Last week, channel 7 asked Hon. Finnegan to reflect on good Belizean politicians to which the Minister responded,” Dean Russell Lindo and Said Wilbert Musa”. Now I would never challenge Honorable Finnegan’s observations since he definitely possesses more sagacity and experience than I will ever have. But with due respect, the Honorable does not have much exposure to electoral politics in OW, which is the home-ground of party politics all seasons in the Year, election time or not. Here I have to tip my hat to the PUP for their tenacity and doggedness in never letting up. And it’s not just via their radio and TV outlets that we see them. They have a standing committee of educated PUP die-hards who meet frequently to strategize to advise the hierarchy of the Pary. In addition, the secretariat in town has a database on all electors and soon to be electors. Birthday cards are frequently delivered by PUP foot soldiers whether one is Red or Blue. Each senior citizen in OW Central receives a small bag of groceries each month to help with expenses. Johnny rarely refuses a solicitation for medical assistance, Red or Blue.
Recently the PUP strategy was focused on making the “Vega” name radioactive and they expended considerable resources in OW North on signs and TV ads. Then suddenly, nothing! I heard that they decided not to overplay their hands and get the topic stale before the elections. So they started a ground strategy to filter out that Gapi will contest again in 2020. They put out that rumor all over the place: no ask about Facebook!
To that end I spoke directly to Hon. Vega this past weekend to get his perspective on the propaganda which the PUP is actively circulating. Gapi told me he will serve out the rest of his term serving his constituents as best as he could. He has about 100 old folks on his list for regular assistance and has recently delivered 5 wheelchairs to handicapped persons in his division. Gapi says that there are two interested candidates for OW North: one from San Jose and the other from Douglas. He pledges to work with the Party to get the best person to replace him. Of course he says that if these two persons would unite as a team they would be unstoppable, since both are very popular in their respective villages.
Gapi is not fazed by the PUP attacks. He says if the PUP wins they will complete the job of destroying our country forever, never to get back on her feet. As such he will spare no resource or energies to work with our Party leader to ensure that The North remains with the UDP.
