And while Musa was playing politics on the basketball court - we didn't see him today at the PUP Belize City manifesto launch. That's probably because the man who replaced him as Deputy Leader for the East, Antony Mahler was there running the show - along with the National Deputy Cordel Hyde.
The Manifesto Launch comes a little late into the campaign - but today the PUP team told us getting it right takes time. We were there in the rain and Jules Vasquez reports:…
Symbolically, it may have seemed like a good idea to have the manifesto launch on a basketball court in the mayoral candidate's old neighborhood - but when a sunny day once again turned into a rainy day - it was a challenge with sheets of rain tunneling down from the tents.
But even if there were currents of water running on the ground all that rain didn't dampen the vibe under the tent - where the PUP past and present seemed at ease:
Jules Vasquez
"If hindsight were foresight you would say maybe we shouldn't have it on a basketball court but why is this area important to you?"
Bernard Wagner - PUP Mayoral Candidate
"Very important Jules, this is the area myself grew up and I believe it is the area where many of our candidates are still living in. I felt that it was a home coming for us so to speak, that it was important for us to connect back with my neighborhood to connect back with how I grew up and connect back with the people."
And that's the name of the manifesto which supporters seemed to be learning by heart.
But Wagner says it has mass appeal as well:
Bernard Wagner
"Good governance, important to people out there you know Jules. People are sick and tired of people going into office, getting elected to office and not reporting back to them how we spent your money. That's why we established a municipal public accounts committee which will be an oversight body, a watch dog body for our council made up of a 6 member team which 4 coming from civil society. That's important to the voter out there Jules."
Oscar Arnold - PUP Councillor Candidate
"Meeting with the chamber of commerce they pretty much broke down to us the issues, the problems that businesses were facing. The high trade license, the arbitrary raising of trade licenses, property taxes for businesses that have been here that's been doubled in some cases quadrupled. We have reached out to them, they represent almost 7,000 business country wide and we reached out to them and say listen you are a big part of what happens in Belize City, you guys drive the creation of jobs, what can we do as city managers."
An animated Party Leader John Briceno just wants them to manage a victory in a city the PUP has not won a municipal election in since 2003:
Hon. John Briceno
"We can see it, we can feel it in the air that Belize City is ready for Bernard Wagner and the PUP. They could give away rum, they give away expired plates, they could give us telephones, they could give you scholarships, they could give you money and we will take it and we are going to vote for Bernard Wagner and the PUP."
And while the party seemed to have already started - there's still a tough two weeks to go:
Bernard Wagner
"I believe that our message will bring us through, our message of hope for the people, putting the people center. I believe at the end of the day the people know that we are authentic and we are not putting on."
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