Wednesday, February 26, 2025 at 3:21 PM
With the PM declaring that he will retire from politics after this coming election, the PUP should begin to decide who the next leader of their party will be. I wrote an article in the Amandala in May of 2023 titled, “Long live Caesar,” decrying former Prime Minister Dean Barrow’s shortsightedness in not grooming a successor. Because of his imperial management style, we are now witnessing the state of confusion and embarrassment of his party, and the upcoming wipeout of the UDP! Some are asking why neither Barrow nor Finnegan have stepped in, to at least stymie the further derailment and deterioration of the United Democratic Party.
I was very happy to see Julius Espat echoing my sentiments lately. No one should gloat over this political situation in the Jewel. Politics, like life, is fleeting. You are up today; and tomorrow, well, tomorrow is unpredictable. The People’s United Party will sweep next month’s elections, and it is so predictable that even a blind person can see that. All this because of what the current members inherited from their former boss. Wat a ting!
I’m not a member of any political party. I used to be a diehard UDP supporter, even giving up my job in America to campaign for them. So, the pain I feel when I see how insignificant and ineffective they have become, has matured into disgust and disbelief and disappointment. I love alliterations.
In my humble opinion there are only two viable candidates for the position of leader of the PUP after the Honorable Briceño steps down: Julius Espat and Cordel Hyde! I have never liked Julius, but after he stood up to his party for dissing his cousin Mike, who was my schoolmate at Wesley College, I have a newfound respect for him. Also, he didn’t change his name to Chebat, so he’s still Kriol and not Arab. I don’t know the man, but I do know that he’s not obsequious to anyone; he will get in your face and stare you down, which is rare in politics these days.
Deputy Prime Minister Hyde already acts as PM when Mr. Briceño is unavailable. He is one of the most popular and durable politicians in Belize, and like Julius, he’s not afraid to speak his mind or challenge authority, as he did back when the 7 rebelled against PM Musa! His portfolios and his connections to the roots citizens of the Jewel are also great qualifiers, as far as I am concerned.
I don’t know Cordel Hyde or Julius Espat. I do know that neither of them are nepo-babies, something I despise in politics these days. It reminds me of those dictators who make their children their heirs, which never benefits the citizens, only their families. They are both independent, intelligent people, who are not beholden to anyone, as far as I know.
What I do know is that if Mr. Briceño is serious about giving up leadership, there will be a dogfight of epic proportions to be the heir apparent. Most of the rest of those who will be in contention are dwarves, compared to those two politicians!
Belize will need a strong leader, someone with gravitas to lead us as we delicately negotiate our way through the minefields of power in the world today, and in the future. With Trump giving Ukraine and Taiwan away, with Guatemala’s beady, envious eyes centered on us like that “flung cast net” in Raymond Barrow’s “Dawn is a Fisherman” poem, we need a leader who will give their all to protect this treasure, this Jewel. Not some entitled or arrogant wannabe leader, but someone who can be trusted and respected, and whose word is their bond. Both these men fit the profile of someone who would give their all to protect our heritage!
Maybe by 2050 the UDP will have gotten their act together, and begun to compete as a political party. Until then, we need leaders who will always look out for us, the little guys.
This is my opinion, for what it’s worth, and I will stick to it!
Glen