Opinions vary on impact of packed ballot
And while traditional wisdom dictates that third party candidates are little more than spoilers, it doesn’t mean that voters want to see those names removed from the ballot. Today roving reporter Marion Ali was back in the streets…and she found that although the electoral appetite of most citizens is confined to a few familiar dishes, they don’t mind browsing through a lengthy menu.
Citizen #1
“Some people might want new faces, but I don’t think they will win. That’s my idea.”
Marion Ali
“So you think the red or the blue still prominent?”
Citizen #1
“Yes.”
Citizen #2
“I do believe the independent candidates will come in.”
Marion Ali
“So you support their concept?”
Citizen #2
“I can’t say I support their concept, but they dah well known citizen, people know dem well, deh used to in party before, so they could win.”
Citizen #3
“Independent candidate have never win yet ina the history.”
Marion Ali
“So you no feel deh have a chance this time round?”
Citizen #3
“Deh no have one chance, I no feel like deh have one. That dah my opinion.”
Marion Ali
“A lot a people out deh seh that they really tired a the red and the blue. Weh you feel bout that?”
Citizen #3
“Well they still so wah win, nokay (no matter) who tired a di red and di blue; that’s not the majority.”
Citizen #4
“Well to me all a dem dah waise a (waste of) time…Case close.”
Citizen #5
“It would be a good idea if they have a variety of people coming in.”
Marion Ali
“Now based on the history of our politics in Belize we’ve had independent candidates before who’ve run and who’ve been rejected. You don’t feel this will be the case this time?”
Citizen #5
“No no, cause people want new ideas, they want new people coming in. They wanna see new turnovers, cause people are tired of just one set of people all the time.”
Citizen #6
“People done gat demself one way, either P.U.P. or U.D.P., one outa di two. That dah the way how it is.”
Marion Ali
“So why you feel people so stubborn to change to elect somebody new?”
Citizen #7
“Di way how di people dem think, that dah it. Most people feel like deh done know deh one yah already, so deh just vote fi deh and that’s all.”
Citizen #8
“I feel it’s a good idea. You should vote for the people of your choice and who could do the job, not for a person because he is political. Vote fi di man who could do the job, who’s best suited to do the job, lady, and the man with integrity and wisdom, and vision and foresight.”
Viewers should note that some candidates who say they’ll run are often no shows on nomination day.
