speech.
Rt. Hon. Said Musa, PUP Leader
"Well that's the democracy that we enjoy in Belize. Mr. Bowen, just any other citizen, has that luxury to state exactly who he supports. I find that a little ironic that these are the very same people who were calling for his head last year, calling for government to raise taxes on him but that's how it is; cest-la-vie."
Jules Vasquez,
He said he doesn't support either the UDP or the PUP but he was there at what turned into a rally. Do you regret that the policies of your government, the taxation policies, have alienated Mr. Bowen, do you regret you've lost the support of somebody whose given you a lot of campaign financing and in many immaterial ways?
Rt. Hon. Said Musa,
"I believe that we did what we had to do, the UDP government of course had the tax at a much higher level. We did not raise it at that high level because I did not think it was the right thing to do. No I don't regret what we did."
Jules Vasquez,
Clearly this event is timed to boost the support for the UDP, 72 hours before elections.
Rt. Hon. Said Musa,
"I have learnt in politics not to take anything personal."
Never personal, but this is politics, and tonight as he cut the ribbon flanked by the UDP leader, Mayor and Area Representative Bowen made it clear to the residents of San Pedro who he feels has the best vision for San Pedro.
Barry Bowen,
"Junior Heredia has done a wonderful job in San Pedro. The UDP town board has done a very good job in San Pedro. I will say, and for the record, I would like to see central government support a UDP town board a lot more in San Pedro."
But on this project, they got no support from government. Bowen financed the whole thing and in so doing, earned only grudging respect from the Prime Minister who just hours after the opening dismissed it as a gimmick.
Jules Vasquez,
Mr. Prime Minister a bridge was opened today, a major project for this town, you were invited but you weren't there.
Rt. Hon. Said Musa,
"I wasn't. I did not receive an invitation."
Jules Vasquez,
Jr. Heredia told me you were.
Rt. Hon. Said Musa,
"Well I did not receive an invitation."
Jules Vasquez,
What's your view on private financing for a public works project?
Rt. Hon. Said Musa,
"No I don't have a problem with the bridge, I think we need the bridge. I think there is a lot of concern by the people of San Pedro this thing was not discussed with them properly, there are a little concerned about this last minute election gimmick, building of this bridge costing close to $800,000."
Of course that's financing that central government could not provide - because it has a few of its 12% loans to service. But while it's a gimmick for government, for Bowen, this project is the future
Barry Bowen,
"If they want to use the bridge for golf carts only, motorcycles only, atvs only, a lot of pedestrians they can but at the same time if development dictates that they need to use the bridge for heavy heavy traffic, they will also be able to use the bridge and what will happen is that all the land north of this river here, Boca Rio, will become a hell lot more valuable."
And it's an idea that residents seem to have embraced. They poured across the bridge in droves, while in the shadows, the ferryman made his last few trips across the Boca Del Rio split.
Ron Sniffin, San Pedro Sun
How does it feel to see the ferry end?
San Pedro Resident,
"Good for me."
Ron Sniffin,
Good for you?
San Pedro Resident,
"Yes because the ferry is a hard job."
And while Bowen has made it clear where he stands in San Pedro, will that be enough to ensure a victory for the red in the island town? Join us tomorrow night when we examine the issues in that town and look at each party's prospects for success. We'll also have more of our interview with Barry Bowen as he tells us why he resigned as a PUP senator and why he still calls Said Musa a close personal friend.
