Finding a Role for Everyone……

Carolyn Trench-Sandiford – Party Chairman

Being the Chairman of the oldest and most successful political party in Belize is not only a challenge, but a work in progress. Being in opposition, with a political apartheid system being practiced by the UDP government, makes the journey and the organizational work of the party much more difficult. In addition, resources are limited, and the Chairman is often under great scrutiny, especially when big shoes must be filled, expectations are high, and much is demanded. However, as is typical with me, I am always confident in that my feet will be comfortable in any size, style or cut; and I always look at the glass as half full, not half empty; a trait instilled in me by my grandmother Nellie Usher-Staine.

She taught all her grandchildren to look for the opportunity that is always present, and when a wall is placed in front of you, no matter how high and thick it is, and what it is made of, she told us to look for the one grain of sand that is loose, for that is where you start chipping, and one day, the wall will come tumbling down. But before you start chipping, you must have faith in your ability to chip, you must know why you want to get to the other side of the wall, and what you want to do, and how you will do it, once you get there. For if you do not, then all the chipping that you would have done, will be in vain, or simply manual labour.

The People’s United Party is comprised of many individuals of varying ages, ethnicity, gender, professional, occupational, academic and grassroots backgrounds from diverse geographic regions, each having individually or collectively an opinion on issues, each having a concern, sometimes subjective, specific to the community they live and represent, and at other times, objective. As Chairman, I have to be able to balance the concern and the issue of each member, whether they are on the National or Constituency Executive Committee or Branch, or in the United Women’s Group, the Belize Youth Movement, the Marshall’s Community Service Corp and the Order of Distinguished Services, or on the National Party Council or Convention.

Furthermore, if the Party is to move forward, I also have to work closely with the Party Leader to build consensus amongst them all, as it is said that the real test of a democracy is not only the ability to cater to the will of the majority, but how well the rights of the minority are acknowledged and protected, including people with whose ideas and concepts I may not agree. Indeed, it is this latter notion that strengthens democracy, but is perhaps the most difficult to manage, particularly when you are surrounded by persons possessing a wealth of political experience and proven track records, persons who are your political mentors, and even those who are your elders and whom you hold in high regard, yet displaying personal and individual differences seemingly irreconcilable, between themselves, based on historical relationships.

Fortunately, I have never doubted why I became involved in politics or why I have joined the People’s United Party. That is very clear to me. But I also know that for us to fulfill the mandate of our forefathers and mothers, as Chairman, I must be able to bring order to the party, and a sense of purpose and clarity to our political road map. As well, to ensure that our work is not only about returning the Party to government, but also to crystallize how the Party will handle the challenges that confront the country when in government, while at the same time, crafting and defining a sustainable path for a long term vision for our country, and one that is built on a solid and sustained partnership with the people of Belize, whilst anchored in our philosophy.

This broadens my role as a Chairman, to also be the guiding hand in the philosophical repositioning of the party, and be able to translate and implement the party’s aims and objectives into pragmatic policy positions and programmes for implementation when we become the government at all levels. I have therefore had to be proactive, and not reactive. At times, I have had to go below the surface, to ensure we courageously face our issues and concerns, both as a party, and as a government in waiting for our country. My responses have not always been traditional, and truthfully I have not always been able to put on a brave face and a positive spin on the issues, particularly at a time when our membership and the electorate have become cynical and weary of politicians, because they will not be convinced. Neither can I appear to be overly sympathetic or blindly loyal to anyone, as that could compromise the perception of fairness, and the right of every member of the Party of having a voice.  At times, I also have had to be a referee, a buffer, and a balancing beam.

Last Thursday, as I participated in the PUP Thursday Think Tanking session at Independence Hall, and  I listened in awe to the ‘Honourebel’ [that is my name for him] Joe Coye. I learnt so much more about a topic of which I thought I knew almost everything. The personal knowledge and passion for the topic was evidently displayed in his delivery. It was infectious to all present. We learned in a bird’s eye view some of the strengths, weaknesses and limitations of the national budget, and why it was not giving us value for money. This was important, as the national budget is the vehicle to translate the Party’s aims and objects into practical solutions.

We all were motivated and inspired as to what we can do as a Party to effect change as a government, starting with how we can transform the budget process, from preparation to execution and monitoring and evaluation, to make it more effective, efficient and service oriented, and for a purpose. In so doing, we established the link between the budget and the purpose of our Party, which is to create a NEW BELIZE to bring to all a better quality of life. The ‘Honourebel Joe Coye’ was certainly in his element, animated, energized and real.

As Chairman, it flagged for me an important point- That as a Party, our rebuilding efforts must not focus primarily on loyalty, and tenure, but also on the mastery, the skills, the talents and potential contribution that each of us can give to the party, and thereafter the country. We must create the environment that will enable each of us to find our element…our forte…clearly we must find a role for everyone….for if we do this as a Party…so will it be when we are the government….and only so will our citizens be driven to forge a partnership with us to create the NEW BELIZE….only so will we be the People’s government…and only so the revolution shall continue…..

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