7 News Belize

New City Council Sworn In
posted (March 16, 2012)
And while the FFB has a new executive, the City Council has a new mayor for the first time in 6 years.

Darrell Bradley and his team of councilors were sworn in at ceremonies this afternoon. And while it is one UDP council replacing another, the tone today was very different.

Here's what Bradley had to say for his term as mayor:..

Darrell Bradley - Mayor, Belize City
"I Darell Silvian Bradley duly elected as a member of the Belize City Council."

Jules Vasquez reporting
It was a familiar scene - the swearing of a UDP City Council - it's the third in six years - but the new Mayor Darrell Bradley was determined to change the tone of governance for his administration:

Darrell Bradley - Mayor, Belize City
"I also propose putting in place legislation and we intend to work with the Ministry of Local Government, for there to be a recall mechanism for Mayor and for City Councilors and for enshrining in the law tough penalties for those who misuse any public funds. We want residents of Belize City to know that we are serious about leadership, and I have chosen on this swearing in to speak about these things because now we don't have to worry about the election, that is finish. But these are not campaign promises; these are our sincere commitments to the residents of Belize City to do the right thing."

Now, doing the right thing should be their job - but former councils have veered far from that target so stating it seems like an Olympian declaration.

Godwin Hulse, Minister of Local Government
"The people look forward to a dynamic progressive deliverance of this city from the clutches of bad streets, overgrown areas, dirty drains and rotting garbage, and I am glad you have come before me that you are also fully committed to that. But I hasten to add that that is a given for this young dynamic council, and hopefully soon will fade into a mere memory of times past and road paves. The citizens look forward to urban renewal projects, the poverty alleviation programs and everything which will make them once again very proud and happy to be living here."

In the end though, residents of this city just want their streets paved, and their garbage picked up - but for streets you'll have to meet the cash-strapped council halfway:

Darrell Bradley - Mayor, Belize City
"We have heard from voters in Belize city that they want us to get back to basics, we must address the issue of proper streets and proper drains and it is my commitment here to you today that we will get it done. We will work to implement a 50/50 program where residents or businesses wish to provide fifty percent of the cost of fully paving their streets then the council will find the remaining half."

While former councils have been defined by turbulence and public administration woes, the Mayor says this one will be a love story.

Darrell Bradley - Mayor, Belize City
"I utterly love Belize City and I will spend three years to make it so that every single resident loves Belize City."

Later on we'll have more from City Hall as Bradley deals with his first challenge in office. It's a rogue council employee who may have fleeced tens of thousands of dollars from the council.

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