By Belize Live News Staff: The People’s United Party (PUP) showcased its unity and strength in Orange Walk Town over the weekend, where Prime Minister John Briceño and other key ministers were officially endorsed to run for another term. The event saw a resounding show of support for the Prime Minister, who expressed confidence in the PUP’s future success but made it clear that early elections are not on the horizon.
Despite the mounting pressure and the opposition United Democratic Party’s (UDP) internal struggles, Briceño emphasized the importance of fulfilling the full term to continue the government’s work. “I know it is tempting to call an election right now because, well, the UDP continues to implode. But we were elected for five years, and we still have a lot of work to do,” Briceño stated. He expressed confidence that the PUP’s achievements over the past three years and nine months would resonate with voters when elections are eventually called next year.
Briceño, who has represented Orange Walk Central since 1993, proudly highlighted the consistency of the PUP’s victories in his constituency and the party’s ongoing efforts to improve infrastructure and services in the Orange Walk District. Among the upcoming projects, he mentioned plans to extend electricity to San Carlos by December and to begin the first phase of road construction to Guinea Grass by year’s end.
The Prime Minister also reflected on the challenging state of the nation when he took office, noting the dire economic situation left by the previous administration. He credited the #planbelize initiative with turning the country around, citing significant achievements such as reducing the national debt from 133% to 67% of GDP and lowering unemployment to 3%.
Briceño’s optimism was echoed by other key figures at the convention, including Ministers Jose Mai, Ramon Cervantes Jr., and Kevin Bernard, who all spoke about the progress in their respective areas and the party’s vision for the future. With general elections expected by next November, the PUP is positioning itself as the party of stability and progress, aiming to continue its work for another five years.
