SPEAR's poll of October of last year shows that if a third party enters candidates to run in the upcoming general elections they stand to gain at least 23% of the votes. If you add that to the 17% of undecided voters, those who follow polls would say that a third party candidate has a fighting chance in the upcoming elections.
With at least three semblances of third parties in the country being the We the People Movement, the National Reform Party and the Vision Inspired by the People, today the VIP declared its intentions to contest the upcoming general elections. We were at the BIM Conference Room to find out that the VIP is running on a low budget, a strong moral stance and very few candidates.
Paul Morgan, Vision Inspired by the People
"The problem has skillfully modeled down an all encompassing word, corruption."
Having identified the root of all problems in Belize, the VIP set out their plan for national rescue and at its base is social justice.
Patrick Rogers, VIP Member
"What we are putting forth is a platform that stands for social justice, point blank. At the end if what the law says only applies to me and not to you, there will be problems as we are seeing right now in this country. But if we make this thing where justice applies to all, you won't see the level of crime that we're seeing in the streets right now."
Hubert Enriquez, VIP Member
"People of Belize respect the principles of social justice and therefore believe that the operation of the economic system must result in the material resources of the community being so distributed to serve the common good. There should be adequate means of livelihood for all, that labor should not be explored or forced by economic necessity to operate in inhuman conditions. There should be opportunity for all, advancement on the basis of recognition of merit, ability, and integrity. There is a sense of hopelessness that has permeated every sector of our Belizean society. In the VIP we are convinced that this matter must be addressed if our country is to advance and make the most of the many challenges that are going to confront us."
And while that=s the VIP=s platform they are now calling on those of similar thinking to throw their hats into the political fray and join them. It's quite the call which Co-Chairmen of the VIP Hubert Enriquez and Paul Morgan make.
Hubert Enriquez,
"It is abundantly cleared that the solutions to our problems are not necessarily going to come from our political leaders. The solution will only come through a process of workers' employment by education, democratic representation, and unionization. We require strong and democratic unions to invigorate our democracy. The VIP pledges to facilitate this process of unionization as a central component of its reform agenda to bring social justice and equity for all."
Paul Morgan,
"We want all of you listening out there who would like to input even run to contact us. We have not finalized our entire slate of candidates. We are looking for the best people out there. Until we do put out our final slate, we are still of the opinion that perhaps the best person is out there to take this struggle on. This is a people's struggle."
But while they look for their candidates for the struggle they are also looking for finances, however don=t expect favors for the moneys donated.
Paul Morgan,
"This task cannot be done without your financial support. Our bank account is now open for donations."
Bobby Lopez, VIP Member
"There ain't going to be no love fest, there ain't going to be no free beers or dollar beers, there ain't going to be no t-shirts. We have already made a decision that if you can afford t-shirt in your constituency fine but it is not the t-shirt that wins an election. Thousands of dollars are spent on t-shirts and we ar enot going that route. So rest assured you are looking at prudently spending from campaign onwards.
We are not opposed to anyone who wants to give us $10 million but rest assured they already know from our policy which we produced in the municipal election that there is no political patronage here. Don't come knocking at VIP's doors expecting any compensation and we have to dance to the tune as other parties have done.
Our books are open, our books remain open and will continue to be open for you the media to walk in our office, it doesn't take any 72 hours to open our books to you."
Patrick Rogers,
"We are not going to be using money to won this election."
Paul Morgan,
"It is a common adage that money talks. We think that your personal input is even more critical because money does not vote."
And having presented their intentions to contest the next general elections, the VIP now hopes that the good sense and virtue, not bucks and bling, are enough to persuade voters to give them their sacred x.
The VIP says that over the next couple of months they will be conducting various forms of consultations countrywide to promulgate their agenda, raise funds and attract candidates. At the end of the exercise they will publicly present their manifesto and their candidates.
