We open with political news again tonight as the race in Caribbean Shores continues to heat up.
Tonight two new names are being floated as possible candidates in a divisional convention.. They are Chandra Nisbet Cansino - and Mayor Zenaida Moya.
Nisbet Cansino comes from a strong UDP family in the Caribbean Shores and currently works at Social Security. Moya is the sitting mayor of the city - and has served out her party-decreed suspension so she can enter a party political contest.
Now, we stress these women have not officially declared an interest in the seat - we just know that some in the party have been trying to coax Cansino into the race, while Moya - who is out of the country - is very interested in finding a new political avenue after running into a dead end with her suspension.
And while we will know soon enough how serious they are - Ann Marie Williams has already made it clear that she is very, very serious.
She's formed her exploratory committee - and is going "all-in" with her candidacy.
Today, she told us why she thinks this is her time:..
Ann-Marie Williams
"I've made a decision because this is the story of my life. This is my life's work. I've done a great amount of advocacy around women's empowerment, among gender equality and we need change and in order to make Caribbean Shores the place we all want to live and need to live we must bring about the change as necessary and I represent the change we need to say. We've never had a woman for Caribbean Shores and this is the way to go."
Jules Vasquez
"The other two persons who have express interest in the seat. These are wealthy successful business people and we know that right now politics is a money game."
Ann-Marie Williams
"Well that's maybe where we went wrong as a country. All years we voted for people who have money rather and the right ingredient, division, intelligence and where to take this country and I think we are suffering as the result. Ordinarily a lot of times when people have money they want one more thing - more money and I have a proven track record and people in the division, people in Belize know me. They know what I stand for. They know exactly my work and speak for itself. I am hard working, I am committed, I am involve in my community, I sit on the Board of the YWCA, I volunteer for a lot of things, I am very strong in my church and this is the type of leadership we need to put forward."
Jules Vasquez
"These people have the backing of other business people who will support their campaign. Who do you have?"
Ann-Marie Williams
"I have the people on my side. It's the numbers...the numbers....the numbers. It doesn't matter how much money you bring. We've had people who had money and they'd lost. I campaign for the former Prime Minister Manuel Esquivel for two terms one of which he was very successful. I've campaign for the late Oscar Ayuso, so I have work the trenches unlike my opponents. People have seen me. I was a street captain, I use to stuff envelopes. I used to do all the things I needed to do to get where I need to get and that's why I know the time is opportune. It's for me an opportunity to do the things that I have preached and the things that I have worked my entire life for. It's not that somebody say 'Ann-Marie I want you to run,' no. It is something I am committed to do because I see ways how Caribbean Shores can move forward."
Jules Vasquez
"If we look in practical terms at your political record. In 1996 you lost in a convention to Boots Martinez I recalled and in 2002 you lost the bid you made for the mayoral candidacy [Ann-Marie Williams - my 80 votes] you don't have a great track record of victory in conventions. Sometimes you love the game, but the game doesn't love you."
Ann-Marie Williams
"Well a lot of people don't have a victory in conventions but a lot of times we find that people who start out conventions - look at Sedi Elrington, who lost more conventions and elections than him and look where he is. All I am saying is that a lot of times the people that you are trying to reach are not exactly where they need to be and that's why I feel the change is now and the time is right. It's time for us to wake up. We've had this type of leadership; let us make a change to see what we can have differently. If this serve you well then there is no need to change. If it hasn't serve you well and I have lived in Caribbean Shores and I don't think it serves us well and so now I am offering myself. Let us to this differently. It's an opportunity that needs to be ceased. This is seed time, the work begins and we are preparing for the harvest."
And while Ann-Marie has come out of the gate to the media first, we understand Perdomo's handpicked successor Mike Singh is already in the divisional office and is backed by Perdomo's Committee - even though, we stress incumbent Standard Bearer Carlos Perdomo has not stepped down yet. He is expected to do so tomorrow - and from there they move towards a fiercely contested convention - possibly as early as Sunday December fourth.
Singh today told us he is not concerned about facing a contested convention - and expects that with the support of the Perdomo Committee - he has a significant edge.
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