The Making of a King

By Bill Lindo

Belize City, May 28^th 2023: One month ago – April 2023 made 50 years since I became a member of the People’s United Party (PUP), the oldest political party in Belize and one of the oldest in the region. For the last 29 years of those 50 years, I have served on-and-off as a member of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Party and have become a well-known political voice in Belize. Not an easy feat these days.

In 1993, the then PUP government called a snap general election and lost to Manuel Esquevel and the United Democratic Party (UDP). In 1995, a group of PUP’s got together on May 15^th and formed what Evan X Hyde of the Amandala called the May 15^th Movement. The movement was led by Florencio Marin Sr and included Evan X Hyde, Joe Coye, John Briceno, Cordel Hyde, Dolores Balderamos, Pepe Garcia, Dr Gregory Garcia, Vildo Marin, Bill Lindo, Dan Silva, Dr Theodore Aranda, and for a time, Jorge Espat. The aim of the May 15^th Movement was simple – reform the PUP by going back to its social justice roots and George Price’s Mixed-Economy method of economic development, and thereby win the next general election, scheduled for 1998. Behind the scenes, I was the day-to-day organizer that kept the Movement together up to the National Party Council (NPC) meeting at Independence Hall in November 1995. In November 1995, the May 15^th Movement decided to challenge 9 of the 18 posts on the National Executive of the PUP. The group got 7 of the 18 posts including the co-chair of the PUP which was won by Hon. John Briceno, putting him on track to be the Party’s future Leader.

In December 1995, an arrangement was made between, George Price, Said Musa, Ralph Fonseca, Evan X Hyde and myself. Ralph was going to be out of Belize for several months and as his deputy, I would be in charge of the 1996 Belize City Council Elections. The late Javier Berbey Garcia raised a little over quarter-million dollars for the PUP and with the support of Rt Hon Price and Rt Hon Musa, Evan X and I won the 1996 Belize City Council elections for the PUP, and for the first time since 1964, won the Albert Division. This election was the beginning of the end of the UDP. By 1998 they suffered the same humiliating loss that the PUP would later suffer in 2008.

Javier supplied enough money, but it was the creativity of Evan X and myself which made the difference. Evan X started a new radio show – the Kremandala Show. Dr Leroy Taegar, Evan X, myself would form the core of the show. In 1995 I wrote a book—ABC’s of Economics, to prove why something as simple as the building of 10,000 houses, using locally made steel, extruded aluminium & windows, electric wires, paints and cement would lead to the economic independence of Belize’s economy.

Well that unexpected, albeit resounding victory by the PUP in 1996 Belize City Council elections ended two political careers – George Price was forced to retire and my electoral career ended before it even started.

The PUP decided that between May to October 1996, internal elections would be held to decide standard bearers to contest the 1998 general elections, but the real reason was to decide on new leadership at the November National Convention. The local oligarchy was afraid of George and his new supporters who had recently joined the National Executive of the PUP. I remember during one session of the National Executive, the late (Sir) Harry, remarked that me and my followers were deluding George into thinking that we could re-start the Peaceful Constructive Belizean Revolution – that we could industrialize Belize and give its citizens a high standard of living.

Belize as most countries of the Western world is run by local and foreign oligarchs – the elites, the big boys. I wrote a book calling for the establishment of the American System in Belize – George Price’s Mixed Economy with its leading creed – man shall not exploit his fellow man, but exploit nature instead, and in doing so, would achieve full Economic Independence, eradicating poverty through self- reliance and full employment. This was in complete opposition to the British System of economics (now called neo-liberal economics) that still runs the economy of Belize.

I along with Evan X Hyde proved that the common man listened to the patriots and voted how we asked them. This was trouble. Big trouble for the local oligarchs, especially.  At that time, the local elites were led by Barry Bowen.  As a side, in one chance meeting with Barry Bowen he told me he had read my book several times.

The internal fight in 1996 was for control of Port Loyola, Lake I, and Albert divisions. Dolores survived in Port Loyola and went on to win in 1998. Cordel also remained in control of Lake I and went on to win in 1998. But I suffered a humiliating defeat in Albert at the hands of Mark Espat, who went on to win in 1998. It was a series of decisions that led to those results.

My friend, Dan Silva and I had decided that as chairmen of our divisions we would not hold any convention until the same week in late October 1996 as George Price in Pickstock, because at that later hour, no public fight could be tolerated.  Carlos Diaz decide to go after Cordel Hyde in Lake I early in the race.  The local oligarchy began to pour money, men and women (campaigners) against Cordel in Lake I. Within a few weeks, Cordel’s armour started to get shaky. The big boys started to smell blood and began to increase the pressure on Cordel – Montejo and Pappy had put over 60 workers to support Carlos.

At a meeting at Evan X’s house, Evan X, Joe Coye and Cordel asked me to change my mind and at the next National Executive to announce that Albert would have a Convention within 40 days. My response was that would be suicide, as all the big boys and their cronies would come after me.  Evan and especially Joe, did most of the talking, after several hours and many promises, I decided to commit political suicide for Cordel Hyde.  Within 3 days all the campaigners of Montejo and Pappy along with others from eight divisions swarmed the Albert division.  Suddenly, Lake I fell silent and Cordel marched to a resounding victory over Carlos. Since then, and with my tireless commitment and steady hand, Cordel has marched from victory to victory.  In the 2020 general elections, Cordel made political history in Belize by getting over 90% of the votes cast; and became Belize’s new Deputy Prime Minister.

That was some 27 years ago. Never in Belize’s short history had such a political contest ever been held.  That historical 1996 Albert Convention was held on a Saturday. The Thursday before, Barry sent Hilly for me. Mr Bowen told me I would lose badly on Saturday, but if by some magic I won, he would be sure to run again me in Albert for the UDP to make sure I would never set foot in the Cabinet room.  Well, Barry was correct, his money – a quarter million (I was later told), defeated me. Of the then 29 electoral divisions, only one actively supported me – Lake I.  My second daughter was physically attacked, and several tugs tried to do the same to Evan X.  Some fell silent while the vast majority of the 29 divisions were actively against me. The Oligarchy showed me their power — who owns Belize. Landivar was against me; the Anglian Church was against me (they even preached on the pulpit against me); the merchants and the Chamber were against me – in fact, I was told by a businessman that they were all told not to donate money to my campaign, but two brave businessmen and Dickie Bradley helped me. With $ 20,000 I went up against $ 275,000 from the big boys, and a complete blackout on radio and TV advertising.

And within three months George Price was out – his main defender, and leader of the patriot faction in the National Executive, Bill Lindo was gone. He and his mixed economy was gone. Harry’s son – Eamon was selected to replace me on the National Executive as Deputy National Campaign Chairman. I was expelled for an indefinite time. I believe it lasted eight months.  Said Musa, the new Leader of the PUP called me to the folds of the Party and to work with Ralph on the Campaign Committee, but George’s and my ideas of the mixed economy would never re-enter the decision-making Halls of the Party; (eventhough I managed in 2010 to get George’s mixed economy as the principal Aim of the Party during the 2010 revision of the PUP’s Constitution.)  Instead, neoliberalism is the new ground god.

As a note, I want to make something very clear for historical purposes. Even X is always complaining that I was the main person who destroyed the G7 which was started in 2004. Yes, Evan is correct, but please remember, who formed the G7. It was from Evan X’s veranda on Seashore Drive that it started between Evan X, Joe Coye and myself.  So, why did I proceed to destroy it?  About four days after G7 was made public, Barry Bowen called me to boast that he would now destroy Ralph Fonseca for good with the G7 because Ralph had forgotten who was the boss and was trying (as Belize’s first Minister of Finance, who was not the Prime Minister) to triple his land taxes. He, Barry, and others of the local oligarchy were now controlling G7. Barry was not the only one who complained to me about land taxes; but for now let’s leave sleeping dogs sleep.  Belizeans, please understand, G7 was not about stopping corruption, as is widely believed. In the beginning it was to curb Ralph’s enormous power, especially, financial. Later on the interests diverged. The elites were only interested in not paying the increased land taxes, and I found an opportunity to stop those who had previously stopped me in 1996.  It was simply about the elites not paying land taxes.  Life is what it is, and karma is real.  In the end, Ralph’s power was reduced substantially, the elites never paid the increased taxes, and the Party and I found common ground.

One day soon, I will write about my fifty-years in the bowels of the PUP. Politics, after all, makes strange bedfellows.

Hon. Cordel Hyde with his beloved supporters