P.U.P., U.D.P. & B.P.F. Contest Cayo North East
Tonight, we continue with our coverage leading up to the General Elections 2020. There are three candidates contesting the Cayo North East constituency. One is the incumbent, hoping for a second term; the other is hoping to make his way back into electoral politics following a loss in 2015 and the third candidate is the leader and founder of a third party hoping to make history with a win next month. Here’s a look at what the Cayo North East division hopefuls are saying:
Andrea Polanco, Reporting
The three candidates who are contesting the Cayo North East Constituency are the People’s United Party’s Orlando Habet,– who is the incumbent seeking another term as area representative; the United Democratic Party’s John August – who lost to Habet in 2015 but hopes to pull off a win in 2020; and the Belize People’s Front Nancy Marin – who is also the leader of the third party.
Orlando Habet
Orlando Habet, P.U.P. Standard Bearer, Cayo North East
“My logo is that everybody wins with Landy Habet. The people know me. I have been there for the past five years as a member of government in opposition but one thing that they have also seen is that I have also been there for them; lobbying for them at the House of Representatives. Whether we get what we lobby for or not, I am there to claim and to ask for the help that we need for our constituency. I can do a lot more once I am in government and the people know that and so I believe they are giving me that opportunity.”
John August Jr.
John August Jr., U.D.P. Standard Bearer, Cayo North East
“People are looking for hope from an area representative that can create opportunities for them. As you all know, with COVID-19, our economy we are struggling at the moment and so that is something they are looking for in their new soon-to-be are representative – that he will bring hope and he will bring ideas to improve on the economic situation. And that is what I bring to the table to work along with the people of Cayo north east division – to find solutions to our problems.”
Nancy Marin
Nancy Marin, B.P.F. Standard Bearer, Cayo North East
“The vibes that we are getting on the street is that people are just really fed up. We have over sixty-two thousand people unemployed. In my area families are really suffering. They are really just tired of the same from jumping from red to blue red to blue all the time and I believe people want to see a change. Of course, you have the handful of fanatics but generally the working class people I think are the people who really want to make the change. We have seen a lot of young people who are saying I will vote for anything that is not red or blue.”
For the past five years, Habet served as the area representative of the people of Cayo North East. He says that constituents are not happy about the lack of jobs and inadequate health infrastructure in their division – and so his plan is to deliver on those needs if elected under the P.U.P.
Orlando Habet
“The unavailability of jobs and certainly things like a lack of proper education systems where people can go in and learn; the cost of education; and certainly one that really touches a lot of our lives in Cayo is that of the health system which is really despicable. So, we believe the people will come out and vote on those issues and also on some of the promises that we are able to make because in our manifesto we have made promises that are achievable.”
And this second time around, August says he is putting in the work and hopes to be elected. The U.D.P. standard bearer believes that his one-on-one visits with his constituents will help him to address their needs. He has also enlisted the help of former representative of Cayo North East division Elvin Penner – but will Penner’s support help him to deliver the Cayo North East seat for the U.D.P.?
John August Jr.
“Employment; land distribution; health; improvement in healthcare facilities those are some of the most pressing needs as we go about and also the crime situation. We have to come up with some kind of plan how we can deal with this. It does affect us here in Cayo north east division.”
Andrea Polanco
“I see former area rep for Cayo North East Mr. Penner here – is he one of your supporters?”
John August
“Yes, well you know Mr. Penner is a U.D.P. and he was once the area representative for Cayo North East and he came out here today for my nomination just to show his support also.”
Andrea Polanco
“Do you think that is perhaps going to give you an edge or provide that support that you need to secure that win?”
John August
“Well, you know you need all the support to win an election like this so everybody that wants to come on board and to support me and have good ideas on what we can do to improve the Cayo north east area – we need all the support; we need all the support from everyone; regardless we have to be all inclusive.”
According to Marin, one of the issues she has heard in the division is the lack of jobs. She says that if elected, she intends to tackle unemployment, as well as other economic issues.
Nancy Marin
“The most important thing in Cayo North East and really around the country is jobs. We need to create jobs. We need to create wealth; the boost in our economy. The B.P.F. has been speaking to investors around the region that are very interested in Belize and we think that is the way to go. The country cannot take any more loans. We cannot indebt ourselves anymore. We are four billion dollars in debt and it is gonna be killing for our people and there is no other way of coming out of debt if we don’t think out of the box.”
So – who will the five thousand seven hundred and six registered voters in the Cayo North East Division vote for as their next area representative? We’ll know on November eleventh. For now, Orlando Habet, John August and Nancy Marin all believe they can do the job.
Orlando Habet
“People have been coming out supporters and what is very different at this time, people are calling me to their homes and many of whom have not supported me in the past and have been U.D.P. supporters are calling me and telling me that Mr. Habet, you know we have been U.D.P. all our lives and this time we are going to vote for you and make a change. Our big support will also come from the young people. There is about fifty-two to fifty-five percent voter registration between the age of 18 to 35 years and we are appealing to the young people and I believe a lot of our support will come from the young people.”
John August Jr.
“He was victorious five years ago but I am very positive that the people have seen the type of leadership he offers and they have seen the type of leadership that I offered as a three term mayor of San Ignacio and Santa Elena. And I think that they expect much more from what has been offered to them over the last five years and they know that John August is a man once he is there – once he is in that capacity as an elected leader he works hard and he tries to deliver the best for his community and his people.”
Nancy Marin
“I want people to vote with a conscious. It is no time to be voting for political colors or for traditional political affiliations. It is time to vote for our country. Our country must come first in this election. I believe it is a good time – we have a woman leader leading a third party. And we have a third party with vision and a good economic plan. It’s time.”
Reporting for News Five, I’m Andrea Polanco.
