A Split Bag of Results in Toledo Divisions

From north to south….Toledo voters said NO to the I.C.J., but residents in Dangriga, including Sarawee and Hope Creek, voted a resounding YES.  The voter turnout in southern Belize surpassed the fifty percent of the total number of newly registered voters.  In Toledo east, fifty-seven percent of the voting population cast their votes. Of these, fifty-one percent voted NO to the I.C.J. and forty-seven percent voted YES.  In the western division of that district, sixty percent of the registered voters cast their votes: fifty-four percent said NO and forty-five percent said YES.  Correspondent Aurelio Sho roamed throughout the constituencies and got the pulse of the people.

Geronimo Pop

Geronimo Pop, Resident

“It’s very important for me to participate, to exercise my rights. It will contribute to a greater cause to end this claim.”

Reynaldo Ico

Reynaldo Ico, Resident

“It’s a historic event and that is why I choose to participate. It is a time to decide whether we want to end the claim or not and hence the reason for my participation.”

Lisel Alamilla

Lisel Alamilla, Resident

“I think it’s of historic importance that we participate in this referendum. I believe that this is the opportunity of a lifetime to resolve this matter with Guatemala. Of course I voted yes because I don’t see another opportunity like this presenting itself.”

Oscar Requeña

Oscar Requeña, Area Representative, Toledo West

“I personally feel that the education process has been inadequate.  I believe that, like many Belizeans, that this process is being rushed. People needed more time to be able to understand really what the issues involved in this Guatemalan claim are. I certainly feel that Belize is for Belize. We do not owe Guatemala anything, so why would we want to legitimize Guatemala’s claim?”