7 News Belize

Amidst Speculation, Mayor Says He Isn’t Going Anywhere
posted (December 3, 2014)

Has Belize City Mayor Darrell Bradley resigned? Well, that's the strong report we got this afternoon. As we told you on Monday, he's very frustrated with Central Government and his own council for a number of reasons. But is it enough to make him do the unthinkable and resign three months before a municipal election?

Well, reports to our newsroom on Monday said that he packed up his office. But what really has the Mayor done?

We caught him just a few minutes ago at a tree-lighting in downtown Belize City. Santa Claus hat and all that's what Daniel Ortiz asked him. Because of time constraints, we air the interview uncut:

Daniel Ortiz

"We have received persistent reports that you have tendered your resignation and that is has not been accepted, have you done such thing?"

Darrell Bradley, Mayor - Belize City

"I don't know where you get that from because it makes not sense for somebody to resign 3 months at the end of their office. That's very illogical, I don't see how one can say that. I am the mayor of Belize City, I will remain the mayor of Belize City. We have an election in a very short period of time, it makes absolutely no sense for someone to resign."

Daniel Ortiz

"But sir we have received persistent reports from persons who interact with you regularly. They told us you have said to them, look I the roll, I am tired of this. Has that happened?"

Darrell Bradley

"They mayor's term is 3 years. There's no resignation, I haven't resigned, I'm not intending to resign. I'm out here, we're finalising the municipal workers regulation. That was something I was talking to the various media houses on. I'm hoping this can go into effect the 17th of December. We're looking at starting our commercial centre project, which is right behind us."

Daniel Ortiz

"But sir we are told that you've been having difficulty with getting that buy in from central government for this commercial center renovation and that has caused you some grief."

Darrell Bradley

"To tell me that the job of mayor and to be in politics is difficult, is to tell me nothing. To tell me you're going to get opposition and obstacles and problems, is to tell me nothing. People elected me to be a problem solver, so bring solutions. I think we've done a lot of that in the infrastructure, in the parks and the accountability and the transparency. I've faced those things since I got elected, why would I think those things will change going out of office or coming on to an election, I don't understand the scope of your question."

Daniel Ortiz

"The premise we make is this assertion is what we've been hearing because we're told that you've been resisting accepting those BML workers on that central government has committed to. We've also received information that you're out voted for the renewal of the city administrator's contract and we're told that was the straw that broke the camel's back."

Darrell Bradley

"Let me make clear, I am regularly outvoted in city council. The city council is a democracy, there's 11 people, i'm the mayor, I chair the meeting. But in terms of the authority, the council has to vote on resolutions and sometimes you have division of opinion, that's part of being a leader. The other thing that you asked me was in the BML workers. I've made no secret about that I have done the numbers myself. I think that when you add 170 persons on to a staff, that fundamentally changes the character of the organisation. This is something that has kept me up at night, it's something that i'm deeply concerned about in relation to assuring members of the public that the city council can continue to deliver significant amounts of project activities and infrastructure and also absorb comfortably 170 people. I've made no secret in relation to the fact that is an issue, but the city council has faced a lot of issues. When we got into office we had mounting debts, we've paid off a substantial amount of our debts. A first tranche of the municipal bond will be paid off this December, so we're paying off the municipal bonds. In politics I find sometimes you roll with the punches. There's some good, there's some bad, it's a difficult job, but people elected me to serve 3 years in office and i'm going to serve 3 years."

As you heard, the Mayor does not deny that he has had differences in opinion on recent issues but he says that they are not enough to make him pack up and leave. He says that he is planning for his re-election campaign.

Home | Archives | Downloads/Podcasts | Advertise | Contact Us

7 News Belize