As the People’s United Party (PUP) prepares for its high-stakes Belize City municipal convention scheduled for August 30, 2026, a surprising development has shaken the local political landscape: long-serving incumbent councilor Evan Thompson will not appear on the ballot to defend his seat.
The exclusion came following a joint review by the PUP’s vetting panel and national campaign committee, which opted against recommending Thompson for re-nomination. The decision has sparked widespread curiosity and political speculation across Belize, particularly given that 19 other councilor candidates will now compete for just 11 available convention spots. Two contenders are also vying for the mayoral nomination at the same event, which will be hosted at the ITVET campus in Belize City.
In a recent on-the-record interview, PUP Secretary General Collet Montejo opened up about the difficult process of notifying Thompson of the committee’s ruling. Montejo confirmed that despite the disappointing outcome for the incumbent, Thompson has chosen to remain a loyal member of the PUP and will continue carrying out his duties as an elected councilor for the remainder of his term.
“Breaking this news to Evan was never an easy task,” Montejo shared during the interview. “After the committees concluded their deliberations and the national executive upheld the final decision, it fell to me to communicate the outcome. I sat down with brother Evan to walk him through the party’s reasoning and the internal political dynamics that shaped the call. To his credit, he has handled the news with grace, choosing to stay quiet on the matter publicly and keep focused on his work for the party and the community.”
Montejo went on to praise the full slate of candidates that delegates will select from at the end of the month, describing the pool of 19 councilor hopefuls as exceptionally strong. “It’s going to be an incredibly tough choice for our delegates,” he noted. “They have to pick 11 candidates from 19 qualified people, plus one mayor from two contenders, and I’m glad I don’t have to make that call. That said, I have full confidence that PUP delegates will make the decision that’s best for the party moving forward.”
This report is a transcribed excerpt from an evening television newscast covering local Belizean political developments.