Last September, Moya, who had emerged in early 2005 as a vocal trade unionist, confidently offered up herself for candidacy and declared that she would become Belize?s next mayor. As she said then, she continues to reiterate that she is not making an issue of her gender, even though she feels good to know that she can be a positive role model for other women.

She has not yet been installed to serve in City Hall. A swearing-in ceremony for her and her 10 councilors is expected over the next few days. She is due to take office by next week.

Moya said that she never doubted that she would win. She said that on Election Day she started out her day with her usual prayers.

?I had placed it in God?s hand,? she expressed.

Today, it?s all smiles and celebration, though she still has to recover from a long day and night without any sleep, as she and her team stayed up until this morning to get the tally of voters for her municipality.

?I feel great. It was hard work,? she said. ?Truly I can see that hard work and dedication pay off. This one is for the people of Belize??

But the real work has yet to begin?and that is the work of running a city populated by roughly 60,000.

Asked what her areas of priority would be for the City, she responded: ?We had already said that we will ensure transparency and accountability. We will want that the people know what is happening in City Hall. Immediately we will take stock of resources. We will make sure we get a reporting of that to share with Belize City and we move on with our plan of action, our pledges.?

She does not plan to rely fully on Central Government to get the job done in Belize City. She said that she would seek out local and international agencies that have resources that would open up employment windows for young people. Apart from creating jobs, she also hopes to undertake projects to beautify the City.

In tackling the issue of crime, she said that she would first discuss the issue with police and then liaise with a resource group that would train people in crime prevention.

Another project she highlighted is ?community watch,? which would entail after-school programs for children.

As to concerns that a UDP City Council would not be able to carry out its functions if a different party, running Central Government, withholds resources, Moya said that she is trying to be positive.

?They should be there to ensure that we get the resources that an otherwise PUP council would get,? she said. ?I am hoping they will be mature and respect the wishes of the people and work with [us].?

While Moya speaks strongly of the work ahead of her, she did express that she felt good to be making history. She said that she really feels good to know that she has the support of both women and men.

She said that she and her councilors would meet to discuss what the areas of concentration would be for each person.

?I feel very strongly about the young people and ensuring job opportunities for residents of Belize City, so neighborhood/community support will be a big part of it,? she elaborated. ?We will be calling on different volunteers in the community and NGO?s to work with us and ensure that after school programs are in place and other organizations available to young people.?

Of particular concern is crime: ?We see the different violent crimes, rapes, robbery. We know that crime is a problem. The job opportunities and education opportunities for our residents will be the keys to ensuring equity, reducing crime rates.?

Moya said they will try to teach people to fish rather than give them a fish, to demonstrate the dignity to be independent and in control of their own destiny.

As for her, she has already embraced her destiny?as the first woman mayor of Belize City. Moya is jubilant about the honor that has been bestowed on her by Belizean voters. She was one among a pick of three independent candidates in Belize City. The other two were the ruling People?s United Party candidate, Marshall Nunez; and Esteven Perera, mayoral candidate for the New Alliance for Belizean Rights (NABR).

In San Pedro, another woman, Elsa Paz, won the mayoral seat for a second consecutive term.