Party Leader Admits Downfall Due to Lack of Presence in Key Constituencies

Dean Barrow

The People’s United Party previously held five seats and following Wednesday’s election, now claims a total of twenty-six, including eleven in Belize City.  The United Democratic Party’s shocking loss here in the Old Capital may not so much an indictment of the previous Darrell Bradley city council, as it is perhaps a failure to maintain a presence in constituencies where they lost during the 2015 general elections.  Since losing in areas including Lake Independence, Caribbean Shores and Fort George, the party has not made inroads in those constituencies which, according to party leader Dean Barrow, was their downfall.

Dean Barrow, Party Leader, U.D.P.

“You know what went wrong?  Take for example the constituency of Caribbean Shores, we lost it in 2015 and we’ve had no presence there since that time.  So we lost it by fifty-odd or something, it’s up now to four hundred.”

Reporter

“I think it’s in that range or a little under.”

Dean Barrow

“Fort George which we were never in a position to win, again absolutely no presence there until Souad Lindo decided she would in fact get in there and do a job and quite a job she did in terms of the effort.  There are other constituencies. Where clearly no doubt because there is so much to do in government, ministers, area reps, caretakers might not have kept as much in touch as they ought to have and in consequence there were holes that in the end proved unfillable.  A referendum on me?  Well I think that you can put it that way and I am happy to have you do so because if yoh wahn talk bout referendum, well the ultimate judgment would have to be, since this is my last election, I have won every single one since leading this party.  I noh think yoh could got wahn better referendum result than that and I di tell you and all the media and all the, unu cyant beat me again you know, because as you know, this is it.  Me win.”