In political news, the PUP held their municipal convention yesterday and despite the rain, almost all of their 700-plus delegates came out to vote.
At the end of the count, their new municipal slate was chosen. 23 candidates vied for the role of councillor, but only 10 could be chosen. And those 10 were returning councillors Allan Pollard, Edmund Kwan, Javier Castellanos, Kaya Cattouse, and Stephanie Hamilton, along with new councillors, Dorian Usher, Eluide Miller, Evan Thompson, Malcolm Nunez, and Sherwin Garcia.
Yesterday, we asked the mayor - who was endorsed - how he feels about his new slate.
Bernard Wagner, Mayor of Belize City
"We had our convention for the city. Remember we had like 23 candidates and aspiring candidates and it was important that we went through the process, really vetted out and have these people go through something similar to an election and the turnout was awesome. We had a great turnout, voters, supporters and so we thank them."
"Looking at this rainy weather today and having the amount of people who came out is certainly indicative of what is to come."
"Its always a good thing for any organization to continuously evolve and having new blood come in, rejuvenate - it gives you the opportunity to always reflect and look inwards to yourself and see how you could fit them into the overall arching picture of how you want to get the city going."
"I'm really excited. Being able to have a slate now in place and we getting together and really working out the sort of programs and activity we will do to achieve the big objective, that is important. But I am excited. I never write-off anyone. I have full confidence of my team. We can only worry about us in the house, we can't worry about the other side, but I never at no point every write-off my opponent. I always give my opponent the best of respect. That is how I look at it. You can never fall asleep at the wheels. You have to always be alert at the wheels."
But Bernard wasn't the only one who was endorsed. Allan Pollard was as well, unlike his other returning colleagues. We asked him the reason he didn't have to put his name on the ballot.
Allan Pollard, Deputy Mayor
"Well after the mayor's endorsement, the party gave me a letter stating that, you know its the view of the executive to have me endorsed along with the mayor, so that to have the unity, the strength of the March slate and that was the extent of it. I think the party knew that the conventions are kind of my thing too, so it was just that."
"After we had Queen Square, they had a meeting where they introduce themselves to our Queen Square delegates and after that meeting I really got super impressed with the slate. I think all 23 candidates - I know most of them personally. I think that it was an awesome set. So today would be a very tight race, but I think the 9 who got selected today that's excellent candidates and for me I am confident walking door to door with them and I am sure that March this is the slate that is going to win for the next municipal elections."
Reporter
"You're party expressed confidence in you to endorse you. The UDP has allege that they force you to step down from your mayoral candidacy."
Allan Pollard, Deputy Mayor
"The UDP is always doing their job as opposition. But we all know what happened. The mayor was endorsed. We can't go over that. My thing is now is just to make sure that I secure another win for the party. I can't go down that road again. I think it was an emotional time for me, my family and the people who wanted to see me there, so getting that behind us now and looking towards the future of winning and working together to me, trumps all of this moment."
