Mock Cayo elections puts pressure on politicians

It was designed as a creative way of teaching civics to young Belizeans … but today school officials in Cayo found themselves at the centre of a political scenario that just might have significant implications. At St. Ignatius High School in Santa Elena this afternoon, all four candidates contesting the San Ignacio, Santa Elena Town Board Elections presented themselves to the student body and then the young men and women voted for their favourites. News Five’s Karla Vernon has the results.

Nelson Tillett, PUP Mayoral candidate
?Your P.U.P. seven team, when they prepared their manifesto it was not made by we; by none of us candidates. It was out there, the request from the parents of our community. And when you read our manifesto you will see that it?s the simple and basic things that that are accomplishable. And why should you believe we? Because like I said earlier, the People?s United Party has a record of getting things done, thank you.?

John Francis August Jr., U.D.P. Mayoral candidate
?I want to tell you that, yes, I will keep my promise to deliver on our manifesto. And why will I keep that promise? I will keep that promise because I am just like each and every one of you in this classroom today. I want to see improvement for San Ignacio and Santa Elena. I want to see better things for San Ignacio and Santa Elena. I want to see you young people one day to be proud of walking in San Ignacio and Santa Elena, to be proud to say you are residents of San Ignacio and Santa Elena, because we should feel proud and I want to make you feel proud. Once I am given that opportunity, I will make everyone proud to be a resident of San Ignacio and Santa Elena. That is the reason I will keep my promise and that is the reason you should encourage your friends to come out on March first for the U.D.P. team, thank you.?

Luis Ayala, Independent Mayoral Candidate
?But I can definitely tell you, upon getting elected as your new mayoral candidate for San Ignacio and Santa Elena, definitely you will have a new market. Probably it won?t be a magnificent or very?or a mansion or a castle, but it will be something that you will be comfortable to walk on, something where you won?t get wet or the sun shining or beating on you. Public utilities: that?s fourth on my agenda here. And the telephone company, the electric company, and the water company are only thinking money. Business, don?t give anything back to the company. I want them to understand that they need to be corporate citizens, they need to give back something to our community. They have been recently using us. Some of them break the streets putting in utility poles and don?t even try to repair them as how they meet them or to the best looks for the tourism sector or the people that are visiting can say our town is a beautiful one.?

Fernando Cruz, Independent Mayoral Candidate
?Whatever they spend out there is YOUR money. And that?s the biggest problem. The problem is that nobody in this country has ever held the two political parties accountable. But I can tell you something, if they come on election day and they buy your votes or your parents votes, they have no dignity for you. And also, if you sell your vote you have no dignity because that is what is causing the problem in Belize. And if we continue the trend here, these two political parties are actually going to kill this country. But the problem is that we sit there and nobody wants to get involved, nobody wants to be the black sheep, nobody wants to walk out there and look different. And I can tell you something, if it takes me on my own, or Mr. Ayala on his own, to step out of the line and different and make sure that these two political parties treat you differently, I am prepared to do that.?

Karla Vernon, Reporting
It was clear this afternoon that none of the candidates who addressed the more than three hundred students of St Ignatius High school approaching their task as a mere lesson in civics. This was real politics and at stake were some real votes from both teachers and eligible students.

Guadalupe Novelo Gillett, Counsellor
?The social studies teachers do discuss those issues with them, they?ve discussed even floating voters. What does it mean to be a floating voter and hopefully with the presentations they will no longer be floating voters, especially those who are eligible. Or even for them to get the understanding that if you are eligible, you should come out and vote. So it?s not only educational, but it?s kinda promoting their civic pride and have them perform their duties and rights as citizens of this country.?

Sylvan Spain is one fourth former who will participate in his first real election this Wednesday.

Sylvan Spain, 4th Form Student
?All four men gave their best, they gave what they think about everything, and they know what they want and how they want it. It has captured my attention yes, about who to vote for the Wednesday, March first. In my perspective, I think it was tough in the beginning, but as the time go by I?ve figured who to vote for.?

?My parents they already know where to go. I have my older brothers and sisters doing it, so it gives me great pleasure following them too, as well doing the same thing that they are doing.?

Younger students say today?s event showed them how municipal elections will impact their own lives.

Apolonia Neal, 2nd Form Student
?the presentation was good. We learn a lot, especially for the subject, social studies, and I think it was a good presentation.?

Cindy Cano, 2nd Form Student
?Because we don?t want any one out there ruin our future. We want a good mayor for him to help us with our future.?

Yemara Howe, 2nd Form Student
?The answer that they give, it like gets our interest of who to vote for.?

Karla Vernon
?Do you think they were just coming to try to get votes or they are trying to help educate you about the process??

Christina Garcia, 2nd Form Students
?I think they were trying to educate because most of us cannot vote.?

Karla Vernon
?Do you think independent candidates stand a chance??

Christina Garcia
?Yes, I think if they continue doing the job that they want and spread the word, I think they have the chance.?

Karla Vernon
?So do you think when you are older that you?ll be picking a party or you will be looking at an individual? ?

Michael Arnold, 1st Form Student
?I?ll be looking at an individual.?

Akeem Jones, 1st Form Student
“Picking a party.?

It would take school officials a half an hour to tabulate today?s mock election results. The final count put the U.D.P. candidate John August ahead, with one hundred and thirty-two votes; Nelson Tillett of the P.U.P. pulled in eighty-five votes; Independent Fernando Cruz got fifty-three; and Luis Ayala, another independent candidate, received eight votes … results that are sure to leave all four candidates with plenty of food for thought during this, the last weekend before Wednesday?s real election.

Reporting for News Five, I am Karla Vernon.