Zenaida Moya

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Moya, an officer in the National Trade Union Congress of Belize (NTUCB), participated in the January 2005 strikes and shutdowns precipitated by the Musa budget. She faced criticism from some of her own Association of Public Service Senior Managers(APSSM) members for speaking out against the Musa People's United Party (PUP) administration, and general disapproval from supporters of the PUP. She transferred again to head the Public Sector Investment program, Ministry of National Development. But after another round of protests in April directed at the telecom industry, Moya briefly faced termination from her post. Directed to appear before the Public Services Commission later that summer to explain her actions, Moya, accompanied by lawyer and Leader of the Opposition Dean Barrow and Public Service Union of Belize president Dylan Reneau (Moya had been ostracized from the APSSM and moved to the PSU), denied that her actions in any way violated rules and regulations governing the public service. [3] Moya was cleared and moved on-to local politics.

Candidacy for Mayor

On September 28, 2005, Moya joined a crowded UDP field of candidates for Mayor and Councillor for elections scheduled for March 2006. [4] Moya won the hotly contested convention at the Anglican Cathedral College school grounds in Belize City on October 23, 2005. [5] From the start, Moya's opponents questioned her political experience, particularly in light of the events of 2005. [6] On March 1, 2006 [7] she led the UDP slate to a victory over the incumbent PUP side.

As Mayor

Zenaida Moya
Zenaida Moya (cropped).jpg
Moya in 2010
Mayor of Belize City
In office
1 March 2006 7 March 2012

Moya settled into her mayoral duties eagerly, traveling across the world as a representative of Belize City and taking some unpopular stands at home over sanitation control and tourism benefits. Critics continued to carp about her inexperience and dependence on the UDP hierarchy in her first year of office. [8]

Re-election

Moya ran for a second term in municipal elections on March 4, 2009, and was re-elected with a full slate of UDP Councilors. She was sworn in for her second term on March 11, 2009. Moya was not a candidate for re-election in 2012.

Future

Moya had expressed interest in becoming the UDP standard bearer in the Mesopotamia constituency at the 2015 general election should incumbent Area Rep. Michael Finnegan stand down. However, Finnegan will run for re-election. [9] Moya has long been considered a political protege of Finnegan's. [10]

References

  1. "Zenaida ? Belize City?s first lady mayor!". Amandala Newspaper. 2006-03-01. Retrieved 2023-11-22.
  2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved June 26, 2007.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) Belizean News Blog report, courtesy 7 News
  3. Article title [ usurped ] The Reporter, August 25, 2005
  4. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on September 29, 2007. Retrieved June 26, 2007.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) Moya ready to be Mayor: Channel 5
  5. Article title [ usurped ] The Reporter: Zenaida gets the job! UDP pick 10 to fight PUP.
  6. http://www.belizetimes.bz/news/story/5131.shtml%5B%5D Rhenae Nunez of the Belize Times on what makes "she-roes"
  7. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved June 26, 2007.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) belizean. com's report on the municipal elections
  8. "The Belize Times Weekly Newspaper Online - the Hoax That is Zenaida Moya |||". Archived from the original on July 10, 2006. Retrieved June 26, 2007. Nunez again on Moya's actions in office
  9. "Hon. Finnegan Gets A Jump On Competition" Archived 2015-10-04 at the Wayback Machine , Tropical Vision Limited, 28 September 2015. (accessed 29 September 2015)
  10. "Finnegan Defends Use of G.O.B. Vehicle in U.D.P. Parade" Archived 2021-02-21 at the Wayback Machine , Great Belize Television, 12 February 2015. (accessed 9 May 2015)