PM Briceño Reflects on 33 Years in Politics

As Prime Minister John Briceno faces, perhaps the biggest challenge to his political reputation, earlier this week, he marked thirty-three years of being in electoral politics.  Briceño, who turns sixty-six on July 17, is now serving his eighth term as Area Representative for Orange Walk Central and is in his second term as Prime Minister. In an exclusive sit-down interview from the Love News archives, recorded in Central Park in Orange Walk Town, he looked back at the beginning of his political life and the unexpected length of his public service.  He recalled that when he first entered politics, he was serving as both the Area Representative for Orange Walk Central as well as a city councillor for that municipality.  He noted that his intention was to serve only two terms before moving on. More than three decades later, Briceño remains one of the country’s longest-serving elected representatives.

John Briceño, Prime Minister of Belize: “I can’t believe I’m still here doing this, this this work. I’ve said this many times that when I first made that decision to run Rossana had our second child ,Johnny, he was two weeks old. So, you know, she’s still going through postpartum depression you know which is natural and so she started crying she said why are you doing this? And I said “You know, Rossana I promise you I’m going to do two terms at most.” I can’t believe it but I think it has been a wonderful experience, something that I think that has…. that I don’t think I would change it for anything else to be of service to the people of Orange Walk Central. When my uncle got sick in 1993 and he called me and said “Son, you have to run.” And I said tio “I don’t think I want to do it and certainly I’m not ready.” And my Uncle Polo as for those that can still remember him, was one of the most charming grassroots politicians. And he insisted, he said, “Son, you have to do it. We need to win this division. We need to win the next election.” And finally and I spoke to Jamie my brother who is my campaign manager, my chairman, my best friend and my confidant, then he said, “Well bwai Johnny let’s do it for two terms.” And so that’s how I ended up saying, “Okay, I’ll come in and I’ll do my best to serve the people of Orange Walk Central.” 

Reporter: So that was ’93, that was your first victory and your first time running? 

John Briceño, Prime Minister of Belize: “Yes, June 30th, 1993. Actually the convention I think was on the 24th of May. And then a few days later then Prime Minister Price decided to call a snap election for June 30th of 1993. I said, “Wow!” So I went from one campaign straight into the other one. So in hindsight, it wasn’t really a bad thing. It worked out well for me. Unfortunately, we did not get the majority so I was in opposition the first time but I always tell everybody and people don’t like to hear this, people that are running for representatives I said sometimes I think for me it worked best that we were in opposition the first time around because then it allowed me to take time since I’m not in Belmopan, I’m not in a ministry I can’t spend time in my constituency and I live in my constituency so people want to see me, I go see them do events and stuff like that and so I managed to start to build a long lasting relationship with the people of Orange Walk Central.”

Prime Minister Briceno also reflected on the character of political campaigning in the early years, when candidates relied heavily on direct contact with voters, community meetings and long days on the campaign trail. He spoke of the influence of his uncle, the late former political figure Polo Briceño, whose example helped shape his own decision to enter public life.

John Briceño, Prime Minister of Belize: “Many people don’t remember this but again in January of 1994, again my Uncle Polo who is a very astute and grassroots politician called me and says “Son you have to run for town council.” I said “Tio why would I want to do that ? We just lost the government so we’re not going to win town council.” In Orange Walk district of the four seats I was the only one that won and he said you know “We need somebody that could anchor the team.” And I spoke to Jamie and he said “John don’t do that. I mean we will lose.” And on reflection you know you say well I have to do it for the party and I decided to run and we set up a really good team and we worked our butts off. I mean we campaigned every day til late at night. Jamie was the manager and then after the elections he’s telling me “Bwai John sometimes I wake up two o’clock and I can’t sleep.” I said “Why” and he said “We know Central but we don’t know Orange Walk East and there are some streets that have 125 votes and of those we only have about 25.” I said and “Jamie but you’re telling me it’s looking good.” And he said “Well I have to tell you that because you’re out there campaigning.” And we worked hard and whilst the party, the PUP was decimated in that election countrywide in Orange Walk we were the only one, maybe San Pedro won a few seats. We won three seats, I topped the polls and Servulo Baizar ran in that election and he lost by seven votes. We almost won the town council in 1994. So I was Orange Walk Central area representative and I was also councillor for the Orange Walk Town Council and then that allowed me to build an even closer relationship with most of the town.”

Over the years, Briceño has served in several senior roles, including Deputy Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the People’s United Party, before leading the party to victory in the 2020 general elections. He recalled that by 1996 he was a deputy leader in the People’s United Party.  With all these milestones under his belt, Prime Minister shared the personal principle that guides him both in politics and in his private life, describing it as the motto he tries to live by every day.

John Briceño, Prime Minister of Belize: “It’s easy to look at the dark side of politics, oh it’s dirty and you have to be double crossing people, or some people are your fake friends, and so you think they’re your friends and when you’re down they’re not there for you there’s so much bad things. But again, I’m an optimist, and I look at the bright side. I think what helped me to keep my feet on the ground because I saw when my father lost in 1984. I saw my uncle when he stepped down in 1993 that a lot of people are going to be around you telling you what you want to hear and now they’re your friends and they want to open the door for you and everything and once you’re out they don’t look at you. So that helped me to say listen this is for a short time don’t take all these accolades and everything for granted you are not the smartest one you’re not the best looking one, you’re not the hardest working one, you need to ensure that every day you get up and you do the best job that you can. Try to do good. That’s my main mantra, “try to do good.” I remember in 1998 when a few months after we won my executive called a meeting and they call me to the executive and they’re saying, “Well you know what John? We’re not happy with you.” I said “Why?” “Because you are not firing UDPs.” And I said “Listen to me. I was elected to help people, to help people. Not to go there and take away people’s jobs, or take away their land just to be just vindictive.” I said “If that’s what you want then you will have to find another candidate because I am not going to do that.” That never came up again in our executive. So I try to do good. If I can help you and you are a UDP I am going to help you. But of course, and I say this without any apologies, if there’s a PUP and a UDP and two of them want the bed and I only could give it one, it’s obvious I’m going to give it to the PUP. But if a UDP needs a bench and I can help them with a bench, I will do so. So my advice to everybody is try to do good. Don’t be malicious. Life’s too short to be able to build this sense of maliciousness because then you become a bitter person. I’ll get upset with you right now and by tomorrow I get it over with. And even with my wifey always tells me you know sometimes we get into a little argument when we’re having supper in the night you know like she’s railing up and I am answering back and then like five minutes later I say “You want a cup of tea ?” And she’d say to me “At least let me enjoy my vexation a little while no ? And you get over it. I try as best as possible not to be driven by anger and maliciousness.”

The Prime Minster’s 33^rd anniversary of political leadership was commemorated on Tuesday, June 30.