April of 2013 - that's when we first reported on Belize City Mayor Darrell Bradley's interest in running for Caribbean Shores. And in fact, that's what made it so tough for him to decide to run for another term as mayor, because the general election would come at the end of that second term, or earlier. But, the mayor decided he would do both: try and hold unto the mayor's seat and get into a division. That path seemed to have been simplified somewhat when word came from the Santino Castillo camp that he would not be running again. But Castillo never said it - and he remains the elected representative for Caribbean Shores. On Saturday at an event to declare open a drainage project in the area - he made it clear that if Bradley wanted a seat in the Shores - he would have to fight him to get it. Here are his remarks:..
Hon. Santino Castillo, Caribbean Shores Area Rep.
"The work of transforming and modernizing Caribbean Shores have only just begun, so don't listen to anyone that tells you that I will not be running again. That is what some of them wish. In fact, join me and let's continue that journey in 2015, 2016, 2017 and beyond. Together lets ensure a brighter future for all residents of Caribbean Shores. Anybody that wants to come to Caribbean Shores will have to come through me."
Mike Rudon, Ch5
"What is your relationship with Darrell Bradley?"
Hon. Santino Castillo, Caribbean Shores Area Rep.
"I have no relationship with Darrell Bradley, neither good nor bad. I barely speak to him any at all. We have no need to communicate really. It's been far and in between that we communicate. I think Mayor Bradley has done a good job in Belize City with the City Council and my personal take on it is that he should stay and finish the work for the next term. I'll be very honest, I'll be brutally frank, if the Prime Minister had come to me, in fact he told all of us that he wanted Darrell to run initially for Freetown and that was public knowledge and he didn't want him to contest me. But, we are a united democratic party and anybody who wants to contest me is entitle to do so. But if the Prime Minister had come to me and said Santi, I would like you to step down and give Darrell the seat, I would have done so. The Prime Minister is not only the Prime Minister and my boss, but my substantive minister and I will take his advice in every way and I had told him that the last thing I would want would be bloodshed in Caribbean Shores and I wouldn't mind being the bigger person and stepping down and going back to Santiago Castillo. But after checking with my captains and the residents of Caribbean Shores, I told him that the take was they wanted me to stay and he told me if that's what I want he will support me and that's the story right there."
Mike Rudon, Ch5
"Is it your belief that Mayor Darrell Bradley still has his eye on Caribbean Shores?"
Hon. Santino Castillo, Caribbean Shores Area Rep.
"I believe he does, to a certain extent and as I've said, I have no communication with the mayor and all the communication that we've had, I have to say has been positive and I would wish that he wouldn't do that to the party because, let's be honest, if we have a convention and I beat Darrell, his people will turn against me and he beats me, my people will turn against him and depending on how soon the election is, it will take time for those wounds to heal. So, I would expect him to be smart and be a team player and say you know what, Santi won that seat by 700 votes, I will leave him in there."
Geovannie Brackett, reporter
"The mayor is very ambitious, has done a lot of work and some would say his work is the most visible for the UDP. Are you in any way intimidated if you two should go to a convention?"
Hon. Santino Castillo, Caribbean Shores Area Rep.
"Not intimidated at all and nobody will question the work he has done. Take into to consideration that he got a 20 million dollar bond and he also got another 20 million dollars from government and as a businessman I can tell you it's very easy to spend money, it's very hard to pay it back."
Castillo then went on to hand out 30 leases for Cotton Tree land to his most loyal supporters. The Cotton Tree land was acquired by Government for distribution by UDP Representatives in landlocked areas - who can no longer find land in their division to give voters.
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