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7news was there:...

Jules Vasquez reporting
The PUP today introduced their ten councilor candidates and their mayor at Independence Hall. The names and faces are fresh - many of them new to the PUP - but their message had a familiar ring:

Karen Bodden, PUP Mayoral Candidate
"We are sick and tired of being sick and tired. The energy to rage against the onslaught on poverty, neglect and all other forms on injustices has dissipated. Being replaced with a worrisome state of apathy. However, I come before you this morning to say that the present status quo of city management or as we have come to know it - city mismanagement is not acceptable. I am here to say no to the conditions that currently exist but most importantly I am here to say that hope is alive and blazing in the resilient spirit of every resident of this city."

And while mayoral candidate Bodden leads the charge - her councilors are earnest and plain spoken - like 22 year old candidate Swami Babani:

Swami Babani, Topped Poll in Convention
"I want to set the example for other youths to put their all in. I am sure that whatever they do they can accomplish it with the right amount of desire and I feel that we can have more programs, get our youths involve."

Jules Vasquez
"How would you answer those people who say that you are speaking from a position of inexperience?"

Swami Babani, Topped Poll in Convention
"Well I may be inexperience, I am the youngest candidate and I am sure I have a considerable amount of mistakes I'll make but we are here trial and error. I feel I can properly serve our city. I have the devotion and charisma for the people and I think with hard work and dedication we can bring back our city."

Jules Vasquez
"The criticism against you, I'll be straight up - will be that what do you know about city council, you are a DJ?"

Lennox "Dj Tambran" Young, PUP Candidate
"See what happen is that a lot of things change Jules, we tell our self that we have a lot of people who know about city council and they still fail. It is time to make a change. I personally see a lot things and I am involve in a lot of things. But I think it's only basics, this thing is not any brainstorming, people are suffering. The drains, potholes, garbage - those things are for us to come together and get the job done."

The rootsy campaign is an interesting turn for the PUP - which has gone from electoral heights to its own special period:

Hon. Francis Fonseca, PUP Party Leader
"People don't want miracles you talked about and I think you are right. People don't want to hear any grand plans for Belize City; they don't want us to be building anything in the sea. What they want is for us to get back to the basics - get back to the fundamentals; they want their garbage collected, they want their streets fixed, the want the basics goods and services delivered for Belize City, the fundamentals. So that has been our advice to our team, get back to the basics; meet with the residents in their homes, on the streets, in their communities and tell them what you are going to do about the basics."

And for voters, the basic issue is where will the money come from:

Karen Bodden, PUP Mayoral Candidate
"Money or the lack of it may be a factor but the determinant factor is the quality of leadership that exists. There are various options....."

Karen Bodden, PUP Mayoral Candidate
"One person asks 'you keep talking about change, what change are you referring to?' I am not referring about political change; I am referring to the change of our attitude and behavior. I am actually looking at re-education that our people can begin to understand that there is a cost to everything and if we put ourselves together then we can come up with the cost that we need."

And while that seems well meant enough, the challenge for the PUP is about more than putting together catchy slogans - the party has to re-learn how to win elections:

Jules Vasquez
"Do you feel that there is a pressure upon you as new leader to at least deliver 4 municipal victories or is there a threshold you feel that you need to win in at least a certain number of municipalities to validate your leadership?"

Hon. Francis Fonseca, PUP Party Leader
"No, I don't think so Jules, obviously I've been the leader of the party for just two weeks, so I don't feel any pressure on us to win but I Feel pressure that we put together the best teams that we can. We are going to fight hard every step of the way Jules but I am not afraid of losing. That's one thing, I am not afraid of losing. We have to fight hard, we have to work hard every single day and the end of the day of course political parties is about winning elections so that we can provide better services to the residents of Belize City. But at the end of the day we will respect the termination of the people."

Jules Vasquez
"You spoke about the teams going out and the party needs to equip them. Mark Espat, (I pull this from my email) when he sent out this letter to standard bearers when he decided not to run as leader. The pre-occupation you shared regarding the party's electioneering and operational machinery - these units quickly must become battle ready, Is that process accomplished or is that in the works?"

Hon. Francis Fonseca, PUP Party Leader
"That is definitely ongoing, that has not been accomplish, that is ongoing. That is absolutely critical, we have to become battle ready. That is very a difficult process - a very challenging process. But I believe we are putting in place the right people and we are putting in place the right structure for that to happen."

Jules Vasquez
"Do you think it will happen by municipals?"

Hon. Francis Fonseca, PUP Party Leader
"It absolutely will happen. It will happen before the end of this year. We will be battle ready before the end of this year."