On the Campaign Trail: Prime Minister Briceno Vies to Break UDP Stronghold in Upcoming Elections

Prime Minister John Briceno was on the campaign trail today in Belize City in hopes of strengthening the campaign for his standard bearers, particularly in the stronghold areas for the United Democratic Party. Earlier today he did a walkthrough in the Mesopotamia constituency, with Lawrence Ellis.  The division has been consistently controlled by the UDP since 1979, but the PUP says its planning to change that. Ellis is one of the three candidates contesting the division.  Both UDP Leader Moses “Shyne” Barrow and businessman Lee Mark Chang have offered themselves under the UDP banner. Our newsroom was in the area and spoke to Briceno about his decision to walk the constituency and why he believes the PUP will be able to secure a victory in Mesopotamia this election. 

John Briceño, Prime Minister of Belize: “It’s a shame that the UDP has controlled this division, yet they’ve done very little. And now we have a candidate that grew up in this area, whilst he didn’t  necessarily grew up here in Mesopotamia, he grew up right here in Queen Square, right next door. So Lawrence, when he came to talk to me and said, this is something that he wants to do, I grilled him properly, I said are you sure this is what you want to do? Because you’re going to go into a division that’s very difficult, it’s tough, traditionally UDP. But he explained that he lives in the area, he knows the people, he understands what are the challenges and he believes that he can bring with his, not only living here understanding people, but being a business person that he can be able to come up with innovative ways in helping the people in the Mesopotamia Division. As we’re coming closer to election you’re feeling a momentum and I am convinced right now that this is the time that we can break that spell, a spell that has been cast over the people of Mesopotamia since 1979. It doesn’t matter who runs for the UDP. I think the people for these 40 plus years have seen that the UDP has never really truly represented them. And when you look at how this place looks, you know, all of these abandoned lots, you know, and the state of disrepair that people are living in this squalor you know, you need a representative that is prepared to come in, roll up his or her sleeves and work for the people. So it doesn’t matter if they have 100 UDPs or whatever kind of piece. People have decided. I just met a lady just now and she kind of hesitantly, kind of admitted to me you know I did vote UDP but the former area representative, because there’s none right now, really let us down. She said, and this  one time, I really believe I’m going to vote for Lawrence and to see if we can do better in Mesopotamia. And like I tell everybody, give Lawrence an opportunity and if he does not do well, then change him. But give him a chance, try something different. You’ve been voting the same way from 1979 and look at how this place looks. With a good representative, with somebody like Lawrence, I am confident that we can do much better for the people of Mesopotamia.”

For Ellis, the PM’s presence in the area is a major boost to his campaigning efforts. He spoke about the confidence he has going into the elections and the feedback he’s received from residents.  

Lawrence Ellis, PUP Standard Bearer, Mesopotamia: “This visit today is a clear indication that the leadership of the People’s United Party is willing to work and is willing to take back Mesop. I’m working hard in this division every day. The people of Mesop need to understand that there’s no future under the UDP. They have been here for 46 years and this division is lacking in many ways. So my presence here and the Prime Minister’s presence here is a clear indication that the People’s United Party is willing to take back Mesopotamia for the people of Mesop. Well of course it helps that the votes will be split but from all indication that this division is ready to change from UDP to PUP. That’s a clear indication from the people. They are fed up. They are fed up with the present leadership and with the way how Shyne Barrow disrespects them every day. Everybody in Mesop if you talk to them they have a horror story to tell you about how he disrespects them. Because the division is going to go from red to blue, Lee Mark is still a member of the United Democratic Party. And as a member of the United Democratic Party, they are divided, they are split. He doesn’t have any, he has nothing to offer the people in Mesop.”

Ellis is a businessman and a first-time politician.