But politics is good. and I encourage people to become involved. I listened to a
gentleman criticizing or rather scandalizing another person about being a communist.That
is low and not appreciated. I'd rather see the gentleman offer his services instead of
talking so emotionally and with hatred of his own district folk.
Anyway, the topic is 25 year's ago or the past of politics in San Pedro and Belize. Let
us look at a few parties.
*P.U.P- the People's United Party- the oldest political party in Belize.The leader has
always been George Price. It fought for self-government, independence and sovereignty
of Belize,The PUP has always been in San Pedro.
*N.I.P- the National Independent Party- led by Philip Goldson and was the main
opposition to George Price. Its role was to oppose.
*U.B.A.D.-The United Black Association for Development. It was a black movement
that fought for power to the blacks and, of course, hatred to the whites, but there were
no whites in Belize except the Mestizos.That party never reached San Pedro. It
encouraged a lot of violence.
*C.U.F- Corozal United Front- it was a party that wanted something different from the
P.U.P. and the N.I.R It was only for Corozal in the days of the rich caneros or cane
farmers. It never did assume power anywhere.
U.D.P-The United Democratic Party- this party was formed when there were
internal problems with the N. I. P. and there was a struggle for power and leadership,
which has gone from Goldson to Dean Lindo to Manuel Esquivel Dean Barrow.
N.A. B.R.-National Alliance for Belizean Rights- this was the result of another
internal fight of the U.D.R and two leaders- Goldson and Esquivel- broke up.
Goldson became the leader of the N.A.B. R. This party never reached San Pedro.
The U.D.P became national.
S.P.U.M.-San Pedro United Movement- these were men and women who fought for
township for San Pedro and wanted to keep dirty politics Out of San Pedro.
S.P.U.M. ran an election against the U.D.P and won. The U.D.P central government
gave S.P.U.M. no assistance and indeed a lot of victimization so that S.P.U.M. ran as
P.U.P. at the second round.The first S.P.U.M. leader was Gilberto "Chico" Gomez.
the first Mayor of San Pedro. This party was solely for San Pedro and never even
attempted going national.
Now a short look at the political history of San Pedro.
Since 1950. when George Price gave us
"Adult Suffrage" (the power to
vote). the P.U.P. has been the ruling
village council in San Pedro. In 1981,
Independence came under the PUP In
1984. PUP brought township to San
Pedro. In 1985, PUP leaders ran under the
name S.P.U.M. and won. In 1988 and
1991 P.U.P. won again. In 1994, the
U.D.P. won its first election. In 1997
P.U.P. regained its leadership and, In
2000, well the P.U.P. has just won it one
more time and claims to be moving ahead.
Commons 