BELIZE CITY

SOLUTIONS
NOT PROMISES
The Peoples United Party
Manifesto 2012 2015 Serve the People
belizepup PUP Belize For an online version of this manifesto visit: www.pup.org.bz

CHOOSE TO LIVE BETTER

My fellow residents, Belize City has had a proud reputation of being the commercial and trade capital of our nation, the epicenter of growing economic activity and prosperity, and most of all, home to vibrant communities. Over the last six years, however, Belize City has fallen prey to unguided and self-serving leadership, leaving residents with an overwhelming sense of abandonment, fear, despair and hopelessness. Elected councilors, who were tasked to move our city upward and forward have instead promoted themselves, neglected their duties and reneged on their responsibilities. Our streets are in dire need of repair and rehabilitation. Our city is garbage and pest-ridden. City residents need jobs, and its children a sound education. Voters of Belize City, we now have the opportunity to choose a better life - where our taxes actually work for us and are not under-deposited. NOW is the time to dismiss ineffective and poor leadership, and choose leaders who will truly SERVE THE PEOPLE! On Election Day 2012, Choose to Live Better secure in the knowledge that the PUP will Deliver! This in brief is our PUP Plan of Solutions for our City. Sincerely, Karen Bodden PUP Mayoral Candidate

Karen Bodden for Mayor

BACK TO BASICS
While rescuing our economy is high on our list of priorities, we cannot forget or lose sight of the fact that the UDP City Council is responsible for the gross neglect of our city streets and the unbearable garbage situation that worsens with each passing day. Your PUP City Council will: Allocate at least 60% of the Revenue from the Transport Department for the proper repair and maintenance of streets, drains and ancillary water ways. Rehabilitate 2 city streets every month. Construct proper drainage systems in flood-prone areas such as Lake Independence, Port Loyola and Belama Phases III & IV. Rename all monuments after National Heroes or milestones in our Citys history in consultation with a Citizens Committee.

Construct comfortable bus stops for commuters, students and public transportation users. Conduct a comprehensive Review of all Garbage and Sanitation Contracts with a view to ensuring that our residents are getting Value for Money. Implement and execute a Rodent Eradication program within the City. Work hand-in-hand with city residents, offering rebates on property taxes to landowners who keep their properties in clean and code-compliant condition. Promote Environmental Stewardship, Recycling and Civic Pride through public and educational campaigns.

JOBS, JOBS, JOBS THE RIGHT TO WORK

The PUP is the only party in Belize to partner successful job creation programs with public and private sectors, in addition to offering the necessary assistance for the establishment of new businesses. It is our duty to ensure that our entrepreneurial residents are no longer left behind. PUP Hires and the UDP Fires! Your PUP City Council will: Respect the current employees of the City Council and will institute a zero-tolerance program towards victimization. Create new jobs over the course of its three year tenure. Promote and enhance Investor Confidence in our City by establishing a vibrant and sustainable partnership between the Council and the private sector, offering incentives to new and current businesses that hire additional Belize City workers. Provide skills training programs for single mothers. Create a Database of unemployed residents for job referrals to city businesses. Activate a Go Green Campaign commencing with an Urban Gardening Project that will provide gardening jobs for city residents while offering property tax relief incentives to households that participate in the project. Offer the necessary assistance to young entrepreneurs for the establishment of new small to medium enterprises within our city. Re-vitalize the Commercial Center, its amenities and facilities to create the necessary environment for the establishment of new businesses. Establish a Fish Market on the North Side of Belize City. Re-vitalize the Fabers Road Market.

FIGHTING CRIME FOR A SAFER COMMUNITY

Our City has suffered a major setback, becoming one of the worlds most dangerous cities to raise a family. It is time for governments, local and central, to get serious about crime and improve the lives of city residents.

Your PUP Town Council will: Create and implement an anti-crime strategy for Belize City in conjunction with existing national efforts. Support the Belize Police Department with essential resources such as motorcycles, bicycles and radios. Provide the necessary support to Neighborhood Watch Groups and to arrange regular meetings with the Belize Police Department to voice their concerns.

TAXES & TRAFFIC

For our City to grow and develop, the tax system must work FOR the people, not AGAINST the people. Your PUP City Council will: Conduct a Trade License and Business Tax Review with an aim to making taxes fair and equitable to all. Create the necessary economic environment to allow businesses to overcome the current recession, grow and become successful. Stop the annual increase of trade license fees as practiced by UDP City Councils. Repeal the garbage tax and taxi tax imposed by this UDP City Council. Reform property taxes to reflect an equitable and level-playing field for all. Upgrade the city traffic regulations and administrative services. Ensure that traffic officers are properly trained in public relations and the enforcement of all traffic offences. Equip traffic officers with the necessary tools and resources to execute their jobs properly and efficiently.

CLEANING HOUSE From the Inside Out

After six years of rampant corruption, cronyism, and under-deposits at City Hall, it is time to Clean House. Your PUP City Council will: Do a complete Inventory of City Assets and make public. Carry out and publish a comprehensive and independent audit of City Councils past financial records. Investigate, and take all necessary legal action against all those councilors and employees involved in the misappropriation of tax-payer dollars, illegal trade-offs and under-deposits at City Hall. Revise the management system at City Hall to ensure that the Citys funds are not wasted or open to misappropriation and mismanagement. Hold quarterly public meetings in addition to the required monthly meetings and provide financial disclosures to city residents.

TOURISM & CULTURE Reclaiming our Stake!

Thanks to the PUP our country is now world-renowned as one of the most beautiful destinations nestled in Central America with a Caribbean flavor. Shiploads of tourists arrive weekly in our citys harbor, only to embark on a journey to other sites across the country. It now time for us to ensure that Belize City becomes a viable and attractive tourist destination so that we too can enjoy a piece of the tourism pie. Your PUP City Council will: Restore parks and playgrounds. Historic Belize City Parks such as Memorial Park and Battlefield Park will be renovated to allow for historical tours, cultural performances and artisans markets. Work with Central Government and International Funding Agencies to create a properly planned Tourism Zone from Fort Street, along North Front Street, the Southern Foreshore Area and throughout Downtown Belize City. Collaborate with BTB to offer Tour Guide Training and Carriage Routes. Work along with the police department and downtown businesses to increase police presence and patrols in the downtown at night so that residents are safe to attend cultural and artistic performances.

GUIDING OUR YOUTH, CARING FOR OUR ELDERS

The PUP is dedicated to ensuring that our youth are given an opportunity to unlock their potential. We also cannot forget to recognize and pay tribute to our elder city residents, who have all made valuable contributions to the development of our city and country. Your PUP City Council will: Take a Salary Cut to dedicate to educational and feeding programs for our children. Collaborate with the Business Community and Sister Cities to provide scholarships each year to deserving students to attend a high school of their choice. Offer Violence and Drug Prevention Education Programs and Volunteer Counselors for At-Risk Youth. Offer a 40% discount on property taxes to all Senior Citizens 65 years and older. Offer free bus passes to all Senior Citizens 65 years and older. Establish a food delivery program with high school volunteers to have food delivered to immobile elder city residents. Work in conjunction with Central Government and relevant authorities for the establishment of proper shelters and soup kitchens for the homeless and indigent.

Alberto Vellos

Dorla Vaughan

Gary Ayuso

VOTE
Karen Bodden
for Mayor

PUP
Erwin X

SOLUTIONS
Lennox "DJ Tambran" Young

FORWARD
Patrick Thompson Robert "Bobby" Cadle Swamy Babani Edward Young

not promises

with TEAM 11
Peter Lacey, Jr.