UDP Unveils Tech-Infused Manifesto Days Ahead of Municipal Elections

There are just days to go until the March 6 Municipal Elections and political parties are in high gear. Today, the United Democratic Party’s Municipal slate shared with the media its three-year manifesto, which the team has been using on the campaign trail. The Councilor Candidates explained that they took a different approach to this manifesto and incorporated the use of technology. They also spoke about the three pillars that guide their manifesto which they refer to as the three Es.

Alicia Crag, Councilor Candidate:“We decided to be a little bit creative this year because most of the time when people get their manifesto the paper based ones they probably look at it for the day and then it gets lost. So here at the back of our manifesto we have a QR code. So you take your cellphone, you take your camera out, you scan the QR code and it will take you to a link which will expand and explain more about our plans for the next three years that we have to improve the city.”

Tyrone Loriano, Councilor Candidate: “We want to talk about that people have been clamoring while we’re on the ground is some form of financial relief and we plan to achieve this through our tax reform and our tax relief program that we plan to implement upon taking office. Also people have also been worrisome about our ability to maintain integrity and so upon taking office one of those things that we’ll do is that we’re going to d oa full financial audit of the council which will then allow us to continue to present a biannual financial report.”

Leon Guild, Councilor Candidate: “Under the second which is environment we have some innovative ideas that we’d link to bring to the ciy. We also know that there’s always a problem with flooding whenever the rainy season comes or we have a storm we have inundations and it does a lot of damage. Past councils and past ministries have invested in infrastructure to deal with the drainage before but all of these seem to have failed us. We’re bringing to the table some innovative, simple ways to handle the drainage problem plaguing Belize City. And then with the garbage we already met with one of the partners, Belize Waste Control, with the maintenance and the handling of the garbage here within the city.”

Samson Jacobs, Councilor Candidate: “I have the good opportunity to present the last E which is Equity and while it’s a six letter word it carries a weight in terms of our manifesto. Equity ensures the buy in of everybody, all stakeholders and whatever resources we have it will be able to be shared among everybody regardless  of your age, culture, sex.”

UDP’s mayoral candidate, Nelma Mortis, says that the manifesto plays a key role in keeping herself and her team accountable to the people of Belize City.

Mortis added that the manifesto is guided by various studies as well as concerns raised by the residents of Belize City that were told to the team while campaigning.