3 U.D.P. Candidates for Caribbean Shores, So Far
Santino Castillo
Senate President Lee Mark Chang and former U.D.P. Belize City Councilor Leila Peyrefitte are the two names who have reportedly expressed interest in representing Caribbean Shores. While Castillo won in the Caribbean Shores in 2012, Lee Mark Chang was most unsuccessful in the Freetown when he was bested by area representative Francis Fonseca. Chang made way for Carla Barnett in 2015, but she also lost to Fonseca. A confident Castillo says that he is prepared to take on both Chang and Peyrefitte.
Santino Castillo, U.D.P. Politician
“Let me make it perfectly they are both my friends, Lee Mark Chang and Leila Peryrefitte. So I have to qualms to say that although they are my friends if it has to go to a convention, first of all I will approach them and see if I can garner the support of any of them for me. If that is not possible, the democratic thing is to go to convention and I feel I will beat them.”
Hipolito Novelo
“How do you fear against Lee Mark Chang’s ability to move voters because he was very active in Freetown for O.J.?”
Santino Castillo
“Let me put it to you simply, Lee Mark Chang is a good politician and does have a machinery, but his strength I believe lies in Freetown. I would like to extend an olive branch to him, use his strengths along with me for Caribbean Shores.”
Hipolito Novelo
“We know that you have the support of Edmond Castro who told you ‘welcome back bro’, do you have any support of other U.D.P. ministers and those within the party?”
Santino Castillo
“Yes I do. Many of them have gotten in touch with me and congratulate me and told me that they are behind me. I would rather not mention their names right now. It is you that mentioned Edmond Castro. I wouldn’t have mentioned it but you have because he did it on Facebook. Yes he is a colleague and a riding friend of mine. There are other ministers as well but for now I would like to keep it confidential.”
Hipolito Novelo
“The party’s leader, Mr. Barrow has welcomed your application?”
Santino Castillo
“He has welcomed my application and I will take it a step further, I spoke with him on this matter by telephone in either late January or early February and I asked his advice if he thinks if I should because at that time it was not sure what will happen to Darrell. So I asked him, PM do you think that it is a good move on my part to submit my application and he told me absolutely. So based on his advice I did submit my application. I personally believe that with the candidates that you have mentioned the PM will remain neutral.”
