The ink hadn’t dried yet on the Governor General’s guided decision to dissolve the House of Representatives on Monday, January 7, 2008, when the UDP and their Party Leader, Hon. Dean Barrow, the government-in-waiting, climbed the steps five floors up (those who are lazy…or is it not claustrophobic? went by elevator) to the Caracol Room at the Radisson Fort George to formally present their “31 candidates” and their “21 pledges” to the media and the nation on Tuesday, January 8… that will bring Belize “back” to glory.
As expected, there was a sea of red, standing room only, as faithful members of the UDP who have known the pain and suffering of being out in the bitter cold for 10 long years, gathered to get their instructions, the strategy for the next 30 days before glorious victory on February 7, 2008, and the promised bright new dawn.
Just the day before, the media had been at the PUP’s Independence Hall, pressed in by a roaring blue gallery rearing for battle. Today they were at another venue just a few hundred yards up the street, pressed in by a roaring red gallery gearing for battle. Same feud.
UDP Leader, Hon. Dean Barrow, entered the room to thunderous applause. Ms. Leotine Lewis led a rousing rendition of the National Anthem. Hon. Dean Barrow took the podium, to more loud applause. He congratulated the 30 men seated to his right, on their bright white shirts, and shiny red ties. He saluted their Leader Emeritus, Rt. Hon. Manuel Esquivel, seated modestly among the street generals. He thanked the media for their presence.
The UDP leader said he welcomed the election date, that the time had finally come “to end the madness” of PUP rule. “The determination of the people is clear,” he said, “the nation is overwhelmingly with us…against the PUP…(all the signs showed) inevitable general elections victory for the UDP.” Do the math. More loud applause.
The UDP manifesto for the renewal of Belize was still at the printers, he informed, but it would be ready by next week. He then proceeded to provide a brief description of the 21 core pledges of the UDP, the “building blocks of our party’s rescue mission for the country…on Freedom Day, February 7, 2008,” and how his party intended to achieve them.
Among the many goodies on the table for voters who place their precious X beside the Red are: lower electricity and telephone rates, reduced fuel costs, lower GST and ZERO rating on some goods, ZERO income tax for persons earning less than $650/week, infrastructure projects for Belize City and the districts, build 1,000 quality, affordable houses each year; immediate titles for house lots and small agric-plots, $300 direct annual subsidy for needy 1st and 2nd form students, fully equipped DNA testing facility for the police department, rejuvenate DFC for lending to small businesses, students and farmers; refurbish sugar roads, make Honorable Philip Goldson a National Hero (all stand and applaud), upgrade KHMH and all regional hospitals to provide quality service to the population, form a National Oil Company and make available a further 10% for sale to Belizeans, and a reform agenda that includes an empowered Senate.
After the UDP leader had exhausted the list of goodies to brighten the Belizean skies and landscape under the UDP 2008-13 umbrella, he submitted to questions from the media. And how will his party achieve all those goals when our country is strapped for cash? The party leader smiled. Haven’t you heard of the bright new Belizean industry…OIL? he countered. How will his party handle the referendum on the elected Senate? We will respect the results of the non-binding referendum…but we are advising our people to ignore it or vote NO, he said. How will his government handle the UHS debt? Only a court judgment will oblige us to pay, he said. Illegal foreigners? The party will offer “regularization” to those without papers. Unaccounted for money? The party will launch an immediate national investigation with the objective of recovering missing dollars. Santa Rosa? The party was a little leery of the formula…but they were grateful that the process of repatriation had started.
Morning turned mid-day, the media dismissed. The UDPees with bona fides – for example, Mr. Winston Michael, huddled long afterwards, tweaking, tightening, planning important strategy before dispersing for the trenches across the length and breadth of The Jewel. Thus ended Day 1 for the UDP.
The afternoon gave way to the Group of Three, for their message on reformed Belize. The sands drip slowly through the hourglass. What will the morrow bring? These are the hectic days of our lives…until the dust settles.