93 candidates will contest Feb. 7th election

On last night’s newscast we reported that ninety-three candidates had signed on the dotted line and paid their deposits for the February seventh general election. Tonight News Five’s Janelle Chanona has their names.

In the Freetown Division, the P.U.P.’s Francis Fonseca squares off against Michael Peyrefitte of the U.D.P., with Jorge Ernesto Babb as an independent challenger. In Caribbean Shores, it’s Jose Coye for the P.U.P. against the U.D.P.’s Carlos Perdomo. Pickstock is a battle between Godfrey Smith of the P.U.P. and Wilfred “Sedi” Elrington for the U.D.P. Prime Minister Said Musa and George Gough represent the P.U.P. and U.D.P. respectively in Fort George while in Albert, it’s Mark Espat for the blue and Tom Morrison running red. In Queen Square, U.D.P. Leader Dean Barrow faces P.U.P. Anthony Sylvester Junior with Ebony Babb as an independent entry. Michael Finnegan is the U.D.P. Candidate in Mesopotamia, running against the P.U.P.’s Austin Waight. Lake Independence has a crowded field with Cordel Hyde and Vandley Jenkins representing the blue and red with Gary Lambey running on the National Reform Party ticket and Joseph “Seagull” Martinez as the candidate of the Vision Inspired by the People. Collet features P.U.P. Carolyn Trench Sandiford, the U.D.P.’s Patrick Faber and Patrick Rogers running for the V.I.P. In Port Loyola, the P.U.P.’s Oscar Rosado and U.D.P.’s Anthony “Boots” Martinez are challenged by Erwin X of V.I.P. In Belize Rural North, it’s Earl “Bob Rancho” Perez for the P.U.P. against Edmond Castro of the U.D.P.. Ralph Fonseca and Michael Hutchinson represent the blue and red in Belize Rural Central and are joined by V.I.P.’s Harrisford Myers and independent candidate Queen Miller. In Belize Rural South, the P.U.P.’s Mel Spain and U.D.P.’s Manuel Heredia are challenged by Ernesto Caliz of the N.R.P.. All four Corozal constituencies are two man races. In the Bay, Vildo Marin faces his cousin Pablo Marin. In Corozal North, Valdemar Castillo defends against Nemencio Acosta. Florencio Marin Junior faces Servando Samos in South East while Greg Garcia and Gabriel Martinez square off in South West. Orange Walk’s ballots are more crowded with the P.U.P.’s Johnny Briceno and U.D.P.’s “Chendo” Urbina joined by Alvaro Espejo Junior of the N.R.P. in Orange Walk Central. In O.W. North, Servulo Baeza and Gapi Vega have N.R.P. company in the form of Hilberto Nah. East features Marco Tulio Mendez and Marcel Cardona for the blue and red with Pabel Torres carrying the N.R.P. banner. Orange Walk South is a four horse contest featuring P.U.P. Jose Mai, U.D.P. Marco Pech, N.R.P. Eduardo Melendez and Salustiano Lizama representing the National Belizean Alliance. The Cayo district has the largest number of candidates. In Cayo North, the race is on between P.U.P.’s Otto Coleman, U.D.P.’s Salva Fernandez and Alden McDougall of the N.R.P.. In Cayo West, it’s Kendall Mendez for the blue, Erwin Contreras for the red and Marta Hendrix running for the V.I.P.. Five candidates are competing in Cayo Central. They are; P.U.P. Mario Castellanos, U.D.P. Rene Montero, N.R.P. George Boiton Junior, V.I.P. Gilroy Requena and Independent Nazim Juan. Cayo South will see four names on the ballot. Charles Galvez is P.U.P., Ramon Witz is U.D.P., Hubert Enriquez V.I.P. and Richard Smith, N.B.A.. Cayo North East pits P.U.P. Orlando Habet and U.D.P. Elvin Penner against N.R.P. leader Cornelius Dueck. In Belmopan, Rolando Zetina is representing the P.U.P., John Saldivar, U.D.P. and Paul Morgan is standard bearer for the V.I.P.. Moving south, in Dangriga Cassian Nunez and Turo Roches are running blue and red respectively joined by Denton Castillo on the N.R.P. ticket and Quentin Mejia for the V.I.P.. Stann Creek West features Rodwell Ferguson, Melvin Hulse and Mateo Polanco running for the P.U.P., U.D.P. and V.I.P. respectively. In Toledo, Mike Espat and Eden Martinez are joined by Wil Maheia of the People’s National Party and independent Herman Lewis. And finally, in Toledo West, five candidates are on the ballot. They are P.U.P. Marcial Mes, U.D.P. Juan Coy, N.R.P. Fermin Choc, V.I.P. Julian “Max” Cho and Dionicio Choc of the P.N.P..

That’s all ninety three. Remember, only thirty-one will serve in the House of Representatives. And by the way, candidates who fail to win ten percent of the vote will not get back their two hundred dollar deposit paid to the Elections and Boundaries Department.