The UDP is in the full swing of its convention season - and on Sunday the contest for a new caretaker will be in Port Loyola.
The candidates are Carlos Perera and Dr Abraham Flowers - who we met up with on the campaign trail this evening. Jules Vasquez had questions about politics and his professional credentials:
Abraham Flowers, UDP Caretaker Candidate, Port
"The reception that we have actually received is that of, I would say, let's go say it's very supportive, right? And the thing about it is going from house to house, we do find some campaigners that are extremely exhausted about the promises that the previous ministers have actually made."
"So they find it a little bit, let's go say, difficult when we would actually approach them, but when we sit down and we explain to them in detail the projects and the program that we want back here for Port, then they start to understand that you know what, that this group and this committee that we have back here in Port Loyola including myself, is totally different from the previous ministers that are back here."
"I did not really born with a gold spoon in my mouth. I had to work for what I want from the time I was young. Even painting grave, you remember when they had, when you had to paint grave with city council? I was in that group Jules."
"My parents, we can't say we were rich, we were actually poor. There were 18 of us, so we know what it is to work for what we want. I worked in High school, I worked in Junior College, I went to Cuba and I came back here and I am still finding myself working. So I understand the people back here in Port."
"If I would just blunt out say oh well I already win right now, let's go say its a lie. So we are just going to depend that the people will actually select the right choice in this convention that would be here Sunday."
"Literally right now Port Loyola have one of the best representation I could say ever before which is myself. I am educated and we have a very strong committee that is willing to work along and for the people back here in Port Loyola."
Jules Vasquez
"I know that you are educated, you are a doctor, but the criticism can be made legitimately you're not a licensed or registered doctor here in Belize. Yet you were on Sun Up this morning talking about all the people you are treating which you can't do if you're not a register doctor - you can't do legally."
Abraham Flowers, UDP Caretaker Candidate, Port
"So the thing about it is I went and I studied in Cuba for 8 years, I got my degree and came back here, did my internship, but because of politics I was actually blocked. Let's go say victimize. Now if I go to any other country, like for example when I went to Chile, I worked there for three years as a medical practitioner."
"But when I came back here, the same person that was there is still there and they keep on blocking me. Now, will I defeat my purpose on actually helping my people, even if I go and see them and advise them to see a medical doctor?"
"No, sir. I would never let one person stop what I was educated to do. And that is medicine. I'm going to continue to educate my people on medicine and how to take care of their self."
Jules Vasquez
"But you're not a licensed medical practitioner in Belize, so there's an ethical issue."
Abraham Flowers, UDP Caretaker Candidate, Port
"You may say that there is an ethical issue, and I totally agree with you. But what more ethical can we say if me, which is a medical practitioner, studied in Cuba, came to Belize and is unable to actually help my people?"
Jules Vasquez
"So, but should you be publicly professing in Belize? I am Dr. Abraham Flowers, and I treat people, as I heard you say on Sun Up this morning, for XYZ. Should you be publicly professing that?"
Abraham Flowers, UDP Caretaker Candidate, Port
"Most definitely, yes."
"Why not? I got my degree. And under the Constitution of the Medical Doctor, it states that there is only two ways I cannot practice medicine in Belize. One, if I'm crazy, which if I'm crazy, I'm not going to be talking to you Jules. Or two, if I do not have a degree, I have my degree. And I'm not crazy."
And the whole registered Doctor thing aside, we did go into some UDP politics. The fact is this convention season is really about electing caretakers who either support Shyne Barrow or Tracey Panton. We asked Flowers what side he is on:
Jules Vasquez
"The report is that you are a Shyne Barrow supporter."
Abraham Flowers, UDP Caretaker Candidate, Port
"So, most definitely a lot of people may say that, but I'm going to be honest with you. I am a UDP supporter and I'm back here for port. So yes, I want unity, right?"
"I want this whole mess to be finished as quick as possible. Because we've got to understand is that, guess what? It is the people down there who is actually suffering."
Jules Vasquez
"So are you willing to support Tracy as leader?"
Abraham Flowers, UDP Caretaker Candidate, Port
"If November comes and Tracy wins for a party leader, then most definitely we would actually need to support Tracy as party leader if she wins the convention, yes."
Jules Vasquez
"Who would be a better choice to lead a UDP Shyne Barrow or Tracy Panton?"
Abraham Flowers, UDP Caretaker Candidate, Port
"Most definitely, I'm going to say let the people decide that. I am going to say that the people should decide that, right? Not me."
On Monday, we'll let you know who won.
