Last week, news emerged that the Prime Minister met with Deputy Mayor Eluide Miller to discuss his candidacy in the upcoming municipal elections.
Tonight, however, Miller is dismissing speculation that Party Leader Briceno instructed or encouraged him to withdraw from the People's United Party's Belize City mayoral convention.
In a statement issued this morning, Miller said he discussed his intentions with the Prime Minister, later confirmed his decision to remain in the race, and stated that PM Briceno respected that choice. He spoke to us today:
Eluide Miller, Mayoral Aspirant - Belize City
"The purpose of that statement was really to dispel this convenient narrative that I feel has been curated over the past couple of days-a narrative that would suggest that I have been somehow defiant of instruction or a request that has been made by our Prime Minister and party leader, and to categorically state that that is not the case, and that I remain fully intent on participating in the upcoming mayoral convention."
Reporter:
"Do you feel any pressure from senior members of the party that you should wait your turn as opposed to running? And we know that last time around, Allan was asked to also wait his turn. So do you feel as though you should do the same?"
Eluide Miller:
"Well, I can't say that I have felt that pressure. I have gotten great support from the general public, but also from within the party; I must say that as well. But I think here you have two different situations. I think the last time my colleague intended on participating in a convention, it was the position of the party at the time that they did not want to send a two-term sitting mayor to a convention. This time it's a different situation. You have an open seat and you have two young candidates who are interested in vying for that seat. Both candidates have expressed their interest in participating in a convention and their willingness to participate in a convention. So to me, here you have a completely different scenario. And if both sides are saying they're prepared for a convention, then let's take it to a convention."
Miller will be contesting Allan Pollard Jr. in August at the PUP municipal convention.
