Hulse and Canton face off in Stann Creek West
It has traditionally been a closely contested constituency albeit with the U.D.P. having an edge. This time around incumbent representative Melvin Hulse Junior is facing an opponent, Dr. Henry Canton, with a lot of education and energy to match. Patrick Jones reports on the race in Stann Creek West.
Melvin Hulse Jr., U.D.P., Stann Creek West
“What I’m basically doing is not campaigning because I have not stopped the work. What I did, I’ve continue working and all we have done is go back in the villages, because election has been announced and that is the reality and we talk about what has happened. The physical thing that have made their lives better and tell people look around, tell me that your life is not better and since I have already proven now that I can deliver, it’s simply a matter of continuity, that’s it.”
Q: “Mr. Canton, what is the number one campaign issue in Stann Creek West?”
Henry Canton, P.U.P., Stann Creek West
“The fact that the people have been disrespected and have not been given the opportunity to really participate in developing Stann Creek West. That they have no jobs, that they can’t afford health, that the education system is not providing for poor people. Stann Creek West is a little fifteen than urban communities where it’s widespread and you have to bus people. We have a large amount of kids and they can’t really afford education, books and health services.”
Q: “Your opponent is a new-comer to politics. What will put you one step ahead of Henry Canton?”
Melvin Hulse Jr.
“My thing is simply that I do not accept that I have an opponent. I’m out there working, I’m getting my things done and it’s not a matter of one step; I’m way ahead. I’ve delivered. People no longer… What we need to understand is that in the rural villages where I come from, it’s not about politics or what not, people are interested. I want land, I want my lot, I want street, I want lights, I want water, I want phone, I want better schools, I want health. It’s not about the politics; that’s not what it’s about.”
Q: “Do you think you have enough of the support of the people of Stann Creek West to win over Melvin Hulse?”
Henry Canton
“Oh yes, I am sure of that. You know, you can only disrespect people and suppress them in a dictatorial manner before people start to respond and want a change. I think that what I will present for the people is a leader that will provide them the opportunity for them to really participate in their own development and this is what everybody in Stann Creek West is asking for – to just be part of their own development, making their own money, trying to assist in employment and this sort of issues.”
Melvin Hulse Jr.
“When I get elected I will continue completely. I started in politics with twenty-four villages having no lights and water, no streets, no nothing in Stann Creek. In 1998 now going into election now, I basically have only three villages without light and water in the Stann Creek district, and six thousand people with lot. So it’s just a matter of completing the work.
There’s no boy one election done, ah start a next one; we start now. I’ve already done all the foundation, the base, and everything paved, the highway fix up now, expand things, because I have supplied the development with the help of the government in the villages. Everything now have grown. The youths have grown. So it’s a matter of, it’s never gonna stop.”
Q: “You’re going up against a veteran. Do you think you have what it takes to bypass Melvin Hulse?”
Henry Canton
“Patrick if I didn’t think so I wouldn’t do it. Yes, I am confident that I have everything that Melvin Hulse has and a lot more. I am confident. I am confident that we are not only going to beat him but beat him solidly.”
Melvin Hulse Jr.
“Election has nothing to do with politics and have nothing to do with party. Election has, and all of us forget it because party the use media, party the hype up people who want to be politician. But the bottomline is that election is simply about electing a government that will improve your living condition. Bottomline.
We have had the opportunity to see two party become government and all the people have to be concerned about and look and say, boy when this party was government what did they do to improve me and my family living condition, and what did this government do. And that now is the choice that is out there, very simple.”
Henry Canton
“Henry Canton will take Stann Creek West and be the area representative that they need to develop Stann Creek West in providing the development for Stann Creek West. We will also provide to a large extent for the entire nation of Belize, because Stann Creek West is really the breadbasket of this country. We are the home of the citrus industry, we’re the home of agriculture, we’re the home of banana, we’re the home of just about every serious agricultural business. We also have a large amount of rural farmers who can produce anything.”
The race in Stann Creek West will be among the twenty-nine covered live on election day by the joint broadcast of Channel Five and Love FM.
