The UDP launched its City Council slate at party headquarters on Friday. The party is boasting a non-traditional mayoral candidate in educator, Dr. Nelma Mortis. And it hopes that - just like it did with Zenaida Moya in 2006 - it can shock the world and take back the City Council from the PUP. But does the red have the right stuff? Jules Vasquez was there on Friday to judge:
The UDP's slate of mostly newcomers Looked eager, if a little nervous at their big debut on Friday.
They are led by mayoral candidate Nelma Mortis.
Nelma Mortis, Mayoral Candidate - UDP
"Against all odds, I find myself here asking for your partnership in a journey to breathe new into our city and the hearts of our people."
Like Mortis, most of them are newcomers, and first timers - even an old political field general:
Tracey Taegar Panton, UDP Albert Rep
"And I have to single out my brother and son, "Yellow" and what I know Yellow is that you know the streets and you know the community and you know every nook and cranny and you have lived what people are experiencing now and you have a heart of service."
Like the rest of the candidates, Yellowman did not have to face a convention:
Jules Vasquez
"Is it a slate of top draft picks so to speak or is it a slate of who you could get in the circumstances of the UDP's flagging popularity?"
Shyne Barrow, UDP Leader
"Well I beg to differ that our popularity is flagging. The People's United Party is the most hated entity in Belize City in all the constituencies across the country and nobody want to see John Briceno and his 25 bandits."
Jules Vasquez
"Is the fact that the UDP did not have a convention and have selected, not elected these candidates. Is that an indication that really you di pik who you could get."
Shyne Barrow, UDP Leader
"We actually had about 26 applicants for the 11 positions to fill including mayor and the councillors, but what we did was in each municipality we involve the standard bearers where there were multiple standard bearers and we looked at the applicants, because conventions don't always get you the end results that you want. I remember some former UDP councillor candidates that should definitely not have been on the slate."
So, the party is owning its slate, and leader Shyne Barrow says they could take it all:
Shyne Barrow, UDP Leader
"The people of Belize City and the people in every municipality that I visit, they are disgusted with the People's United Party and democracy calls for a change of government starting with the local government and we have a potential to won all 9 municipalities and I say that will all sincerity and all conviction and we will do our best to win all 9."
Whether he's dreaming or manifesting is left to be seen, but it's Leader Shyne's first national election and he has to swing for the fences.
