Ramon Vasquez is the UDP’s Standard Bearer for Belize Rural South

As the PUP cements its standard bearers across the country, the United Democratic Party is still battling and struggling to gain some sense of stability.  There is contention on the leadership level, and there is a new war waged in Caribbean Shores; but for Belize Rural South, Ramon Vasquez has been named as the new UDP Standard Bearer.  This month, amid the party’s power struggle, former San Pedro Mayor Daniel Guerrero withdrew his candidacy for Belize Rural South, after replacing Jazelie Azueta who had been removed after not supporting a UDP protest in San Pedro Town during the investment summit. Vasquez is the new face for that area, and was sworn in yesterday.  He is no political newcomer but has not been in the political arena for quite some time. Today, our newsroom spoke with Vasquez about his decision, which many might say came during a tumultuous time for the UDP.

Ramon Vasquez, UDP Standard Bearer, Belize Rural South: “There’s a saying progress brings problems and you would never be out of problems. Today you have wife problem, husband problem, pickni problem, money problem, and as soon as you solve a problem there’s another problem. In every house there’s chaos and fighting. Brother is fighting against brother, sister against one. The mother dies and they left the land afterwards they start to have turmoil, when you’re poor and broke nobody wants to help you. When they rich and so on they get in there, they want to take the land, take whatever. My point, I’m making I have seen where the United Democratic Party is having this internal turmoil. And again, being an older man, this is not the first time that I’ve seen this. I have seen this before under the UDP. I’ve seen where Dean Lindo has come in with his party joined with the liberal of Manuel Esquivel and also moved in with the neighbor from Philip Goldson and created a big force. But before that they were fighting, arguing, quarreling, disturbing. My point of making is there’s never going to be a situation that’s perfect all the time. And I have said to myself now is the time I can assist the United Democratic Party and as a justice of the peace, I am a man of the peace. So my advice to our party, the United Democratic Party, we are in turmoil, we cannot run away and escape the situation that is. For example, it is what it is. Now is the time to put aside, if we are fellow believers in Jesus, if we believe in our Lord and Savior then we cannot fight the way we chit chat about one another because words can kill. We need to galvanize that righteous spirit and come together as good people of this country of Belize.”

Our newsroom also spoke to Vasquez about his rationale for running in a constituency far from his home in Belize City. He explained why he opted to represent the islands of Caye Caulker and San Pedro, instead of filling the vacant post in Caribbean Shores following the removal of Andrew Bradley.

Ramon Vasquez, UDP Standard Bearer, Belize Rural South: “Well first of all the constitution of Belize says as long as you’re a Belizean, it never said you have to be born Belizean or naturalized Belizean. The constitution of Belize is very clear, any Belizean has a right who is 18 years old to offer him, herself, as a candidate to run for the general elections number one. This idea that you have to come from here or come from there that’s what was created over the time and maybe it makes life a little better but we’ve seen the very same people who have lived in those divisions once they get elected they run out of the division and they hide from the people. My answer to this, I indicated earlier that I am a son of the soil from Caye Caulker. I also mentioned that that is my visitation spot when many foreigners come or my brothers are here and also I think that Caye Caulker needs my help and San Pedro needs my help so that is the reason for me to decide to go there instead of a division in Belize City. I feel I can serve better there. I’ve seen they’ve got so many different problems, so many issues and not only that but like I said as a son of the soil from Caye Caulker who married that beautiful Caye Caulker lady, having my two uncles in Caye Caulker, my mother’s two brothers they’ve passed away now they’ve lived long years 89,90 years of age and they passed away seven ten years ago, their kids are there all cousins so I have a flood of cousins in Caye Caulker and for me that’s like my home. Secondly as you know under the other party there’s a gentleman who just won the Toledo East division he was a voter in Caribbean Shores and some people say he was born in Honduras how he doesn’t belong here he’s naturalized. Hey he has the right, the legitimate right, the bonafide right to run anywhere in the country of Belize in any division under any political umbrella so we cannot stop him and he’s a good man and I think he’s going to do great for his people and I wish him the best, he just got sworn in today. However he came from Caribbean Shores the evidence is there. I’m not denying that fact. I am a Freetown voter. I’ve been living here since 1990 at the family home so it’s many years but like I said Caye Caulker is like my home and you have the right to go and serve in any division you think you can help the people to the best of your ability, to the best of your capability.”

Vasquez says he hopes to begin campaigning soon under the slogan “Let’s go with Vasco”.