Orange Walk Nomination March with P.U.P.
In Orange Walk Town, the presence of the two political parties was felt. The battle between the red and blue for every constituency is fierce. John Briceño and the three other standard bearers led the parade of P.U.P. supporters through the streets of Sugar City. News Five’s Andrea Polanco reports.
Andrea Polanco, Reporting
Around ten this morning, the four P.U.P. Standard Bearers of the Orange Walk Consitutiences were nominated without a hitch, to contest the 2012 General Elections. In an area that is characteristically politically charged there was camaraderie among all four candidates in the street parade that followed the nominations. P.U.P. supporters donned in political gears and bearing blue and white flags took to the street with the four candidates leading the way.
Jorge Briceño, P.U.P. Standard Bearer, Orange Walk North
Jorge Briceño
“It is great to see all the support of the people that came out here to support me, but also I have a calling for the representative that is in the area. Please walk the area; there are many necessities. As I walk house to house, I meet a lot of children, elderly people and families that need help in health and other resources.”
Andrea Polanco
“I believe your opponent is the Deputy Prime Minister. Is that correct?”
Jorge Briceño
“Yes, my opponent is deputy prime minister and as you can see, the people will have their words; not posters and signs and banners. I spend my resources to help the people; not on banners and painting posts.”
Jose Abelardo Mai
Jose Abelardo Mai, P.U.P. Standard Bearer, Orange Walk South
“I am humbled to be the official candidate for the P.U.P. in Orange Walk South. I have no idea how many supporters—we have in the hundreds of supporters. At this hour of the day: the moms are cooking, the children are in primary school, the fathers are in the fields working. So it is a very difficult time for us but nevertheless the people made a serious attempt to be here. The people made a serious attempt to be here and I am so happy with them for that.”
Andrea Polanco
“So what’s the feeling like going towards the general elections on March seventh?”
Jose Abelardo Mai
“We have been two-three fourths of the entire constituency on a house to house basis and the response has been very positive.”
Andrea Polanco
“Mr. Briceño, you are officially the standard bearer for the Orange Walk Central. What’s the feeling like right now?”
John Briceño, P.U.P. Standard Bearer, Orange Walk Central
John Briceño
“Well it si a feeling that you can never get used to; you get an adrenalin rush, but it also gives you a sense of satisfaction that once again we have people that have that confidence in you and the six persons that come to nominate me, I am very grateful to them and also grateful to the thousands that have come out and show their support on nomination day.”
Dr. Marco Tulio Mendez, P.U.P. Standard Bearer, Orange Walk East
“Well, with this crowd that is hype up and showing its full support, the energy you could feel it out here. of course one feels that this has been very great days that have reached up to this point and now yes I am official and I am asking the people of Orange Walk East to give their support and I will deliver on what I have been promising—especially with health, education and jobs.”
Marco Tulio Mendez
Andrea Polanco
“So, Doc you are in one of the divisions that the entire nation is looking at and really because you have a very wealthy opponent in Mister Landy Burns and secondly that division was the area for Mister Marcel Cardona who has now thrown his support behind you. What do you say to your electorate that ou are going to deliver for the P.U.P.?”
Dr. Marco Tulio Mendez
“Well it is very important—this election is very important. Our future is very important, the future of our kids is very important, the future of our youths I very important and we as a party stand that we are going to bring more jobs to the area. My area is one of the areas that have been totally abandoned. I know that the people will not forget that. I know they will not forget with some dollars for the Election Day. I know that they have really felt the blunt pressure of the United Democratic Party.”
And by midday, with music blaring and political chanting filled the principal streets of the town. Riled up, the supporters kept the momentum all the way over to the P.U.P. Office. The rally lasted for about forty-five minutes, where each candidate addressed the gathering. They say they are confident that Orange Walk will be colored blue on March 7th:
Jorge Briceño
“They are the ones that do it; they are the ones that elect their representative. I am just a voter. They elect the person that they believe will fight for them as long as they are in government.”
Andrea Polanco
“So the confidence level of course is very high at this time?”
Dr. Marco Tulio Mendez
“Of course I am very confident and by visiting each of the houses, they have really opened their arms and they have shared their feelings of what they have gone throw and I’m asking for the support of the Orange Walk East Constituency.”
Andrea Polanco
“So the feeling is definitely is one of confidence leading up to March seventh?”
Jose Abelardo Mai
“Oh yes, we are certainly confident that we will deliver Orange Walk South; however, we have never, I will never let down the guard until the ballots are count. We will continue to work every minute until that day is over. And I am sure we will deliver Orange Walk South.”
Andrea Polanco
“So leading up to March seventh, you are confident that of course you will return Orange Walk Central to the P.U.P.?”
John Briceño
“Well, my campaign has been a positive one. I have been going from house to house and wherever I go, I have been warmly greeted and I have every confidence that once again the people of Orange Walk Central will give me their support once again.”
Andrea Polanco
“So any final words that you would like to leave with your constituents?”
John Briceño
“Well I want to thank the constituents for all those people that have given me their support since 1993. It si a support that I do not take for granted and it si something that I do from my heart working for the good, wonderful people of Orange Walk Central.”
Reporting for News Five, I’m Andrea Polanco.
