Dr. Osmond Martinez: From CEO to Political Candidate with Briceno’s Backing

The three candidates in this bi-election, aimed at replacing the late Honorable Michael Espat, are Dr Osmond Martinez, Dennis Desho Williams and Wil Maheia.  All three men have been working the ground hoping to garner votes in today’s elections.  We take a look at Martinez who quickly shifted from a CEO post to politics with plenty support from the Briceno administration.

Renee Trujillo, News Director: In December 2020, Dr. Osborne-Martinez was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry of Public Service. He was later moved to the Ministry of Economic Development in the same capacity, and within three years, he shifted into the political arena. He resigned as Chief Executive Officer on May 31, won the PUP Standard Bearer Convention on June 9, and by July 2 he was officially nominated to vie in today’s by-elections which could see him propel as a member of parliament. Martinez’s campaign had mere weeks to develop with the support of his colleagues in government, his family and supporters in Toledo East. 

Francis Fonseca, Area Representative Freetown: “So I’m very happy to join the campaign here at St. Benedict RC school this morning. I came in very early this morning and will be here throughout the day to support him. You know, he has worked with us in government over the past three and a half years as a CEO. We have a lot of confidence in him. So we believe he will be a good addition to our team in parliament.”

Rodwell Ferguson, Area Representative, Stann Creek West: “It was a very short campaign. But because of what he do, especially on the media and on a regular basis even before he declared himself as a candidate, the people saw his potential and what he can bring to Punta Gorda and the entire region. And so they are giving him confidence that today they are going to give him that support and let him become the representative for Toledo East. And so I’m very confident that we are going to win today. That’s no other way to say it because the people say the PUP is doing an excellent job and so  they want to return a candidate of the People’s United Party today.”

Carlos “Obeah” Galvez, Mayor of Punta Gorda: “I am stationed here at Methodist School, along with my council. What the party did is that they split all the municipalities. So you have, for example, I believe Orange Walk is placed as Methodist School. Another council is placed at Cattle Landing. Another council is placed at Forest Home. It is well organized, well structured, so you have ministers, area reps manning the polling stations.”

Renee Trujillo, News Director, Love FM: Perhaps the biggest supporter for Dr. Martinez in his campaign has been Prime Minister John Briceño. The PUP party leader has been in Toledo since Monday, meeting and greeting residents and campaigning in the Toledo East Division.

John Briceño, Prime Minister of Belize: “I feel the energy, the energy for party, the energy for supporters, because we have a good candidate. I mean, it’s easy to be able to talk to people and ask them to support Osmond because Osmond represents what public service is all about. That somebody that not only studied about poverty but he lives a life in poverty when he was a little kid. But these are wonderful examples of what you can do with hard work, determination, discipline, and how you can make your life better. And so I don’t think we could have a better example of a person who can represent the people, especially the people of Toledo East. Resources is always a challenge but when you have a good candidate, resources help. What’s most important is the candidate that you have. And so when you’re a great candidate like Osmond people come out, people offer themselves. You don’t have to be out there like pulling teeth to try and get them to come out. And that has been pretty easy with Osmond.”

Renee Trujillo, News Director, Love FM: Dr. Martinez has been at the various polling stations across Toledo East since the opening of the polls at seven this morning. Our news team caught up with him around two thirty in the afternoon and noted that he was in good spirits, still certain of a win, as he was some weeks ago. 

Dr.Osmond Martinez, PUP Standard Bearer, Toledo East: “It has been exciting. It’s an excitement, campaign time that we have had. A lot of work, a lot of sacrifice in terms of family sacrifice and then a lot of being on the road, visiting the different villages. We have 21 villages and one town to look at in the Toledo East. So we have been doing our part. We have been and at the same time having fun without missing the main objective which is to get the voters out today. I’m not worried about tonight, I’m worried about right now and my philosophy is that every minute has 60 seconds and I must maximize on it. So for me it’s just to focus now on what we have to do which is to get the voters out.”

Renee Trujillo, News Director: Osmond Martinez holds a doctorate in economics with a speciality in poverty alleviation and social development. Reporting for Love News, I am Renée Trujillo.