Only a month before Municipal Elections, the PUP has finally announced its slate for the country's largest population and political base, Belize City. Their convention was held this Saturday at Belize Elementary School and voting was done electronically.
But that didn't mean a huge crowd didn't turn out. 7News was there and Courtney Menzies has the story:
The PUP Team 11 was chosen this past Saturday at the Belize Elementary School by the 726 delegates who came out to cast their vote.
Led by the current Mayor, Bernard Wagner, who is now vying for a second term in office, the team consists of four sitting councillors: Allan Pollard, Micah Goodin, Javier Castellanos, and Albert Vaughn - along with six newcomers: Kaya Cattouse, Edmund Kwan, Deannie Requena, Natasha Pipersburgh Michael Novelo and Stephanne Hamilton.
After results were announced, our team met up with the Mayor who was confident that they will be back in office to continue the work they started.
Bernard Wagner, Mayoral Candidate, Belize City
"The democratic process worked and at the end of the day I believe the people have spoken and they have put forward a team that will assure the PUP City Council victory come March 3rd."
"We are ready to now get on the ground and to deliver Belize City again."
After his putting up a good fight - but ultimately losing - in November's general elections, Pollard returns to claim his seat as a city councilor.
He topped the polls in the convention with 630 votes.
As an up and coming divisional candidate, he already has a relationship with Belize City residents, and he hopes the newcomers will be able to do the same.
Allan Pollard, Councilor Candidate, Belize City
"The work continues for us, we have been here for three years, we started off what would be the development of the city and we plan on continuing that."
"I think we got some great talent in, some new blood into the party as well, and we have talent, we have people who are hard working, people who have great traits that will definitely lead us to victory come March 3rd."
Another returning councilor, Albert Vaughn, gave a brief description of their strategy to win the elections.
Albert Vaughn, Councilor Candidate, Belize City
"We have to hit the ground and we have to hit the ground running. I think it's about four weeks away from the 3rd of March and my plan it to put out council record out there, we have a very good council record when it comes to our activities for the last three years, so that is what we are going to do, we are going to talk about how we have services this city for the last three years."
And according to Pollard, there is no time to waste for the PUP's Team 11.
Allan Pollard, Councilor Candidate, Belize City
"For the Belize City residents I just want to say we have an amazing team that got selected today, look out for us, the campaign trail starts now and we're just asking for support again in this municipal elections."
There were also conventions held in Belmopan, San Ignacio/Santa Elena, and Benque Viejo Del Carmen. The mayoral candidates for those municipalities are Sharon Palacio, Ramon Quiroz, and Jorge Rosales, respectively.
