Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BELIZE237
2006-03-16 13:51:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Belmopan
Cable title:  

BELIZE: FIRST WOMAN MAYOR FOR BELIZE CITY SEEMS TO

Tags:  PGOV PREL KWMN PINR BH 
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VZCZCXYZ0011
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBE #0237 0751351
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 161351Z MAR 06
FM AMEMBASSY BELIZE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9801
INFO RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS BELIZE 000237 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR WHA/CEN - JASON MACK

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KWMN PINR BH
SUBJECT: BELIZE: FIRST WOMAN MAYOR FOR BELIZE CITY SEEMS TO
MEAN BUSINESS

REF: A) BELIZE 20

UNCLAS BELIZE 000237

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR WHA/CEN - JASON MACK

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KWMN PINR BH
SUBJECT: BELIZE: FIRST WOMAN MAYOR FOR BELIZE CITY SEEMS TO
MEAN BUSINESS

REF: A) BELIZE 20


1. (U) Zenaida Moya, the second woman mayor in Belizean
history (after current United Democratic Party (UDP) Mayor
Elsa Paz of San Pedro),was inaugurated on Thursday March 9.
She is the first woman to become mayor of Belize City -- the
largest urban area in the nation -- and also its first UDP
mayor in 16 years.


2. (SBU) After taking the oath of office, Moya delved
straight into the business of property taxes and contracted
services. Moya followed through on the "Plan of Action"
manifesto released in January (Ref. B),announcing a program
to stimulate property tax payments by granting on time
payment incentives of 10%, and up to 25% for seniors over

65. According to Moya, last year less than 50% of
projected taxes actually were collected. Moya's rendition
of the costs of outsourced garbage collection and street
sanitation services to the citizens of Belize City brought
on collective gasps and cries from the crowd of supporters.
The crowd also appeared surprised to hear Moya's report that
outgoing Belize City Mayor David Fonseca was recorded as
having BZ$237,000 in outstanding salary advances. As mayor,
Fonseca reportedly earned BZ$36,000 annually. Totaling all
the Belize City Council's expenses, Moya reported that the
City is running a deficit of BZ$9 million instead of the
projected surplus of BZ$2 million.


3. (SBU) Comment: Moya's speech was largely devoid of
rhetoric and, instead, full of cold facts and figures. She
apparently wanted to convey the impression that, as mayor,
she would get straight to business and conduct it
transparently. Now she will face the difficult challenges
of cleaning up Belize City -- both literally and
figuratively.

DIETER