Weeks after the People’s United Party (PUP) wrapped up its hotly contested Belize City mayoral primary, the race’s aftermath has sparked growing conversation around internal party cohesion, as a defeated candidate alleges that unfair playing conditions cost him the nomination.
Allan Pollard, a sitting Belize City councilor who ran against Eluide Miller for the PUP’s mayoral slot, has publicly claimed that the contest was skewed against him. In post-defeat comments, Pollard pointed to targeted personal attacks, entrenched behind-the-scenes political interests, and heavy outside spending funded by deep-pocketed backers as factors that undermined his campaign, even as he noted strong support from local grassroots voters.
Now, all eyes are on whether Pollard and his high-profile ally, Deputy PUP Leader and Deputy Prime Minister Cordel Hyde, will set aside their differences and back Miller’s full candidate slate in the upcoming March 2026 municipal general election. If the pair withholds support, it could create a damaging rift that hurts the PUP’s chances of holding the Belize City mayoral office in the general contest.
Francis Fonseca, Belize’s Education Minister and PUP Area Representative for Freetown, has pushed back forcefully against Pollard’s claims that money and political influence won the primary for Miller. In a public statement this week, Fonseca argued that Miller’s victory came down to consistent, on-the-ground campaign work rather than unfair advantages. He called on all PUP members to honor the outcome of the delegate vote and unify behind the party’s officially nominated team ahead of the general election.
Addressing questions about whether Hyde would remain loyal to the party, Fonseca expressed full confidence in the deputy leader. “If you have any doubt about that, then you don’t know Cordel Hyde. Cordel Hyde believes in the philosophy of the People’s United Party. He supports this party with every fiber of his being. He knows that the People’s United Party always represents the best choice for the people of Belize, and in this case, for the people of Belize City. So there should be no doubt or question about that,” Fonseca said.
The education minister went on to echo a message he said Deputy Prime Minister Hyde has long emphasized to all party members: public complaints about election defeat hold no appeal for voters. “One of the things the Deputy Prime Minister always reminds us, and it’s a good lesson to everyone because people outside don’t want to hear anybody whine about why they lost the convention. People don’t have time for that. What they’re interested in is how do we move forward, how do we fix the problems of the city,” Fonseca explained.
He closed by reinforcing the party’s commitment to democratic internal processes, noting that the will of voting delegates should be respected. “The Deputy Prime Minister always reminds us, and it’s a good lesson for everybody that the people are never wrong. The delegates voted on Sunday. They were not wrong. They made the right choice. And we should respect that decision,” Fonseca added.
This report is adapted from a transcript of a broadcast evening newscast originally published online, with original quoted content preserved in full.