Mike and Oscar Dominate Toledo East and West

In the deep south, Oscar Requeña and Mike Espat proved to be unbeatable. The tag team will return to parliament having won decisively; Requeña was a slam dunk, winning by a margin of one thousand four hundred and seventy-five votes while Espat by a margin of one thousand one hundred and fourteen. Here is a report with Isani Cayetano.

Isani Cayetano, Reporting

There are two People’s United Party area representatives coming out of Toledo District, Mike Espat in the east and Oscar Requeña in the west.  Both candidates, as incumbents, were challenged by Dennis Garbutt and Dr. Simeon Coc, respectively.  Earlier in the day, Dr. Coc, the former principal of Julian Cho Technical High School, spoke with us about his plans for Toledo West.

Simeon Coc

Dr. Simeon Coc, U.D.P. Candidate, Toledo West

“I will just capture it in four different pillars, promotion of youths through education, sports and culture.  Secondly, promotion of agriculture, addressing the farm roads, addressing the needs of our farmers, in terms of produce and seeing if we could explore possible markets for them.  Thirdly, we’re going to work with infrastructure, bridges and roads, because for so long this has been left unattended and we need to work on our roads and infrastructure.  And fourthly, promotion of technology electricity and water wherever that is needed.”

It’s a mandate that Coc will not be able to fulfill.  At final count his opponent had won handsomely.

Oscar Requeña

Oscar Requeña, P.U.P. Candidate, Toledo West

“It certainly means a lot for our democracy as a young nation.  I want to take the opportunity to thank the over four thousand supporters who supported Oscar Requeña today in this election.  I want to thank all our foot soldiers, our street captains, our generals, everybody who worked hard to ensure that Oscar Requeña was victorious today.  I want to particularly congratulate all the women who came out to support Oscar Requeña, all the young people, the youths who came out and supported Oscar Requeña.  It means a lot to me and I will tell you, you know, with God’s help we’re going to make sure that we work hard and that we deliver to our people.”

For Requeña, work as an area representative in the Briceño administration has already started.

Oscar Requeña

“The work begins today.  We have to continue to serve our people and work hard for them. You know, it’s amazing.  It’s amazing to see what can be done when people come together, when people unite.  In Big Falls, I saw persons who were sanitizing in their full P.P.E.s, you understand me.  I mean, it’s such a wonderful experience, you know, to work with people and it speaks about the talent, the dedication, the resourcefulness or our people here in the Toledo District and of course across Belize.”

In Toledo West, Requeña won with three thousand, nine hundred and twenty-one votes, against Dr. Coc who came in with two thousand, four hundred and forty-four votes.  The final results for Toledo East where Mike Espat defeated Dennis Garbutt are still outstanding. Reporting for News Five, I am Isani Cayetano.