Yesterday we interviewed Belize City Councillor Micah Goodin about winning the intramural election for Belize City Deputy Mayor. But when we spoke to him he was in the Mesopotamia area giving out pantry supplies to area residents. We asked him if he has his eye on the seat of the Leader of the Opposition, Shyne Barrow.
Jules Vasquez
"Do you have your eyes on another municipal run or are you looking to position yourself within a constituency?"
Micah Goodin, Deputy Mayor
"For me, I was elected to serve at the city council and I believe that it would be a huge disservice to 10,000 plus residents that elected me to be here and not even half way into my term am looking at another plan. For me, I just want to finish my term and deliver the goods and services that we promise to the people of Belize City."
Jules Vasquez
"You're in the constituency of the great Michael Finnegan and the ascendant Shyne Barrow, is this a constituency that you could see yourself sometime in the future operating in?"
Micah Goodin, Deputy Mayor
"I am not sure. The future is uncertain, but I do know that I was born on 76 Dean Street, that is my family home and so I do have deep roots to this constituency."
Dr Candice Pitts lost to Shyne Barrow in Mesop in 2020.
That's another defeated woman candidate - and in the women's month of March two more fell - one of them so that Goodin could ascend to Deputy Mayor. Tracy Taegar Panton lost in her bid to be UDP leader and in a much smaller election Kaya Cattouse lost in her bid to be Deputy Mayor. That happened on March 31st and, we are told, senior political figures in the PUP called in favors to get Micah elected. We asked him about it:
Jules Vasquez
"They both try to ascend and in women's month, you can hear the patriacrhy in both cases say no, no, no - this is how it is going."
Micah Goodin, Deputy Mayor
"I dont look at it like that, If you are like me, every day is a special day for women. Its not only a particular day or a particular month. We celebrate women throughout the year. I believe that women are capable, they are competent and that we definately need more women representation. That is something that I support. I am hoping that the next person to take up the mantle as deputy mayor will be a woman."
Jules Vasquez
"It could have been a woman this time, Micah."
Micah Goodin, Deputy Mayor
"Notably."
