Last night we told you about Steven Okeke's candidacy as independent mayor for Belize City. He is one of at least three persons who will offer themselves an independent mayoral candidate.
And "The Garden City", Belmopan will also have at least three persons offering themselves as independent Mayors.
They are Marlon Skeen, Paul Morgan and Rudy Wade.
Today, we spoke to Wade and Morgan.
Morgan's candidacy is a surprise because after making history in the 2009 municipals when the VIP Belmopan Slate came in second, ahead of the PUP, he seemed to step back.
That was confirmed when Marlon Skeen announced that he would be running as the VIP's candidate for Mayor.
But suddenly last week it was announced that he would be stepping aside - and then suddenly this week, Morgan was back as the VIP's Mayoral candidate.
Today in Belmopan, we asked him what led to the change-up:..
Paul Morgan, VIP's Mayoral Candidate
"In respect to Mr. Marlon Skeen, I would say that in any organization there are times when disagreements occur and one of the things we do in our party is that we do things by consensus."
Jules Vasquez
"My question is 'Ok, a disagreement occurred, did you step in to fill a hole or did Marlon Skeen step out to make room for you?'"
Paul Morgan, VIP's Mayoral Candidate
"No, we don't make room for each other in the VIP, what happened, let me try to explain again and I am sorry if I didn't explain."
Jules Vasquez
"No, no maybe I didn't understand."
Paul Morgan, VIP's Mayoral Candidate
"Well let me try again, what happened was that we had a disagreement; we had several disagreements over time. The disagreements were linked to two issues. They were linked to leadership, and they were linked to the direction, philosophy. And when you do have differences - one against many - then the one must be gracious enough to say well this might not be really what I want and step out."
Jules Vasquez
"Ok, but you still have not answered my question, Mr. Morgan. Did you step in to fill a hole that was left, a breach that was left, after Mr. Skeen officially departed?"
Paul Morgan, VIP's Mayoral Candidate
"Well, Mr. Skeen departed and so yes I filled in for my party. I will always do that for my party. So yes I stepped in to fill a hole."
Jules Vasquez
"These things happened, good. Now you came in second; your slate came in second the last time which is unprecedented history but."
Paul Morgan, VIP's Mayoral Candidate
"Congratulate us please."
Jules Vasquez
"Indeed, but close only counts in a few things, horse shoes is one of them. Do you expect to improve on that, having lost the momentum because the leader of the slate stepped back?"
Paul Morgan, VIP's Mayoral Candidate
"I don't know that we have lost momentum. In fact, I think we have increased momentum now if you take time and go look at what and listen to what "Belmopaneze" are saying. We have increased our momentum now, and the march is on, and there is no stopping us right now; Jules you will see, on March 7th there will be news for Belize and for the Caribbean."
Morgan says that even though Skeen has left the VIP slate, it was an amicable separation, and as counter-intuitive as it sounds, they support his candidacy.
We're not sure if they do the same for Rudy Wade. You'll remember him as the faithful PUP who left the fold last year after he was denied the opportunity to contest the party convention in Cayo South.
Well, now the old Agripino Cawich supporter has re-emerged as independent mayoral candidate in Belmopan.
He says he's the right man at the right time:..
Rudy Wade, Independent Mayoral Candidate
"I call on the residents of Belmopan, they tried the red and they tried the blue, and so it's time for a change. I am offering myself as an independent candidate. I've been around I know the issues facing Belmopan. I have traveled I know what's good streets are; I know what good drainage is, and I have been around."
"As a former member of the police special force and member of the Belize Defense Force, I know the situation on crime, and I know that I have a solution, and I could make Belmopan a safer place for the residents."
"I think the voters of Belmopan now, they should start to look at the individual and see what they stand for. I mean, I've been trying from 1996, Jules, and I stand for one thing - for the poor people, and again I know the issues facing Belmopan. I live it and I have a solution."
Jules Vasquez
"We know Mr. Paul Morgan made history when he came in second in the last election. He led a slate to second. Obviously, if there is an independent or none PUP/UDP mayor it would have to be that he would be the favorite."
Rudy Wade, Independent Mayoral Candidate
"Well you know, Jules, at the time he was the only independent candidate, right? And like I said, I've been in this city; my family ties in this city, and I have been in this city since the late 70s. So I have strong family ties in this city, and I have a lot of friends, and a lot of support."
Marlon Skeen is the other independent candidate for Mayor.
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