Village council elections heat up to physical assault

Round two of the village council elections were held on Sunday in fifty-six more villages across the country. And just as they did the last time around, this week both political parties are claiming victory. The United Democratic Party has their party winning in thirty villages, with ten independents running successful campaigns, leaving the People’s United Party with sixteen wins. By the P.U.P.’s count, the party had wins in twenty-nine villages; three went to the independents, while twenty-three sided with the Opposition. The villages in which both parties are claiming victory are Pueblo Viejo, Naluum Ca, Barranco, Conejo Creek, Crique Sarco, and Midway; all in the Toledo District. The P.U.P. listed Sittee River and Seine Bight as independents, saying that in Seine Bight, three of the seven councilors were running for their party, while the remainder were independents. The U.D.P. claimed them as outright victories. But to be sure, one of the most hotly contested council races was Trial Farm village adjoining Orange Walk Town which resulted in hostile confrontations between the two mass parties. The following footage captures O.W.’s C.T.V. reporter Jorge Aldana in an exchange that the journalist claims led to a physical assault.

(Video of scuffle.)

While it wasn’t videotaped, sources close to News Five indicate that a similar incident occurred between Minister of State Servulo Baeza and U.D.P. Deputy Leader Gaspar Vega. Reports are that after Vega shouldered the minister, Baeza turned around with a fist and had to be restrained by his supporters.