Mahler Rejects Claims PUP Convention Was Power Struggle With Cordel Hyde

A political narrative has emerged following the People’s United Party’s recent Belize City convention, suggesting that the contest was more than a race between mayoral hopefuls Eluide Miller and Allan Pollard Junior. Some political observers have portrayed it as a show of strength between senior Belize City area representatives Cordel Hyde and Anthony Mahler.  Hyde openly supported Pollard, while Mahler backed Miller, who ultimately secured the nomination. That split in support has fuelled speculation that the outcome reflected an internal battle for influence within the PUP’s Belize City machinery.  Mahler, however, has strongly rejected that interpretation. He says the suggestion that the convention represented a flexing of political muscle between himself and Hyde is far removed from the truth.

Anthony Mahler, Area Representative Pickstock: “Man listen to me that is nonsense. Honorable Cordel Hyde has won I believe five or six times. Jules Vasquez said I won one and a half times and that’s fine. He is the boss of the city. I will continue to follow him but I have a duty as a deputy party leader for the Eastern Caucus which is to me the most powerful caucus in the country and I don’t take that lightly. So if Honorable Dolores needs me to go in one of her villages or to go work, I will go. If Honorable Marconi Leal  needs me to go, I will go. If Ms. Lorna McKay wants me to go in Queen Square to go, I will go. If Gilroy wants me to go in Port, I will go. It’s not about flexing or who, that is my responsibility. Now if I’m not the deputy for the East I will still, because I grew up in sports and it is fitting, so I understand about teamwork. If I have an opportunity to go in and help somebody who is a colleague of mine then it is my fiduciary responsibility to do so I believe as a politician. And that is where the strength came from because if you ask many of them leading up to 2025 I was on the ground with them, well I didn’t have any election but.”

Despite their support for opposing candidates, the convention ended with calls for unity as the PUP prepares for the next Belize City Council election. Party officials have maintained that internal contests are a normal part of the democratic process and should not be interpreted as evidence of a deeper division.  Education Minister Francis Fonseca also dismissed the suggestion of a power struggle. Fonseca vouched for Hyde’s character, describing him as a stand-up individual who has remained loyal to both the PUP and the people he represents.

Francis Fonseca, Area Representative Freetown: “100%. 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 and one of the things you know the deputy prime minister always reminds us, and it’s a good lesson to everyone because people outside don’t want to hear anybody is whining 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. And the Deputy Prime Minister always reminds us, and it’s a good lesson for everybody, that the people are never wrong. 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. We should support that decision and I am absolutely confident that everybody in the party will be united behind Eluide Miller and his team come March of next year.”

While speculation over the roles played by Hyde and Mahler is likely to continue, both senior party figures have publicly indicated that the focus should now be on unity and preparing for the municipal campaign.