Leader of the PPP (Poor People’s Party), Teddy Garbutt, 51, of #79 Amara Avenue and Belmopan, visited Amandala this morning to declare that his 5-year-old party will be contesting all seats in next year’s general elections. An architectural designer by trade, the well-spoken Mr. Garbutt says that his party is “very concerned about the direction our country is going, and the injustices that Belizeans have been going through as a result of government mismanagement.”
Mr. Garbutt says the “escalating crime wave, and the suffering and hardship in the streets all across the nation, is a fallout of government’s mishandling of the people’s funds, and corruption. From north to south people are fed up,” he told us.
Here are Mr. Garbutt’s comments on some critical matters we put to him.
Other PPP Executive: They will not be revealed until the election is called for fear that they will be persecuted.
Guatemala: My party will address and solve the Guatemala problem in the best interests of the people and country.
Oil: My party will nationalize oil.
UDP: Same as the PUP. Six of one and half a dozen of the other. Under both parties the people remain betrayed.
Third parties: We approached the NRP, but it did not pan out.
PPP manifesto: Our main mandate is directed towards the empowerment of grassroots Belizeans. We will not reveal it until election is called because we do not want them to “copycat” us.
Which division he will contest: Belmopan or Queen’s Square.