VIP Nominate Stanislaus Martinez for Dangriga Bye-elections

On Monday we showed you the nomination day event, both theatrics and procedure, for both political mass parties. But there was another candidate who was refused. At around midday Monday, a coalition of the VIP and the PNP brought in Stanislaus Martinez, who they say is a Dangriga born, successful businessman. The few supporters who escorted Martinez to Town Hall, dressed in bright yellow and beating drums, stayed outside to welcome their choice in the bye-election. But it was not to be. Martinez’s nomination was refused by the Elections and Boundaries officials. PNP leader Wil Maheia explained why.

Wil Maheia, V.I.P.

Wil Maheia

“As you can see he is sitting in front of the elections officer and they are denying him his legal right as a Belizean to become a candidate in this upcoming bye-election. They are claiming that he has dual citizenship and nobody who has dual citizenship should be allowed to run. We have been advised that Penner has dual citizenship as well and he was allowed to run. We have ran several candidates before including myself and I was never asked this question if I had dual citizenship. We don’t know that this has been gazetted and we have been advised by couple of different attorneys that this person has dual citizenship after they were eighteen before even denying him. The government is not proving anything right here, the government is making assumptions at this time so again we are going to regroup shortly and we will see what will be our next step. But we are being advised by several attorneys that Mr. Stanislaus who was born and raised here in Dangriga is very qualified and he is a successful business man that he is qualified to run for area rep in this area. My candidate is very aware of the law and he has put himself up and he wants to run, he wants to serve his people of Dangriga, he is tired of the PUDP system and I mean we have to, I believe that the government cannot just make a decision like that and tell a Belizean that they cannot run. The elections and boundaries officer, they need to check with their bosses in Belmopan and Belize City and that’s why they are telling us that we must come back to this place here again at four o’clock.”

Today Maheia told us that they were pushed around until just before four that evening, as officials told them they were waiting for an answer. Three minutes before the nomination day window closed, they were informed that Stanislaus Martinez was not eligible.