The UDP has selected its Belize City slate for the municipal elections in March. And, the opposition party did so in a novel way: via virtual convention.
On Sunday, the party's 10 constituency committees each selected 10 councilor candidates and a mayor, submitting those names to the party secretariat. They had a choice of 22 councilor candidates and 4 mayoral candidates. The 11 who get the most votes formed the UDP's Belize City Council slate.
The party chose this method to avoid the COVID, costs and other complications associated with a regular convention.
And, by nightfall, the 230 delegates had chosen a slate led by political newcomer and KREM TV journalist Orson Picart for Mayor.
We spoke with him today in front of the office he wishes to hold:
Orson Picart, U.D.P. Mayoral Candidate
"This would be the opportune time to put my candidacy out there and offer the people of Belize City and the country by extension a new fresh to politics in Belize who aspires for greatness."
Reporter
"You're coming in at a time when the United Democratic Party is seemingly despised by the electorate. How do you plan to turn things around in terms of the image of the party through your candidacy?"
Orson Picart
"With just that, offering new faces to the municipal slate. Some that may be familiar as well and also what we bring and particularly me as an individual is that I come with no baggage and the people of Belize City have watched me grow and progress over the years. People from Belize City know me and so while it is that our party was soundly defeated in the general elections, I think the people have spoken and said we need new people in politics, we need people with integrity that comes with good character and people who would do good by the citizens of this country and this city."
Jules Vasquez, reporter
"Voters are at the end of the day practical, people will not vote for a UDP municipal slate at this time would be a vote on defiance, to send a message to Belmopan. Voters are not in that mood and think in practical terms - voters thinking practical will say PUP is in Belmopan, it's better to put a PUP or maintain a PUP in Belize City Council."
Orson Picart
"And while it is I might concede to what you said, the truth of the matter is that people have been calling for years in marginalized communities for people who represent them, people who look like them, people who they can see themselves in and I offer that."
Jules Vasquez, reporter
"But the city is made up of all different types of people. It can be argued that while have made a very strong name and brand recognition for yourself on the southside, voters on the northside might say "Orson who?" The last 2 mayors of Belize City, one was an attorney and the other was a banker, you are a journalist, you are a DJ entertainer music impresario. How do you hope to parley your brand into those northside constituencies who might look at you as an unknown and someone that is not a part of the formal system?"
Orson Picart
"I can tell you all the stories about my accomplishments over the years in terms of doing project management, being a leader in different aspects - the thousand and one initiatives I have launched for youths and helping youths particularly in marginalized communities - those stories can be told and whenever you need to have a sit down with me to tell that story, I can tell that story. But I think because our party has already selected a slate that it's not about Orson Picart anymore. Yes I am the face of the municipal slate, but at the end of the day it's about a team and there is no I in team."
No "I" in team, and no mud slinging in the campaign. We asked Picart pointedly about the failures of the current PUP council - and he just wouldn't go there:
Orson Picart, U.D.P. Mayoral Candidate
"The current council was given a mandate by the people of Belize some two and odd years ago and what they did with it is their business. From my perspective it is up to me and my slate to tell our story and the narrative that we want to bring to the Belizean people."
Jules Vasquez
"You seem to say that the story is about you guys, what you all are going to do. So are you not going to speak negatively about what that group up there has failed to do?"
Orson Picart
"Anyone who knows me will know that I am not somebody who speaks bad about people and I don't intend to start to do so just because of my political ambition. The current council that is in power right now were given a mandate and people of Belize will decide on March 3rd or whenever it is that municipal elections are set. If they completed their mandate the people will speak to that. I intend to run a clean campaign. I have no bad things to say about the current mayor and his councilors and I think this will set precedence again. Let the people judge them - it's about us collectively."
But, individually, Picart is most closely associated with Kremandala - that's where he has worked for most of his adult life - as a DJ, and now as a journalist and anchorman.
And, the cute part is that the current PUP mayor - is also married into the Hyde family which owns the Kremandala organisation.
We asked him about the Zinc Fence link:
Reporter
"You're coming from behind the Zinc Fence and so too is the mayor who has the backing of the Hyde family in terms of a political campaign. What has been the support, if any, from the Zinc Fence organization?"
Orson Picart
"I have had conversations and it is my intention to be openly honest with all media houses from the get-go. I've had conversations with upper management and they were gracious enough to allow me to go on leave once it is that my candidacy was announce and I am grateful and very respectful of that and so that's all I can say on that matter at this time."
The UDP slate includes councillor-candidates: Kira Bowman-Broaster, Andrew Bradley, Alisha Craig, Dr. Alain Gonzalez, Leon Guild, Allan Kelly, Kenneth Morgan, Anazette Olivera, Meagan Tasher and Shane Williams.
