San Pedro Town is Blue after 18 Years!
It took the People’s United Party eighteen years to regain municipal government control in San Pedro. But it did so in convincing fashion on Wednesday, snagging all six councilor seats and the mayoral position as well. Although many thought it would be a nail-biting neck and neck finish, with perhaps even a split council, the P.U.P. proved that it was the residents’ favourite party. This comes off the heels of the November eleventh victory when Andre Perez also overwhelmingly beat his U.D.P. predecessor, Manuel Heredia Junior for the Belize Rural South seat in central government. Election correspondent Marion Ali covered the elections for us from the polls opened until the last vote was counted. Reporter Andrea Polanco brings us that story tonight.
Andrea Polanco, Reporting
At the opening of polls, a few early-risers made their way to the two Polling Stations, the San Pedro High School and the Roman Catholic Primary School to cast their votes. But by nine, lines had formed and extended all the way to the nearest block at both locations. By the look of things, no one could tell who was the favourite man and team – the P.U.P.’s Wally Nunez and his slate or the U.D.P.’s Ruben Gonzalez and his councilor candidates. Gonzalez had served for two terms as Councillor before, and he told News Five earlier in the day that the concerns people had were over infrastructure, primarily in the newer parts of the town that are still in the development stage.
Ruben Gonzalez
Ruben Gonzalez, U.D.P. Mayoral Candidate, San Pedro
“There’s a lot of streets that need to be worked on and we have some plans, we think that we should put a maintenance group for streets and also we are going to work on a drainage system. Yes, we did reach – well not everyone that we wanted to, but we reached about ninety percent of the people. We also had our other executive members that were helping us in the other areas where we couldn’t reached. They were just issuing pamphlets and so on.”
The P.U.P.’s Wally Nunez shared his view that the U.D.P. could not deliver satisfactorily over the eighteen years that it had held the municipal office and that now, it was time for real growth and infrastructure development.
Wally Nunez
Wally Nunez, Mayor-elect, San Pedro
“The people have felt that they have been neglected in most of the areas of San Pedro and this is way before COVID so we cannot blame COVID for what has been the mismanagement. We have long-term plans and short-term plans and the long term plans we know we can start because we have a central government that is P.U.P. and we have all the backup from the government, we have the backup from our minister, we have the backup from the Prime Minister as well.”
Nunez’s predecessor, Daniel Guerrero, who has denied allegations that the outgoing council had transferred ownership of golf carts belonging to the council to outgoing councilors, told News Five that after serving for nine years, he decided to throw in the towel because of the COVID-19 pandemic and because he wanted to spend quality time with his grandchildren. But he has his eyes on the bigger stage, he warned.
Daniel Guerrero
Daniel Guerrero, Outgoing Mayor, San Pedro
“I decided, let me relax for a while and see what happens. But in the mean time, I will be studying and observing what’s going on in the national politics of Belize. At no point I’m retiring, I am just taking a moment of relaxation. I want to see what’s going on first. I am not saying that I will be stepping in there, but I want to watch. I have politics in my blood so I will be there for a while.”
For a few hours during the day, there was a lull in voter turnout, and then a trickle that grew into another line of voters toward the closing hours of the polls.
After the six o’clock cut-off point, the ballot boxes that were at the Roman Catholic Primary School were shuttled to the San Pedro High School campus where the counting of ballots took place.
After the political parties’ counting agents were allowed on the compound, the Police closed the iron gate for the counting to begin. The official results were not released until after midnight, when Returning Officer Martin Alegria confirmed what had already been the prediction.
Martin Alegria
Martin Alegria, Returning Officer, San Pedro Town
“The number of votes cast for Mister Wally Nunez for mayor is three thousand four hundred and sixty-two. For Mister Ruben Gonzalez for mayor is seventeen-zero-one. Therefore, the mayorship of San Pedro Town has been won by Mister Wally Nunez.”
Nunez says that his council’s first task upon taking office will be to conduct an audit of the finances and assets. Reporting for News Five, I’m Andrea Polanco.
