As you saw before the break….while the Nomination Day crowds in Belmopan were neither numerous nor vociferous, in Belize City, hundreds came out to support their mass party of choice. The day started on Queen Street, with PUP supporters donned in blue "Stay Pan Track" shirts, and their latest theme song blaring from the truck speakers.
There was no loss of energy as the crowd marched to ITVET, where our news team spoke to the Council's current leaders. Courtney Menzies has this story.
The PUP's political machinery was oiled up and ready to go, turning Queen Street into a sea of blue and white. Hundreds of supporters marched with flags raised high, and a little liquid courage in their hands, through the Belize City streets. The procession stopped at the ITVET, where the highly anticipated nominations began.
And today's showing was a test leading up to March 6th. The PUP slate seemed satisfied with their display - according to the mayor, their sea of supporters went as far as the eye could see - but does that mean that victory is in their reach?
Bernard Wagner, Mayor of Belize City
"I was actually at the front so I was unable to see the magnitude but certainly from what I'm hearing and from my vantage point on Daly Street, when I looked back I couldn't see the end so clearly it was a huge number of supporters."
"I never want to say that you are overconfident, you always want to maintain humility throughout the whole process and ensure that you do what you need to do as a team, as a party, as a machinery, and let the other chips fall in place."
And while the council had to endure crisis after crisis, Wagner hopes their work in 2023 will be enough for the residents to give them a third term.
Bernard Wagner, Mayor of Belize City
"I'm so amazed at this team and the resiliency at this time. I always stress it, the perseverance, the tenacity of the team, the six years that I have been there, we have really faced some tremendous crises, crises we thought we would never face. We never did have a blue print to face COVID and right after that we had the floods of 2020 and we had Hurricane Lisa and so really 2023 was the first year of my term in office where I was able to go through a year where we didn't have any disasters, hurricanes, floods, and we just managed to ensure that we got the work done for the people, utilizing the taxes that the people paid to benefit the people."
And for Deputy Mayor, Allan Pollard, it's his third Municipal Elections, and he's going into it a lot more confident and experienced.
Allan Pollard, Deputy Mayor, Belize City Council
"For me, it's like, we have new candidates in it. I think for me when I was just coming in, it was sort of a newcomer type so right now I feel a little bit, nostalgia, yes, and also being more senior to it and it's just a different role so that's kind of the contrast there."
"Right now we have a group, we are split in groups right now so we're trying to reach as much people as possible so trying to be in many of the areas that we can be before the time and so far that has been really great, I think the residents have received us well, they are excited for the election and of course they have seen the work that we have been doing overtime so for them, they are excited to go to the polls just as we are."
And for long time politician, and Caribbean Shores area rep, Kareem Musa says this election acts as a litmus test for the upcoming General Election next year.
Kareem Musa, Area Rep, Caribbean Shores
"It's an exciting time, I know that the people of Caribbean Shores are waiting for March 6th to deliver another victory for Mayor Bernard Wagner and his team and I think I speak not only for myself but my predecessor, Santi Castillo, and it's not often that you get two candidates, the predecessor and the current candidate endorsing a mayoral candidate like Mr Wagner and so I think that speaks volumes of his integrity as a mayor and the hardworking he has put in."
"We are of course looking at this as a litmus test so to speak but definitely the energy is there across the country, and you can feel the victory in the air, the spirit, the vibes, the love, everything is there and the people are saying they want the People's United Party again."
