U.D.P. Candidates for North Side Divisions in Belize City are Locked In
While the blue dominated the Old Capital in the morning, the reds took over the city in the afternoon. News Five’s Duane Moody was in Caribbean Shores, Pickstock and Freetown divisions where the U.D.P. candidates are all new in those constituencies. Here’s his report.
Duane Moody, Reporting
At two p.m. today, it was the U.D.P.’s turn for its candidates vying in the 2020 General Elections to make their way to the nomination stations to officially have their names on the ballots. As promised, at least on the north side divisions, there was no fanfare – a few vehicles with the political flag adorned could be seen outside the centres and there was a minimal amount of supporters. Lee Mark Chang had an entrance on a motorcycle; he’s confident that the countless hours of work are going to pay off.
Lee Mark Chang
Lee Mark Chang, U.D.P. Candidate, Caribbean Shores
“I feel very excited. This has been a fifteen-month work coming to today. We only have about a little over two weeks and I am very excited to go to the polls and to represent my party and to make sure that I can represent Caribbean Shores the proper way. My wife is like my co-candidate; she understands and supports me fully in what I do. I am happy that my father, my mother, my extended family; they are all supporting me a hundred percent in this bid right here and hopefully that the people of this division will choose wisely for their future. I am not only a politician, I am a businessman first. I am very upfront, I am to the point. I don’t like the BS, I don’t like the MDR, and if I have to lie to get the vote, then I am sorry, I will lose that vote. But like I said, I just want to be upfront with the people – no selling of dreams.”
He planned to retire from politics, but Port Loyola area rep Anthony “Boots” Martinez, now referred to as “Uncle,” is the U.D.P. candidate for Pickstock since his colleague and the current area rep, Wilfred “Sedi” Elrington called it quits. Martinez says he is applying a winning strategy in this his first go in Pickstock.
Anthony “Boots” Martinez
Anthony “Boots” Martinez, U.D.P. Candidate, Pickstock
“It is refreshing, it is energising; it’s like yo go to school and study for a test for all ah dehn years and when yo reach the exam room, the test become easier than you thought. Also to, moving around in Pickstock, I have recognised that without being the representative for Pickstock, the amount of service as a minister of government that I have delivered to the people of Pickstock. I come from an area, Port Loyola, of which yo mi need fi take nothing and make something. I come to an area that has something so it can only be better—both in terms of the people and in terms of the geographic location, the smallest of the constituency. I came to Pickstock as the wannabe candidate with five pillars: that is education, infrastructure, housing, social network and job creation.”
It’s official – attorney Orson O.J. Elrington is going face to face against the incumbent P.U.P. Francis Fonseca for the Freetown division come November eleventh. Elrington has a fight on his hands because four of his predecessors have been unable to unseat Fonseca. But Elrington is confident that in his first bid for central government, he will come out on top.
Orson O.J. Elrington
Orson O.J. Elrington, U.D.P. Candidate, Freetown
“We are here and I am happy to finally reach this day. Obviously, we are here to serve the people of Freetown and so today is officially nomination day and so we officially put our name on the ballot to represent the people of Freetown and to bring new hope to the people of Freetown. So I am happy to be here today, I am happy to put my name on the ballot to serve the people of Freetown.”
Duane Moody for News Five.
