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An Officer, A gentleman, And A Politician?! Major Mira Explains His PUP Passion
posted (August 27, 2013)
And while Hegar is fighting to get back into Belmopan for the PUP, a newcomer is hoping to come from behind the steal the show. He is Oscar Mira, a major in the BDF, who's leaving his military career to get into politics. Seems like a big gamble to us, but Mira explained why he's getting into the race:…

Jules Vasquez
"Mr. Mira tell me why are you leaving an excellent career in the military to go into something as speculative as politics?"

Major Oscar Mira (Ret'd) - PUP Aspirant for Belmopan
"Jules, I've been thinking about this for a long while. It has been over 21 years in the Military - the first course that I did the motto was 'Serve to Lead' and I have been serving my country and I have done everything to serve my country for the past 21 years and I believe that there is another way that I can serve the people in the country of Belize."

Jules Vasquez
"Deputy Leader for the West, Julius Espat, has his favorite candidate who is Mr. Andrews so then it would appear that you're entering as an underdog."

Major Oscar Mira (Ret'd)
"Well, I wouldn't want to speak for Mr. Espat and who he is supporting but I believe in a democracy you are free to support whoever you want. At the end of the day, the people in Belmopan will decide."

Jules Vasquez
"Do you feel that that is your strength - the Latin base or Central American base or residents of Belmopan?"

Major Oscar Mira (Ret'd)
"Well of course, I am the son of an immigrant - my dad came from El Salvador many years ago and we settled in the SalvaPan area in Belmopan - that's where I grew up and went to school. My younger brothers were born in Belmopan and I believe of the peripherals will definitely will definitely support someone that came from that area."

Jules Vasquez
"Should it be a concern for John Saldivar that one of this most senior personnel in the Ministry of National Security is now trying to be his opponent in a political race?"

Major Oscar Mira (Ret'd)
"I don't think so, this is about Belmopan - this is not about me and John Saldivar."

Jules Vasquez
"This should become a concern from a security perspective that you are among the most senior intelligence officers in the country - you worked with BDF intelligence and then you worked at the National Security Council Secretariat so then you would have been the collator and of a vast area of intelligence and information - is that something that should concern the government?"

Major Oscar Mira (Ret'd)
"Of course not - I gave 21 years of my life to the Security of this country, I don't believe that in a few months I will give up all that I have worked for 21 just for the betterment of myself or my political career - NO."

Jules Vasquez
"In order to gain an advantage in politics, perhaps to endure the leader of a part - you could say Party Leader I have very good knowledge of XY and Z."

Major Oscar Mira (Ret'd)
"No, Jules - my 21 years will not be in vain. I hold the security of this country very much at heart."

Jules Vasquez
"Some people in the PUP, perhaps who don't want you to run, would want another candidate for Belmopan assume that John Saldivar planted you into this race. You don't have any outstanding PUP credentials, you're not known as a big time PUP and the last person you worked for and very closely with was John Saldivar who is the incumbent in Belmopan."

Major Oscar Mira (Ret'd)
"Jules I don't even want to answer those speculations because that's all it is. I come from a PUP family, I was in the army and of course I couldn't show my political affiliation - that's protocol and that's what we learnt."

Mira's candidacy was formally launched this afternoon in Belmopan. The convention is set for early November.

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