For the past 16 years the People's United Party has controlled the Belize City Council. That changed dramatically on Thursday morning when news of the United Democratic Party's clean sweep of municipal elections was confirmed. The city has a new mayor and 10 councilors. That impacts all residents but its already affecting the more than two hundred employees who are employed directly by the City Council. Conventional wisdom is that with new leaders they'll be a new guard. So who will go and when? Well the new CITCO team reported to City Hall this afternoon and 7NEWS was there to find out about the transition and its tremors.
Keith Swift Reporting,
They were swept into office on Wednesday and this afternoon at 2:30, Belize City's first female mayor, Zenaida Moya, led her ten councilors as they took over City Hall. They headed up the stairs and into the main hall where for the first time they sat as mayor and city councilors.
But they didn't sit for long because the first order of business today was a tour inside the halls they now control It started inside this office, the mayor's office, which Zenaida will be calling hers as of Tuesday. She wasn't on the clock today but she couldn't resist a test drive behind her mayoral desk. The tour continued in the human resources department and revenue headquarters. Moya says she tour was to both meet and reassure her new staff.
Zenaida Moya, Belize City Mayor-Elect
"I know a lot of people and the staff really showed us their love, they welcomed us warmly and we felt it was very important because at the end of the day we have our plan of action that we want to implement and they are the ones who will be assisting us to ensure that that plan of action is implemented.
We are not here to be dismissing anybody. The regular staff here have nothing to worry about and I hope that they fully understand that. I will tell you that maybe there was one or two persons that literally were out there with their party shirts campaigning very visibly against us and those persons have to understand that as a city council that as a city council that first of all that shouldn't have been happening but the others they have nothing to worry about."
Keith Swift,
What can you tell us about the high level positions such as revenue manager and traffic manager?
Zenaida Moya,
"Well as a council we will be sitting down and discussing these and I can tell you right now that we are not looking to fire or terminate the services of all these persons."
And before Mayor Moya can fire or hire, she has to officially become the new
mayor. This afternoon legal counsel Lois Young advised that the meeting called to order at 3:30 was their inaugural meeting, not the first official meeting.
Zenaida Moya,
"This is the council, including myself, that will be serving the city of Belize, we will be serving the residents, and we want to say that we are very thankful for the support of the residents."
Because this was just the inaugural meeting, there was no swearing in and instead of the oath of allegiance Mayor elect Moya and her new team joined hands and prayed.
Zenaida Moya,
"I would like to start this inaugural meeting with a prayer and I would like councilor Gilroy Middleton to kindly lead us in prayer and we will hold hands as a council."
A notable beginning to what Moya says will be the beginning of change inside the hall of power in Belize City.
Keith Swift,
Are you concerned about the finances of the city council? We have heard that even the city hall we are in has been sold.
Zenaida Moya,
"Well I do know that someone had called me and told me that a certain individual had called and said he owns the city council, he owns the city council building and that we'll have to ask that person to rent the place but I am hoping that that is not the case and that the former council respected themselves to not have done so."
That question and more will be answered when Moya reports to the mayor's office on Tuesday morning. The only question left is when will she get used to being Mayor Moya.
Zenaida Moya,
"Well you know I will have to get used to it, hopefully very shortly."
Probably as quick as it did to saddle up inside her bright blue mayoral ride.
This afternoon the team also visited the Traffic Department and the Pound Yard Compound. The first official city council meeting is scheduled for 10 am on Thursday. Moya's deputy mayor and portfolio assignments will be announced then.
