Opposition Leader Encourages ALL to Come Out and Vote

John Briceño

It is elections eve and political parties are tightening up screws in their machinery for THE DAY. News Five will be broadcasting for Decision 2020 starting at six o’clock on Wednesday morning, providing up to the minute and accurate information until it is known who will be the next prime minister of Belize. We will have correspondents across the country and they will be bringing us the situation on the ground. The U.D.P.’s Patrick Faber will go head to head with the P.U.P.’s John Briceño for the leadership of the country. Third parties such as the Belize People’s Front and the Belize Progressive Party are also fielding candidates. The magic number is sixteen, whichever party manages to win sixteen constituencies and more forms the next government. But will COVID-19 prevent voters to head to the polls? The Elections and Boundaries Department is putting COVID-19 measures in place but the government is saying that the current S.I. prevents COVID-19 patients to vote. Briceño disagrees. He says that voting is a fundamental right and that all eligible voters need to exercise their right to vote. Briceño is encouraging every voter to head out to the polls and vote safely.

John Briceño, Leader, P.U.P.

“Of the seventeen hundred not all of them are COVID positive at this time. Many of them are already COVID free. They are negative so they will be able to vote. But also important thing is that the Elections and Boundaries have said that they do not have any list of who has COVID or does not have COVID. So I encourage everybody to go and vote. That is your fundamental right to go and vote but to go and vote safely. I have not seen the quarantine Act where it is saying that you can’t vote. I don’t know if you have seen it. But more importantly, it is your fundamental right as a citizen of this country to go and vote. It is enshrined in the constitution and I am saying that I encourage everyone to go and vote but to vote safely. Obviously if you are on oxygen you can’t go vote. You need to stay and get medical attention but in most instances most people can come out with their mask and if anybody wants a shield for theirselves not only COVID people, anybody that wants to feel extra safe on that day. We cannot allow the government to take away your fundamental right to come out and vote for the party that you wish to support.”