Tonight the political stage is set and there will be an interesting battle for municipal supremacy within the Belize City PUP.
Like many great contests, this one will see a contrast in styles between Allan Pollard and Eluide Miller - two men who want to be mayor but submitted their applications very differently.
Miller had a low-key visit to headquarters last week, bolstered by 7 of his councillor colleagues, while Pollard went to the party HQ today with a political hype machine in high gear. Jaleeza Roberts reports:
This morning, Allan Pollard Jr. made his way to Independence hall to submit his application to offer himself as the PUP mayoral candidate in the 2027 municipal elections.
Greeted by a swell of celebratory supporters, his entrance was very different from his opponent Eluide Miller who was joined by 7 councillors.
Different statements of support for two very different aspirants.
Allan Pollard Jr., Mayoral Aspirant
"I am formally submitting my application to become the next mayor of the city of Belize. Support and represent the beautiful people of the party and people of Belize. So that's here in my hand right now."
Reporter
"You have a big support out here. Did you ask for this?"
Allan Pollard Jr., Mayoral Aspirant
"No, well, I have asked family and friends to come, but you can't tell people they can't come. So everybody, they asked me to come out. They come out and support. It's always out there, and on convention day you will see the support."
But when we asked Pollard if in any way he felt threatened or offended by the fact that his councillor colleagues chose to endorse Miller as opposed to him, he said no:
Allan Pollard Jr., Mayoral Aspirant
"No, we have the support of the people that's all that matters. The delegates on convention day. Well, I respect all my colleagues that make decisions to support who they want."
"I bring a lot of vision, a clear vision. I'm young, but I'm very experienced. I've been in the council for eight years, going on my ninth year. You know, I know the ins and the outs. I've served in many different capacities. Of course, you know, the love and support of the people, and we plan to connect the people with the residents and the city hall together, and we plan to move this city into the way for our local people."
Pollard aspired to run for mayor in the last municipal election and at the time they told him that he had to wait his turn, but over time that tone has changed and Miller is not being asked the same. When we asked Pollard if perhaps the Party leaders should have relayed the same message to his young colleague, this is what he said:
Allan Pollard Jr., Mayoral Aspirant
"I don't think that's the Prime Minister's job. The Prime Minister's job is to lead this party. And if he believes that it's time to have a democratic process between the two of us, if he believes that it's healthy, then that is something that we need to do."
Reporter
"Should Miller have waited his turn though?"
Allan Pollard Jr., Mayoral Aspirant
"I think if my message is having representation and having people on the ballot, then if Miller wants to contest, then he should contest. Every young person should contest. Not only Miller, any young person who wants to run, any older person who wants to run, it's a democratic party. I think it's respect between everybody. And at the end of the day, we just have to put you in the work and make sure you bring out your delegates and make sure they come out and support you, that's all."
Reporter
"Are you upset they're not endorsing you?"
Allan Pollard Jr., Mayoral Aspirant
"No, no, I never expect an endorsement. Everything I have done since I entered this party in 2018, I had to work for, and I plan to continue working for that. So I don't need an endorsement. We are working."
But despite the Pollard's nonchalance, his father, a veteran of many PUP campaigns, had a different take: saying that his son was a major supporter of Bernard Wagner and the councillors and they have turned around and not supported him in return. He called them "snakes":
Allan "Duck" Pollard, Father Of Allan Jr.
"He was with the whole council, was with Bernard all the way, just due to Bernard and his son in law he decided that well, I will ride with and do his thing for Mr.Miller which I will do the same thing but if he can vouch and say that Mr.Pollard is a good person, Mr.Pollard do what he has to do and they don't have no dirt on my son, my son been there with no kind of dirt, they can't pinpoint the only ting my son has is his name not trying to get rich or nothing. He has his name and his name only."
"My son is too straight for those bunch of snakes, all of them is a snake because my son put out his head for one of the councillor and the minute that he got elected, he turned on him so he's a snake and the rest of them is a snake, plain and straight and my son is not about no money."
It will be a long uphill battle to convention day as both candidates have garnered the support of PUP loyalists but the delegates will get their way on convention day. Jaleeza Roberts, 7 News.
Friday is the deadline for applications and no date has been set for the convention.
