P.U.P. 11 Elected in Belize City
While San Pedro in the Belize District had the second highest voter turnout in the country, Belize City had the lowest with only forty-six percent. News Five’s Isani Cayetano and election correspondent Terry Gordon were making the rounds all day on the south and north sides.
Isani Cayetano, Reporting
While people are still debating what might have contributed to dismal display of voting in the nation’s largest population center, the majority of those who did turn out handed the win to incumbent mayor Bernard Wagner. His entire P.U.P. slate trounced the U.D.P. contenders by almost two to one. Terry Gordon spoke with Wagner who was confident there would indeed be a second blue wave.
Bernard Wagner
Bernard Wagner, Belize City Mayor
“There is always this great activity in the Lake I division; I’ve been in Port [Loyola]; I am now trying head over to Freetown and the Caribbean Shores area as well as Mesopotamia to see how our machinery is working. But I believe that our area representatives have done a tremendous job is bringing all this machinery together to ensure that at the end of the day today that our city council slates all across the country.”
It was evident from the lack of crowds early in the day that the turnout might indeed be low. Councillor Allan Pollard compared the feeling of the day to past elections.
Allan Pollard
Allan Pollard, Councillor, Belize City Council
“It’s very different compared to the General Elections where there is that excitement from the voters. Much more low key election we are seeing today. Well for one we don’t have a holiday so we understand why. Maybe some people are at work. They still have that li voter fatigue as well just coming out from a General Election. But it is definitely just getting your people to the polls. Getting them here today. Finding out where they are at work or at home and just getting them to the polls; one-by-one. I don’t expect to see any crowds today so that definitely gives you a different vibe out here today.”
Despite that low key vibe, Pollard must have done something right to appeal to Belize City voters. He garnered the most electoral support for the entire slate, ending the day with ten thousand eight hundred and eighty-six votes.
And in terms of the councillors, political newcomer Kaya Cattouse is making headlines today not for her athletic prowess, but political acumen. Cattouse told News Five when she first announced her candidacy in January that politics has always been in her peripheral vision. It seems setting her sights on this new challenge has already earned her a silver medal. Cattouse scored ten thousand eight-hundred and sixteen, the second highest number of votes in Belize City. She credits her clean record for her success.
Kaya Cattouse
Kaya Cattouse, Councillor, Belize City Council
“I’m not known in this field. However, I am known in the city otherwise for my sporting background. I was once told that maintaining a good reputation is essential because your reputation is what precedes you. And I am one hundred percent confident of the reputation that precedes me because I know it speaks volumes of my character, my dedication and the love and the passion that I have for anything that I do.”
Reporting for News Five, I am Isani Cayetano.
