Veteran vs. newcomer in Freetown
He first won the seat in a bye-election occasioned by the bankruptcy of former representative Derek Aikman, and then went on to repeat convincingly in the general election of 1993. Now a seasoned veteran, the P.U.P.’s Jorge Espat is facing a challenge from newcomer Marisa Quan, whose only electoral experience came as a candidate for the People’s Democratic Party in the 1996 Belize City Council race. As part of our continuing series on “Elections ’98” News Five’s Patrick Jones spoke to both candidates about their chances in Freetown.
Jorge Espat, P.U.P., Freetown
“There are a number of issues that are of concern to the residents of the Freetown constituency. The priority I think is the creation of jobs, opportunity for people to work, to have a decent standard of living. Another major issue is the concern for housing, concern for sporting facilities for the young people. Certainly another big issue is the quality of health. We continue to advocate those issues and indeed my campaign has issued a Freetown manifesto which we have circulated to the home of the Freetown constituency – a manifesto of ideas, a manifesto that addresses the major issues of job, education, health, housing, land for Belizeans who want to construct family homes. These have been well received in the Freetown homes.”
Marisa Quan, U.D.P., Freetown
“I think right now we are dealing with the issue of single mothers in our constituency because our constituency has a high female content right, and so we need to address issues that affect women. That is not to say that we have not been dealing with the male issues that are there. But we have been pushing for women.”
Jorge Espat
“I believe that Jorge Espat is well known in the Freetown constituency. Jorge Espat has an outstanding record in which he is running today – a record that the voters are familiar with. I have stayed close to the Freetown constituents. In fact even in the hardest of times Jorge Espat has been there for the residents of the Freetown division, whether it is helping the children with their education, whether it is hosting the children, whether it is visiting the homes almost four times every year. Jorge Espat is no stranger to the Freetown division and I feel very comfortable that the Freetown residents are going to send me back to Belmopan.”
Q: “If elected, what will Marisa Quan the representative do for the people of Belize?
Marisa Quan
“I think Marisa Quan, the representative for the people, I will be addressing issues of real dire necessity on day care, poverty, education, health. I think those are the issues I really want to touch, because those are close to home in a way and I feel that’s what we need to get done in there. Not that it hasn’t been addressed, just that I feel that I am going to put even more of an intensity on it when I am elected.”
Q: “The re-districting and re-drawing the boundaries of Freetown, do you see that affecting you negatively or positively?”
Jorge Espat
“Well, I think I would have preferred having those, almost five hundred voters, remain in the Freetown constituency. But in my own humble way I’d like to think that I am helping P.U.P. candidates in the Fort George division, Pickstock division. And certainly what is now the Freetown division is going to be of solid P.U.P. constituency and the margin of victory in fact will be larger than it was in 1993.”
Q: “You’re going up against Jorge Espat, a fairly successful politician. What do you think will make you beat Jorge Espat?
Marisa Quan
“Fairly successful is a matter of opinion, in a sense. I don’t think that as a politician, he has done that much for our people. He has only been elected and he went up against Mr. Longsworth in a very short period of time with the backing that he had. Considering the re-registration and the fact that the list has been cleaned up, I think he has a more difficult run this election and he can’t use the same campaign strategy as he used in the past. The people aren’t waiting to hear character slamming and things like that. They are looking at people for issues, and if he’s got issues, it’s gonna be a hard fight; if he doesn’t, I don’t see him posing a problem for me in this election.”
Jorge Espat
“It’s amazing because my opponent has been out of the country, has live abroad, has done nothing for Freetown in the last four and a half years. It is just now that we have an election that we have my opponent today. In fact the U.D.P. has changed three different opponents since 1993.”
Q: “So do you think that is an added, a plus on your side to beating her?”
Jorge Espat
“I am not concerned about my opponent; I am concerned about the issues that affect the Freetown residents. I am concerned about the quality of life for Belizeans. I am concerned about where Belize moves. And this election is about the struggle, the contest for Belize’s soul and future. And I think Jorge Espat and the People’s United Party are offering a clear alternative, a different path, a path for a better Belize.”
Q: “You’re one of the new comers, so far as candidates are concerned for the U.D.P., do you think you have what it takes to go to Belmopan?”
Marisa Quan
“Of course. If I didn’t think I had what it takes, I wouldn’t be here.”
For the results in Freetown… and the twenty eight other constituencies, join Channel Five and Love FM for joint live coverage beginning at six a.m. on August twenty seventh and continuing until a winner has been declared.