Benque by-election brings out heavyweights
It is a by-election for a single town board seat that will have absolutely no effect on the balance of political power in Benque Viejo or anywhere else. But don’t tell that to the dozens of high-powered national political figures who descended on the hills of Benque like a swarm of red and blue locusts. News 5’s Janelle Chanona drove the well travelled road west this morning to find out why what would normally be an obscure electoral side-show has suddenly become the political equivalent of Ali versus Foreman.
Janelle Chanona, Reporting
A win in today’s Benque Viejo Town Board by-election will not technically be a significant victory for either party, but by all accounts, both sides are using it to test the political waters. From early this morning, members of the People’s United Party and the United Democratic Party, some from as far away as Orange Walk and San Pedro, invaded the western town to support their candidates. While the UDPs sounded a victory call…
UDP Supporters
UDP all the way!
PUP ministers turned on the charm. (Minister hugging supporter)
Dean Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
“Basically the concentration is simply to get somebody who is an extremely talented up and coming personality in the party elected. Clearly, there is an extent to which you can’t ignore the repercussions of this by-election as a sort of barometer, but really we are focussing on the here and now.”
Godfrey Smith, Attorney General
“There’s no other party in town, there is no other dance in town, so we concentrate here because if the UDP wins they’ll say see we told you we’re organising, we’re on the way back. If the PUP wins then we say you see, everything is fine and everybody is still with us, but I wouldn’t read too much into it.”
But amid all the imported advocates, this morning it seemed the Benqueños themselves were missing. Poor voter turnout early in the day, perhaps due to bad weather, did not deter the hopefuls. So beneath lampposts plastered with party paraphernalia, both candidates were confidently approaching the electorate.
For the UDP’s Said Badi Guerra, deciding to run for this election was a very emotional choice. The vacant seat being contested was–until last year–his father’s.
Said Badi Guerra, UDP Candidate
“Before he died he asked me. He said I’m leaving, but I don’t have anybody to take my place and there would be nobody better but one of my children, you know? So that I would leave fruits. And as I said last night, who says that after Pedro Guerra Mena’s death, he did not leave fruits, he did leave fruits and that’s why I’m here today.”
And today as he consulted with his party, Guerra spoke of the programs he would pursue as councillor.
Said Badi Guerra
“I am not going to make any promises, because I believe people are tired of promises. But I assure the people, my people here in Benque, that I’m going to work hand in hand with them and for them. But yes, the young people, I’m very much involved in culture, and young people don’t have much things to do. That’s why you see so much drugs going on, sometimes suicide, robbery, we need to give the youth a chance.”
But at the other polling station, PUP candidate Leandra Chulin was sure the seat was hers.
Leandra Chulin, PUP Candidate
“For me I have that confidence that today we are having a PUP victory. I am an ambitious person. I like to help women especially, and it’s in me that came this urge for this political aspect because I’ve been serving Benque for the past twenty-four years in the educational background. So therefore, I decided that its time for women to get involved in politics and this is why I am so very anxious to helping women.”
In a council split 4-2 in favour of the opposition, Chulin says she’s eager to get down to work.
Leandra Chulin
“Of course I’m going to give advice to Mayor because he needs a lot of it. I have my plan together with the PUP standard representative, which is Kendal Mendez and with the other two councillors. And of course, we are going to have the support of our government, which is the PUP government. So we’re going to have more action, more progress in Benque Viejo.”
With the action of rounding up last minute voters still in progress up to poll closing time, neither party was leaving anything to chance. Reporting for News 5, I am Janelle Chanona.
The polls closed at 6:00 p.m. and the results should be known within a few hours.
