This afternoon, when with caught up with Wil Maheia, he showed no signs of abandoning his candidacy in the Fort George Division. In fact, he and his political colleagues who will be representing the Belize Progressive Party in the elections called a press conference. They wanted to introduce themselves publicly to the Belizean voters.
Here's an excerpt of the sales pitch that the BPP's standard-bearers made this evening at the Belize Institute of Management in Belize City:
Wil Maheia, Deputy Political Leader, BPP
"When I talk to the people, they say those people in Fort George just wah, wah, wah. I know the Fort George people doesn't just wah, wah, wah. The Fort George people want a good life like every other Belizean who has a good life. The thing that I am struck by most is that people come to me and they are not asking for money to buy rum or anything like that. They are saying can you help me with tuition for my kids and I am thinking here you are Fort Goeorge was governed by the PUP for 39 years and I said have you ever heard of a Musa or a Barrow child asking for tuition to go to school? it's not fair Belize. It's time to give the BPP a run. There is no reason why any youth in this country or in any division should have to be standing in line and coming to politicians begging for tuition assistance."
Evan Thompson, BPP Standard Bearer - Port Loyola
"I would like to appeal to the people that stay home and don't come out and vote. You should be the main focus this election because your voices need be heard. We don't want to the election to go the same way where we are fighting red and blue because they will make sure they bring their people out, but you at home you need to come out and vote and I think this election would be the best election to show the people that the BPP would be the best option for the people, putting the people first."
Lionel Bennett, BPP Standard Bearer - Belize Rural Central
"This afternoon I must say I am not an eloquent speaker. My message is plain and simple, the change we need, the future we deserve Belize. We've been speaking about change for quite some time and this time around the power is in you the Belizean voters' hand once more. We deserve better than how we have been treated over - I can't even calculate the amount of years because we would go on and on."
Karen Banner, BPP Standard Bearer - Belize Rural North
"I hit the campaign trail this weekend and I don't know the areas that I am running, because we have 26 villages in Belize Rural North. I went to Rockstone Pond 2, Lucky Strike and Corozalito. It shocked me to know that there are people in those areas that are living without electricity and water. My question is to the Belize public how long have we been doing this? Isn't it 60 years? There are actually area in Belize Rural North without electricity and water, yet at this time you are telling my students that they need to go online and do online studies. So how are they going to do that? It shocked me to know that people reach out to me through Facebook, because of my live videos and told me come and visit and when I got there - there are people through the road of Rockstone Pond that has been locked in for the last 6 months and have not seen an area rep. As far as I know I am the first candidate that went through Rockstone Pond Sunday with groceries. Like I keep saying Belize you have the power to change this nation. You have the power to use your little voter finger and let it be very powerful."
Gary Matus, BPP Standard Bearer - Queen Square
"Young youths, old people think wisely this year - give us 5 years in this party. I am asking you and I am begging you with all my heart - I think you my dad Antonio Matus was a big politician man from way back. Everyone know my father Tony Matus was a famous man."
The Belize Progressive Party had one other reason for coming to the public this afternoon. They announced a vehicle raffle that they are organizing to raise funds for their election machinery on November 11th. Now, we don't usually hear about political parties doing raffles - but this party says it's a clean means of campaign financing. And, the vehicle was donated by their financier, Yhony Rosado. Don't worry, it's not one of his Port of Belize fire sale buses! Or his roadkill D-Max! Here's what the Leader of the BPP had to say about why they are hoping you'll support them in this initiative:
As you heard, the vehicle is being raffled at $5 for a ticket.
