Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BELIZE198
2006-03-01 17:10:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Belmopan
Cable title:
BELIZE: RUN-UP TO THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHBE #0198 0601710 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 011710Z MAR 06 FM AMEMBASSY BELIZE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9745 INFO RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 0025 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0266
UNCLAS BELIZE 000198
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
DEPT FOR WHA/CEN - JASON MACK
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KWMN ECON PINR BH
SUBJECT: BELIZE: RUN-UP TO THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS
REF: A) BELIZE 20; B) BELIZE 105
UNCLAS BELIZE 000198
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
DEPT FOR WHA/CEN - JASON MACK
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KWMN ECON PINR BH
SUBJECT: BELIZE: RUN-UP TO THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS
REF: A) BELIZE 20; B) BELIZE 105
1. (SBU) The ruling Peoples United Party (PUP) recently
had manifesto launches in nine municipalities. The Belize
City event focused on lower taxes, more jobs and good
governance. Some observers have contrasted the PUP's event
with the more subdued UDP Plan of Action launch (REF A).
Leader of the Opposition Dean Barrow has stated that he may
resign as UDP Leader if his party does not have a good
showing in the March 1 municipal elections (REF B).
2. (SBU) The Association of Concerned Belizeans (ACB) was
unsuccessful in recent attempts to organize a formal
televised debate among the Belize City candidates, but the
ACB appears to have met with some success in its media
campaign requesting, in Creole, for Belizeans to - "vote yu
mind" (vote your mind),and not to sell their vote for a
"dollar beer" (inexpensive beer often flows at political
rallies) (REF B).
3. (SBU) The upstart "third party," Vision Inspired by the
People (VIP),Mayoral Candidate Paul Morgan appears to have
built a small, but loyal, following. In a recent
conversation with PolOff, Morgan said that, win or lose in
Belmopan, he will take the VIP onward to become a national
party. VIP has received good press from both The Reporter
and Amandala newspapers. For the first time in its almost
30-year existence, Belize's most widely read newspaper,
Amandala, has not endorsed either the PUP or UDP, and has,
instead, written extensively about the desire for change.
4. Historically, the municipal elections have been
significant indicators of national politics, and predictors
of change in party leadership. If the PUP has a strong
showing, the party may decide to take advantage of the
victory and call early general elections. Alternatively, if
the UDP carries the day, the PUP would likely opt not to
call general elections until 2008.
DIETER
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
DEPT FOR WHA/CEN - JASON MACK
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KWMN ECON PINR BH
SUBJECT: BELIZE: RUN-UP TO THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS
REF: A) BELIZE 20; B) BELIZE 105
1. (SBU) The ruling Peoples United Party (PUP) recently
had manifesto launches in nine municipalities. The Belize
City event focused on lower taxes, more jobs and good
governance. Some observers have contrasted the PUP's event
with the more subdued UDP Plan of Action launch (REF A).
Leader of the Opposition Dean Barrow has stated that he may
resign as UDP Leader if his party does not have a good
showing in the March 1 municipal elections (REF B).
2. (SBU) The Association of Concerned Belizeans (ACB) was
unsuccessful in recent attempts to organize a formal
televised debate among the Belize City candidates, but the
ACB appears to have met with some success in its media
campaign requesting, in Creole, for Belizeans to - "vote yu
mind" (vote your mind),and not to sell their vote for a
"dollar beer" (inexpensive beer often flows at political
rallies) (REF B).
3. (SBU) The upstart "third party," Vision Inspired by the
People (VIP),Mayoral Candidate Paul Morgan appears to have
built a small, but loyal, following. In a recent
conversation with PolOff, Morgan said that, win or lose in
Belmopan, he will take the VIP onward to become a national
party. VIP has received good press from both The Reporter
and Amandala newspapers. For the first time in its almost
30-year existence, Belize's most widely read newspaper,
Amandala, has not endorsed either the PUP or UDP, and has,
instead, written extensively about the desire for change.
4. Historically, the municipal elections have been
significant indicators of national politics, and predictors
of change in party leadership. If the PUP has a strong
showing, the party may decide to take advantage of the
victory and call early general elections. Alternatively, if
the UDP carries the day, the PUP would likely opt not to
call general elections until 2008.
DIETER