Bye-Election for Cayo North Set for January 2015

Joseph Mahmud

Joseph Mahmud handed in his resignation to the offices of the Speaker of the House on Monday indicating that with immediate effect, he was stepping down as P.U.P. Area Representative for the Cayo North Division. It means that the unprecedented resignation has left the division without an elected representative. Hours later, the government announced there will be bye-elections and just as swiftly, in fact within twenty-four hours of the resignation, the Governor General has issued a writ of election paving the way for bye-elections in Cayo North. From the look of things, it is going to be a short, but intense campaign for the seat that is held by the P.U.P. and for which the governing party is prepared to outspend the opposition to retake the division. The government has ninety days to call bye-elections but it is opting to do so in forty days, because there are three holidays over the Christmas and New Year. Monday, December fifteenth, is set as Nomination Day at the administration Building in San Ignacio. This will be followed by bye-elections on January fifth, 2015.  The opposition says it will be fast tracking elections for a standard bearer for which businessman Richard Harrison and attorney Michel Chebat are both contesting, but the government has a clear edge because it has already installed its standard bearer in the person of Doctor Omar Figueroa. Before they head to the polls, however, the Cayo voters will be feted with ham and turkey under the government’s annual Christmas Cheer program.