PUP Turns to Party Unity After Fierce Belize City Convention

With the convention process and results now behind it, the People’s United Party is shifting its attention from internal competition to unity ahead of the March 2027 municipal elections.  Party Chairman Henry Charles Usher acknowledged that conventions can be fierce and create tension between rival camps. He said, however, that all candidates and supporters must now work together if the party is to retain control of Belize City Hall. Usher added that those who were unsuccessful still have an important role to play in the campaign.

Henry Charles Usher, PUP Chairman: “Conventions always have their own dynamics and you know there’s always a side that feels a little bit hurt after a convention but they are all members of the People’s United Party these persons who applied, who have offered themselves and they have all pledged to work with the candidate that was that won with the team that won. So in terms of the work that the party has been doing it has been structured work from earlier this year we started this process we had a meeting of the national executive, we opened the window for persons to apply. We then had the application process, the vetting process, and then the setting of the dates for the conventions. Some areas are having endorsement conventions and those will come later on this year. And then of course the ones that we had to have elections in we’re completing that this Sunday.”

Minister Kareem Musa echoed those sentiments, saying any divisions that emerged during the campaign must now be put aside. He said the delegates have spoken and the party must rally behind its newly selected slate across all ten Belize City constituencies.

Kareem Musa, Caribbean Shores Area Representative: “This is a fight within our family today, within the very same party. And so, come tomorrow in my opinion, it doesn’t matter who wins, Deputy Prime Minister Cordell Hyde will rally behind them, Deputy Leader for the East Anthony Mahler will rally behind them. And so, we will come together at the end of this. This is an internal convention and so, yes while it is that there are high tensions today we have always managed to come together after a contested convention. This is not Anthony Mahler versus Cordell Hyde. Those two men can win different conventions on their own merits. Today is between Allan Pollard and Eliud Miller for Mayoral seat. It’s not between those two.”

The challenge for the PUP now will be transforming Sunday’s internal enthusiasm and political machinery into a unified campaign for the March 2027 municipal elections.