National Alliance for Belizean Rights

The National Alliance for Belizean Rights (NABR), is a political party that has dedicated itself to identifying, preserving and defending the rights of Belize and Belizeans. It was established in 1991 and officially constituted in 1992. Its founding leader was Phillip Goldson. The party is currently reorganizing itself after the death of Goldson in 2001.

History

Formation of the Alliance

In September 1991, Guatemala, after nearly two centuries denying the right of Belize to exist, seemed to rcognize Belize as a sovereign nation. As part of the new harmony between the nations, a draft Maritime Areas Bill was introduced in the House in November 1991, limiting Belize's coastal rights in the far south and guaranteeing Guatemala access to the sea.

Interestingly, both major political parties, the People's United Party (PUP) and United Democratic Party(UDP), supported the measure as a way of ending the claim. Former Prime Minister Manuel Esquivel and deputy Dean Barrow toured the country with sitting Prime Minister George Price in support of the bill.

However, certain elements in the UDP, led by Phillip Goldson, refused to grant Guatemala any concessions without an explicit dropping of the claim, and broke away in 1992 to form the NABR. Observers thought the UDP had lost credibility in allowing elder statesman Goldson and up and comers Derek Aikman and Hubert Elrington to leave the party. The Patriotic Alliance for Territorial Integrity was formed on December 1, 1991 to respond to the Maritime Areas Act formulated to solve the Guatemalan claim to Belizean territory.

The PATI dissolved into the National Alliance for Belizean Rights on January 27, 1992.

In late 1992, Freetown MP Derek Aikman was declared a bankrupt and relieved of his seat in the House. The NABR prepared to win it back.

The 1993 elections and return to the red

The NABR got its first chance to prove itself in January of 1993 with the Freetown byelection. Unfortunately, candidate Adelma Broaster ran third behind winner Jorge Espat of the PUP and Howell Longsworth of the UDP. Later in March city council elections, none of the NABR's 9 candidates won any seats.

A frustrated Goldson began to draw ire from Belizeans used to solutions for getting out of troubles such as these. So when old foe Price surprised observers by calling elections early in June 1993, the NABR jumped at the chance to reunite with the UDP. A coalition was formed which narrowly defeated the PUP 16-13 despite polling less popular votes. Goldson received a cabinet post and the NABR demanded that the now Maritime Areas Act be repealed.

In government

The NABR found that its views were in the minority during the 1993-98 UDP administration. With Aikman already gone and Elrington jumping ship, Goldson struggled on alone. Included among the NABR's setbacks were the UDP's refusal to repeal the MAA, the resurgence of the claim as a result, and Goldson's troubles as Minister of Immigration, when a passport scandal was uncovered in 1995 and 1996. Goldson grew both gray and blind in the government service and retired in 1998, having never lost an election in his division. The men who had origninally joined him, Aikman and Elrington, both ran for seats in the House under the UDP and lost badly.

Aftermath

Goldson never recovered from the NABR years. While Belizeans still revered him, his health declined and he died in October 2001. The NABR struggled on, losing in the 1998 elections independent of the UDP, and skipping the 2003 elections. They continue to let their voices be heard, particularly in the Alliance Weekly newspaper, edited by returning Hubert Elrington, who has been dismissed by the UDP. The NABR remained largely defunct after Goldson's death.