The appearance of retired former UDP Mesopotamia area representative, Michael Finnegan on the Krem Radio/ XTV’s WUB morning show on Friday, May 23, was of immense public interest because of the political quagmire that the nation finds itself in with the continuing leadership stalemate/quarrel within the UDP, making it quite impotent as the Opposition; and, apart from the father of erstwhile/purportedly current UDP leader Shyne Barrow, former prime minister, Dean Barrow, the general feeling is that the person whose advice would most likely influence Shyne is his uncle, Finnegan, especially since he is the one who “grandfathered”  his (Shyne’s) candidacy for his (Finnegan’s) vacated Mesopotamia seat upon his retirement. But, if the arrogance of power has overwhelmed Shyne, then Finnegan’s veteran stature within the party may still convince its chairman to do his duty toward ending the leadership dispute that, to most observers, should have ended with the general election of March 12.

But Krem Radio/XTV listeners/viewers got more than they had anticipated, when Finnegan took the opportunity to express a good measure of respect and appreciation for lessons he learned through listening during his UBAD days to then UBAD president, Evan X Hyde, a man who, as a political adversary of Finnegan a few years later, had often been the target of Finnegan’s vitriolic criticism from the UDP rostrum. “Di X” had earned the disdain of some diehard UDPs who blamed him, as the only UBAD candidate in the hotly contested 1974 general elections, for causing the one-vote loss of their “golden-tongued orator”, the popular Ken Tillett, to the PUP’s Vernon Harrison Courtenay, an election in which only two of the 89 votes X Hyde received, could have switched the result in Ken’s favor. And so it was that “89 X” became the name-smear used to deride the former UBAD president for years after. But, as fate would have it, it was that same number, “89”, that would come back to haunt the UDP in a political world where arrogance can sometimes prove the undoing of those intoxicated with their power.           

Indeed, the circumstances were such, with a growing tide of resentment against the long incumbent government in office, because the political contest always seemed unfairly skewed in favor of the party in power, who controlled the only radio station, that some believed that the powerful PUP may have finally been overcome with the well-financed and surging Opposition under its new UDP banner in 1974, were it not for the third-party one-candidate participation of UBAD. But UBAD and Evan X Hyde, their only candidate, could hardly be blamed for their candidacy, in light of the failure of the new political powerhouse, the UDP, to find a compromise arrangement with those UBAD members who felt that their voices were not given enough respect in terms of their vision for the future of Belize.

Power has an intoxicating effect, and though the current government in office has publicly acknowledged that a strong Opposition helps our democracy by making the government more accountable to the nation, there has still been a tendency toward arrogance in our governments; not all representatives, but there is still a feeling among many voters that after two consecutive terms in office, they need to “give the next side a chance”. Under the new self-government Constitution of 1964, the George Price-led PUP won in 1965 against the Philip Goldson-led NIP (16 seats to 2 seats in the House of Representatives); and the PUP won again in 1969, this time over the NIP/PDM coalition (17-1). But the consecutive PUP run of victories looked dangerously near its end in 1974 when they just managed to hang on to a (12-6) majority victory over the UDP.  So, with that scare, the PUP was anything but arrogant in 1979, with the drive toward Independence taking center stage, and they pulled off another close victory (13-5).

After the euphoria of independence celebrations were over and the economic climate had significantly dampened spirits, the hunger for change became overwhelming, and the UDP finally realized a resounding 1984 general elections victory over the PUP by a landslide (21-7) mandate. It was like, “Free at last!”

At that juncture, after such a long PUP stretch, from 1965 to 1979 (4 general elections), and with the fresh new UDP taking over government in 1984, bringing their bright new ideas for “raising up” the nation, a repeat UDP victory in 1989 would have been expected. Having finally deposed the PUP in ’84, when they (the UDP) felt that victory was almost theirs from ’74, could the UDP stalwarts have quickly succumbed to an air of arrogance? And would that “89” number come back to “bite” them? 1989 was a very eventful year for many reasons, but for Belizean government and politics, it stands out as an aberration of sorts, when the UDP seemingly managed to snatch defeat from what should have been a certain elections victory. After decades of suffering as the Opposition against a PUP government that controlled the nation’s only radio station, which gave them a huge electoral advantage, it was now the UDP in government, and their turn to snub the request of “Mr. 89 X” for a radio license. The wily PUP quickly promised to grant it, and the rest is history:  a shocking (15-13) PUP upset victory over the UDP, and the birth of the first private radio station in Belize, Krem Radio.   

Unprepared for their quite unexpected victory in 1989, the PUP soon ran into problems, and after the British chose to announce the withdrawal of their forces, the UDP rebounded with another victory in 1993 (16-13). But, again, the UDP blundered with a massive retrenchment exercise to “save the economy”, at the cost of hundreds of public servants’ jobs; and it was the PUP back in the saddle in 1998 (26-3).

It would seem that things were getting back to normal in Belize’s politics; because a smooth pattern seems to have evolved. The PUP swept through 1998, and by 2003 (22-7), the tide had shifted a little, whereupon arrogance and corruption led to their downfall; and it was another landslide sweep-out (25-6) in 2008, when the UDP were given their “turn”.

It has been recorded as three consecutive UDP general election victories: 2008, 2012 (17-14) and 2015 (19-12); but they only served 12 years during those 3 terms, due to two early snap-elections, catching the PUP off balance; and then they were savagely booted out of office amidst huge cries of corruption and mismanagement when they were shellacked, 26-5, by the PUP in 2020.  And in the recent March 12, 2025, general elections, the pattern continued, with another huge PUP victory, by an identical 26-5 margin.    

So, here we are, getting deep into the next election cycle, when the Opposition should be looking to test its mettle in the upcoming village council elections.

Already there are little signs of overconfidence, even maybe a bit of arrogance in the PUP incumbents. When reporters recently pressed the PM about the teachers’ crying for their overdue increments and a raise, while CEOs’ salaries are going into the stratosphere, the PM promptly shot them down with the directive to go “do the math”.  Of course, 16 talented technocrats getting showered with thousands in salary increases, don’t add up to the total of upwards of 3,000 teachers each getting their little raise; but it is the message, and the “optics,” dear PM. 

This is now a golden opportunity for the Opposition to rebound. The tide is slowly swinging in their favor, with PM Briceño having previously expressed his doubts about a third term. But if the Opposition UDP remains dysfunctional much longer, 2030 could well be a gifted third consecutive victory for the PUP. And that’s why Mr. Finnegan has finally chosen to mount the city’s most powerful live media platform, the Krem/XTV WUB, and deploy the conviction that comes with all his political and parliamentary experience to call on those responsible in certain positions to humble themselves and do the right thing by their party’s constitution. If they don’t act quickly, who knows what political mischief may be afoot? Could a viable other party finally rise to the occasion?

We are reminded of two Belize Kriol sayings: “Bigga circus dan dat kohn ya ahn bruk up;” and “Wait bruk down bridge.” Take your pick. Power to the people!