That statement was made at a press conference this afternoon where the Prime Minister made the official announcement of the election date. It happened at 4:00 at the PUP headquarters, Independence Hall in Belize City and the place was swarming with boisterous, energized supporters. We were in the thick of it.
Jules Vasquez Reporting,
_The Prime Minister made a stage managed entrance to a room full of supporters and all 31 candidates of the PUP - an environment more of
a rally than press conference, a show of unity and readiness 31 days before the election. And to underscore the fact that his 31 has two women, the Prime Minister was flanked by his two female candidates - obviously what his party feels is a major strategic advantage.
Rt. Hon. Said Musa, PUP Leader
"His Excellency the Governor General today issued a proclamation dissolving the National Assembly. Nomination day has been set for the 21st day of January and the general election will be held on Thursday the 7th day of February, 2008. The Governor General has also issued writs of a referendum and the question of an elected Senate to be held also on the 7th day of February, 2008.
We in the PUP have pledged to conduct our campaign with respect for our political opponents and with respect for the voters of the 31 electoral divisions to exercise their democratic franchise, freely, peacefully, without violence or the threat of violence. In the end, the will of the people will prevail. We will be having a series of rallies in the districts as well as Belize City and later on in the month we will unveil and launch our manifesto: 'Believe in Belize.'"
The Prime Minister also discussed the much talked about Venezuela money - a US$10 million grant that the government received from the Hugo Chavez's government to go into housing loans.
Rt. Hon. Said Musa,
"The Venezuelan money, as you said, is a grant to the people of Belize. It was promised sometime ago. It has arrived and it is to benefit the poor people of Belize."
Jules Vasquez,
Sir are you able to talk about the housing money that the Prime Minister said? How much is it and in June the release had said US$10 million?
Hon. Ralph Fonseca, Minister of Housing
"There is none for you Jules, you are too wealthy. What has happened is we announced the Venezuelan intention to help us with housing from June. So a lot of people started to apply and then we had the hurricanes where we took a lot of applications. So we have more applications than moneys that have come in from Venezuela and that is how they are working on it, based on priority.
Grants for people that are indigent and have no income or very little income, loans for families that earn $20,000 or less, the entire family, and to continue the building of the houses that we've started already or for those that really need houses."
Jules Vasquez,
It is US$10 million though.
Hon. Ralph Fonseca,
"It is US$10 million total but one million U.S. is for the stuadium."
As we said, a very raucous atmosphere at Independence Hall and the UDP will have its own event tomorrow with a press conference launching its election drive. That will be aired live on Channel 7 starting at 10:30 am.
