Griga & P.G. Gone BLUE!
With the assistance of our Dangriga and Punta Gorda correspondents Harry Arzu and Aurelio Sho, reporter Andrea Polanco put together a report on the municipal elections in the two southern towns. Here’s the story.
Andrea Polanco, Reporting
The People’s United Party defeated the U.D.P. for local elections in the south – with Dangriga and Punta Gorda going full blue. We start in Dangriga where the P.U.P.’s mayoral candidate Robert Mariano defeated the U.D.P.’s incumbent Francis Humphries. Mariano, a retired deputy commissioner of police received one thousand three hundred and thirty-two votes to win the mayoral seat.
Robert Mariano
Robert Mariano, Mayor Elect, Dangriga
“I want to say thank you to the people of Dangriga for having the confidence in me and I promise not to let you down and I will do my best and to be one of the best mayors. I want to say thank you very much to Mayor Humphries he has served us for six years and I will reach out to him tomorrow and on behalf of the Dangriga people, I will thank him for his service.”
Retired educator and incumbent Francis Humphries received nine hundred and eighteen votes. During Wednesday’s election coverage, Humphries lamented the challenges that COVID-19 presented to campaigning.
Francis Humphries
Francis Humphries, U.D.P. Mayoral Candidate, Dangriga
“It has been quite a remarkable campaign – remarkable in two regards in that much of it had to be conducted virtually again because of the COVID situation. So, the entire messaging and convincing our people that we more than deserve another term had to be packaged another way so that we had to minimize direct contact with our people and at the same time try to keep that flavour of we are here with you so that was quite challenging.”
In Punta Gorda, P.U.P.’s Charles Selgado won the mayoral race with eight hundred and thirty-five votes. He says the voters gave the P.U.P. the victory because there is a “blue” central government.
Charles Selgado
Charles Selgado, Mayor Elect, Punta Gorda Town
“The people assured us – give us that pledge and this is the outcome of it and I am happy about this outcome. We let the people know – we beat that into their head why do we need to put another party in local government in PG when we have central government as the people’s united party government – that would have been very odd. We here in PG suffered a lot and that is because of that kind of outcome during elections.”
While the P.U.P. won the elections in PG, an unexpected result emerged. The U.D.P.’s mayoral candidate was soundly defeated, even by the third party candidate. The Belize Progressive Party’s Marcel Palma received the second highest number of votes for a mayoral candidate in P.G., garnering four hundred and eleven votes. Palma says the run was a challenge, but he wanted to bring change to his hometown.
Marcel Palma
Marcel Palma, P.G. Mayoral Candidate, B.P.P.
“The independent minded people now have to step up if we want to see a change in our community – it is a tough road. I can tell you that but it is necessary for our town because we want change and we want something new for PG – we are tired of the same old gimmicks. It is happening now as we speak. The people of Punta Gorda Town are ready for change and ready for a new vision from a third party.”
The U.D.P.’s mayoral candidate Hansel Warrior received two hundred and ninety-seven votes. Reporting for News Five, I’m Andrea Polanco.
