Belmopan has its first city council election
While residents of towns all over the country were no doubt interested in their own local campaigns, for those in Belmopan, the event was unique. Of course they had their referendum to decide if they wanted to become a city in November, but this was their first city council election. I was in the west today, not only in Belmopan but in San Ignacio and Benque as well.
The People’s United Party say they are moving ahead, the United Democratic Party say only Solutions, no Promises and the Independent candidates say there must be a change. Polling throughout the country got underway at 6:00am, with all party supporters working overtime campaigning on the sidelines and getting their voters out to the polling stations.
Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
Throughout the day there has been a steady flow of eligible voters coming to the Belmopan Comprehensive School to vote in the first ever Belmopan City Council Election. The support has been strong for both the PUP and the UDP and their mayoral candidate remain confident.
Jacqueline Woods
If you are elected mayor for Belmopan City, what should the constituents expect from you?
Andy Johnson, UDP Mayoral Candidate, Belmopan
“Well when I am elected mayor for Belmopan City, the people can expect hard work, transparency, accountability and no broken promises.”
Anthony Chanona, PUP Mayoral Candidate, Belmopan
“Basically getting ahead of infrastructure, which most of people in Belmopan and surrounding communities are concerned about. Concerned whether it will continue after the elections and the issue of the availability of jobs and opportunities for a job. I would say that was our main focus and to convince the people that we have taken on board that concern and we will take that into city hall.”
Jose Alberto Sosa, Independent Candidate, Belmopan
“The big difference is that you’ve been hearing, north, south, east and west they are not happy. They are not happy from past government and present. Now like this, is a rude awakening. We are not, please quote me on this, we are not starting a new party. What we are going to do is just make a difference to show that, we the youths coming up are involved. We will be involved and we want to send a message that, they either strengthen their system or we will try to do something to create something kind of new system that will benefit us: the people.”
Further out West in San Ignacio Santa Elena, the mood remained upbeat.
Jacqueline Woods
There are three polling stations in San Ignacio and Santa Elena and a total of 6,484 registered voters. The mood is optimistic and campaign workers from both sides of the camp, the People’s United Party and the United Democratic Party remain confident that at the end of the day their team will win.
Trevelle Thompson, UDP Campaign worker
“I am confident that the UDP is gonna win because today we have seen a lot of progress, there is a lot of support, everybody is coming to us, getting their names and it looks good.”
Joe Marr, PUP Campaign Worker
“Definitely sure, no doubt about it.”
Jacqueline Woods
Why are you that confident?
Joe Marr
“Well you know, I was going campaigning this week and bringing out the people. Last night we had a motorcade–a mini one–nobody knew about it and an amount of people showed up. They just came in one by one, one vehicle behind the next and they didn’t know about it, so what if they had known about it? And the way we see people on the streets or the yards, with their shirts or different kinds of ways, greeting us laughing, talking. One or two, yes you have to have a position for sure, but those can be counted, they were a little, so this makes me feel sure, that yes, we will do it.”
Orlando Habet, PUP Mayoral Candidate, Cayo
“In our campaign we were stressing a lot on our manifesto. Our manifesto is something new that we brought out because previous to this new town council, the town boards, everybody, had the perception that we should look after things like infrastructure. We want to concentrate on things like street and drains. We think that we should look at a wider area, a wider scope, so we are looking at things in education, trying to bring back the social issues, cultural issues and especially accountability for the town council also.”
Alfonso Cruz Jr., UDP Mayoral Candidate, Cayo
“We are working very hard and it’s very ensuring to see, our supporters are coming out. And so far we have been receiving a very positive response.”
Jackie Woods
If you are elected mayor of San Ignacio, what do you promise to your constituents?
Alfonso Cruz Jr.
“Well to tell you the truth, we are not making any kind of big promise, because we have seen this have been the mistake of our past politicians, whereby they make too many promises and they fulfill too little. Of course we will be doing what a town board is supposed to do, to clean the drainage system here in San Ignacio and Santa Elena. To build covers on drains wherever necessary, to keep parks and play grounds clean, our cemeteries and to see to it that San Ignacio is kept clean beautiful and healthy. And also to find ways to create jobs for our young people as well as our adults.”
It was not as busy in Benque Viejo Del Carmen.
Jacqueline Woods
Since the polling stations opened early this morning, things have been relatively quiet at the two polling stations here in Benque Viejo del Carmen. There are 2,456 registered voters and both political parties have been working hard to bring the voters to the polls.
Manuelito De Jesus, PUP Mayoral Candidate, Benque Viejo Del Carmen
“We are working hard with our street captains, we are taking out our supporters to come out, we are telling them to please come out and vote. To please come and support the People’s United Party. I feel optimistic, once at the end of the day, at 6:00, if we have taken all our supporters, I can assure that there is going to be a victory for the People’s United Party.”
Salvador Sierra, UDP Campaign Worker, Benque Viejo
“Well from this morning, we start from 7:00 taking out our voters and they are on our side and they feel good about the UDP and I think once we win the town board, we could do better for Benque Viejo.”
The polls closed at 6:00pm and News Five will have the final results in Thursday’s newscast.
