A high-stakes internal contest is set to unfold this Sunday in Belize City, as the People’s United Party (PUP) holds its city convention to select its official mayoral candidate for next year’s municipal elections. The nomination race has narrowed to two local political figures: incumbent Deputy Mayor Eluide Miller and three-term city councillor Allan Pollard, each bringing distinct career trajectories and campaign platforms to the vote.
In total, 787 registered PUP delegates will cast their ballots to decide the mayoral nominee, alongside voting for 10 councillor positions from a field of 19 competing candidates. The contest comes as the party finalizes its full municipal slate ahead of the general municipal vote scheduled for March 2027.
For Pollard, a veteran local politician who previously served as deputy mayor, his campaign is rooted in his longstanding ties to Belize City and deep community roots, particularly in the South Side neighborhood. “A lot of people are familiar with my journey,” Pollard shared in the lead-up to the convention, referencing the full arc of his political career that has included challenges, setbacks, and measurable progress for his constituents. He argues that his consistent accessibility and ongoing on-the-ground involvement in community initiatives give him a clear edge in the race. “I’m from the city. I’m from South Side Belize City. I’m always engaged in the community,” he noted, adding that his campaign has focused on strengthening relationships built over years of public service and turning out delegate support on voting day.
Miller, meanwhile, is framing his candidacy around his unique, rapid trajectory through the ranks of Belize City governance, which has given him a ground-up understanding of the city council’s operations. His political career began as an intern at City Hall back in 2019; he moved into a full-time staff role before winning election as a councillor in 2024, and stepping into the deputy mayor post shortly after. “I think my journey through the city council is a quite unique one,” Miller said, describing his career as a story of “constant growth and elevation.” That step-by-step progression, he argues, has given him intimate insight into the opportunities and institutional challenges that exist at every level of city government, preparing him to lead as mayor.
As both candidates make their final outreach to delegates in the final days before the vote, the PUP national Secretariat has finalized preparations to oversee a smooth, transparent convention. A specialized election team, led by presiding officer John Bernard Wade and supported by senior party officials with extensive experience managing internal party conventions, has traveled from Belmopan to administer the vote and oversee counting.
Notably, both candidates have emphasized that the competitive nomination race will not create lasting divisions within the PUP, with both pledging full unity ahead of the general municipal election next March. Pollard has already committed to fully supporting whoever emerges as the party’s nominee, while Miller stressed that the contest should remain rooted in policy and politics, not personal animosity. “Absolutely nothing in politics should be personal,” Miller said. “And so whoever it is that comes out of the convention, I will work along with them. I will work side by side with them to ensure that the PUP slate is successful come March of next year.”
Local media outlet News Five has announced it will provide on-the-ground coverage of Sunday’s convention, with real-time updates posted to its social media platforms for followers following the race.