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The BPP: Not Your Average Political Party
posted (October 29, 2015)
And while the OAS is involved in the mechanics of the election, we in the media have to follow that and sift through the marketing hype of the election. In that vein, last week, we showed you the Manifesto launches from the PUP and the UDP.

As we told you launch styles differed greatly, but the Belize Progressive Party wants to completely differentiate itself from the mass parties. Firstly, they call their manifesto the "8867 Progressive Plan" including the country's total square mileage as part the name. Ok, that's so original, but Isn't it just like any other manifesto with a list of promises from yet another political party? That's what Daniel Ortiz tried to examine today. Here's that story:

Daniel Ortiz reporting
7 of the BPP's 25 Candidates, seated the head table, took on the different parts of what's called the 8867 Progressive Policy Plan.

They are politicians, but from their perspective - they'd prefer to be referred to as "Agents of Change". They also dislike the classification as a political party.

Patrick Rodgers - Leader/Freetown Candidate, BPP
"Forget the brand that we were given with party. We are a movement."

Paco Smith - Chairman, BPP
"Being avowed agents of change. This is standard of our repertoire of flipping the script. In other words presenting the electorate with the challenge of viewing matters of yet a different paradigm."

This progressive party plan looks and sounds like a manifesto, but because that word is associated with the two mass parties, don't you dare call this document that:

Paco Smith - Chairman, BPP
"The word manifesto is taboo in the BPP's dictionary. We shall not present to you a glossy document full of promises which has become the standard modus operandi for those other two political parties."

So, doth the BPP protest too much? It remains to be seen, but their Progressive policy - one touching on a wide range of topics has some hardline - almost radical changes.

Hipolito Bautista - BPP Candidate, Orange Walk South
"We want to limit the size of the cabinet to maximum 10 ministers. Also want to place a consecutive two term limit for the prime minister. We also want to register and regulate political parties and campaign financing. We are of the opinion that the corruption which plaques this nation finds its genesis in campaign financing."

Dr. Jose Espat - BPP Candidate, Albert Division
"The BPP will support a healthy diet by eating what we produced instead of eating what we import. The BPP shall therefore immediately conduct an assessment of unhealthy imported processed foods and ban it importation while developing affordable substitutes from home grown products. For example; Ramen will be among the first to be ban."

Robert "Bobby" Lopez - Campaign Manager/Bze. Rural South Candidate
"Cleaning up the hotbed of corruption ministry will be our top priority on November 5th taking office. For the first time our young people upon reaching the age of 18 and this applies to male and female, we make no distinction and those are the only two genders that we know about, will have an opportunity to receive a house-lot somewhere in the country upon registering to become an elector. No elected person and that includes every one of us here, because we have to set the example will be allowed to procure more than 50 acres of public land for farm use. I will call out on all you elected persons who have it - pick the best 50 acres guys, because the rest will be given to our people who have none. I don't care if it's cleared or what it is. You should not have gotten into office to enrich yourself upon the backs of the hard working Belizeans."

But, still, there is a certain sameness with the mass parties.

Elizabeth Dena - Freetown Candidate, BPP
"We shall create and execute a public awareness and campaign to promote a stronger Belizean family."

The BPP's Progressive Plan will be posted on the party's website at www.belizeprogressiveparty.org.

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