“But instead of taking a bi-partisan approach to a solution that would benefit everyone affected, the UDP City Council use the bad condition of the roads for political mileage against the PUP …”
“We must make our limited resources work for us …in many instances this will dictate cooperation between the political parties for the benefit of the people …the UDP City Council must accept some of the blame for this spirit of non-cooperation …”
“…the crony sanitation contracts and lack of performance have compounded the City’s drainage [problems] also …”
No, the comments are not from any organ of the ruling PUP, but from the editorial of The El Guardian, the newspaper of the Opposition UDP, about its own City Council. Is the “democratic tradition” of the UDP in evidence, or have disaffected elements within the party become impatient with Mayor Zenaida Moya and her council and decided to make their quarrel public?
Amandala spoke this afternoon with Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Dean Barrow, and Mayor Moya.
Is this public remonstration by The Guardian’s editor, John Avery, of elected officials of his own party a good thing, we asked the Hon. Barrow, because people will view it as “UDP against UDP.”
“This is a new era of transparency …I believe it may be good for the party,” said Mr. Barrow.
“It may cause some grief, but I believe in the internal democracy of the party.”
Mr. Barrow said that he was “very liberal” towards Avery’s editorials, only asking him to behave in a “civil manner” towards those about whom he wrote.
Mayor Moya, for her part, rejected the notion that Avery’s comments were aimed at her.
“I don’t micromanage …Avery knows we have acquired expertise in these areas …we only took over this mess on March 1 last year,” said the Mayor.
Amandala pointed out that the criticism seemed aimed at her, that there were no comments apparently aimed at other councillors.
“To blame me is ridiculous …I think he may have a problem with a particular councilor, Anthony Michael, who is in charge of drains and urban planning,” said Mayor Moya.
Amandala was unable to speak with Councilor Michael, at this time, for his comments.
It is obvious to Belizeans, however, that the two elected leaders of the party, Party Leader Hon. Dean Barrow; Mayor Zenaida Moya, head of the largest voting municipality in the country; and John Avery, the “voice” of the UDP’s most powerful organ, The Guardian, are at loggerheads a little over a year from General Elections.