Parties parade candidates as gun sounds for last lap to election
It’s really just a technical process that involves getting six voters to nominate you, and paying a two hundred dollar deposit. But in Belizean politics no opportunity to show off is ever squandered, so both the major political parties and a few of their smaller brethren turned nomination day into a major photo opportunity for the nation’s media. Patrick Jones and I happily joined the cheering throngs in Belize City and while we didn’t catch every single candidate there should be something in the following reports for almost everyone.
Despite the scorching heat of the day, supporters of both the two major political parties, turned out in numbers to rally behind their candidates as they made their appearances at the Treasury Building, and the Department of Women’s Affairs and Human Development office. While nomination day proceeded without any major incident at any of the stations in downtown Belize City, it nevertheless had all the excitement and rivalry that occurs when political parties and supporters cross paths, as they did in front of the Treasury Building. To avoid any clash of colors, the police, who were out in full force, positioned themselves between the respective crowds.
George Price, the P.U.P. standard bearer for the Pickstock division
was the first candidate to arrive at the Treasury Building. Price who is no newcomer to the nomination process, having been in politics since 1949, remained calm and cool on the upstairs verandah before going inside to sign.
George Price, P.U.P., Pickstock
“We are determined to continue the hard work, to keep in touch with the voters. As with regards to confidence, in the past elections, the P.U.P. got the majority of the votes and that’s the pattern. The pattern of voting will continue so it’s encouraging.”
Equally impressive was the crowd that rallied behind Marisa Quan, the U.D.P. standard bearer for Freetown division. A new candidate to the political arena, Quan appeared to be a bit uneasy as she took part in the process for the first time.
Marisa Quan, U.D.P., Freetown
“I think we are actually neck to neck with everybody now. We are definitely going to look forward to victory on the twenty seventh of August.”
Quan said she was not disturbed by the crowd of P.U.P. supporters on hand, saying the display was something she had expected to confront. Her opponent on the other hand, P.U.P. standard bearer, Jorge Espat, said the huge turnout of party faithful is just one more example that he and his party have tremendous support in the Freetown division.
Jorge Espat, P.U.P., Freetown
“Well certainly in the Freetown division, our party has campaigned on the issues, have stayed on focus. I think this election is about ideas and on August twenty eight, Belize will have a government, a government of vision and a party that is ready to move the people into the twenty first century.”
As the candidates made their appearance before the respective returning officers, a number of their colleagues, having gone through the same procedure, turned out at the Treasury Building to give their support. Such was the case of Michael Finnegan, U.D.P. standard bearer for Mesopotamia division. Finnegan, who had one of the largest turnouts arrived on the scene with his crowd after being nominated at the Department of Women’s Affairs.
Michael Finnegan, U.D.P., Mesopotamia
“Very confident, very confident of a victory for the United Democratic Party. I think we are on the road to a big success on the twenty seventh of August.”
While the U.D.P. and P.U.P. put on a massive show, Ivan Roberts, People’s Democratic Party standard bearer for the Pickstock division arrived without any fanfare at all.
Q: “Mr. Roberts as the election day draws nearer, how do you see things for the PDP?”
Ivan Roberts, P.D.P., Pickstock
“Well as you know in this country you can always believe what the people are saying to you. If they hold true to what they are saying, I have a good chance of winning, but then like the old saying is, it’s until the fat lady sings.”
Q: “Was your confidence shaken from the numbers of supporters that showed up this morning for the People’s United Party and the United Democratic Party?”
Ivan Roberts
“Oh no, I am accustomed to that; that is propaganda. I mean if that may be all the supporters that they do have, you see when I see the whole Pickstock division moving, then I can get concern. How many stayed at home and didn’t want to be a part of that, that’s the numbers you need to worry about.”
Surrounded by a huge gathering of party supporters, Wilfred Elrington, the U.D.P. standard bearer for Pickstock Division, said he has an excellent chance of winning in the election.
Wifred Elrington, U.D.P., Pickstock
“I certainly made my objective of influencing the people. As you know, I never stop working from 1993 up to this moment in time. I never stop working. I work every single day in the Pickstock division. I have had people working everyday and we have just done about everything. I can confidently say that no politician prior to myself has done as much for Pickstock as we have done over the last five years.”
But the biggest turnout of the day had to be by Richard “Dickie” Bradley, the P.U.P. standard bearer in the Queen’s Square Division.
Richard Bradley, P.U.P., Queen’s Square
“Oh we will definitely win. Mr. Barrow is bribing their voters because look at the huge support of people all come out strictly fi clean dem.
It has been a well-organized campaign: we have traveled the country; we have put out thirteen position papers we have explained to the people what are the issues. It is clear that there is going to be a big sweep across the country and on the south side the People’s United Party is going to win including Queen’s Square.”
What was surprising was the handful of supporters, Bradley’s opponent, Dean Barrow arrived with at the Department of Human Development.
Dean Barrow, U.D.P., Queen’s Square
“I don’t feel that it is my style to have the motorcades, the flags and that sort of thing. It is good; it’s a morale booster. But in Queen’s Square we don’t need to boost morale; we are so very far and comfortably ahead. I will win by the biggest margin in Belize City. There is absolutely no doubt about that.”
Q: “Do you think your campaign has met its objective?”
Dean Barrow
“Yes, indeed. Yes, indeed. As I’ve said, we are way ahead. There is no question of the opponent making any kind of in roads, gaining any sort of grounds, so there is nothing left to do now but record a victory of historic magnitude.”
The P.U.P. will be holding a rally tonight at the corner of Faber’s Road and Central American Boulevard, while the U.D.P. will present its manifesto Wednesday night in a public meeting at the Pound Yard.
While I was covering the action downtown, Patrick Jones was based at the government building on Mahogany Street. There was no shortage of excitement.
It may have been nomination day but the sights and sounds on Mahogany Street looked more like a victory celebration. Supporters for both parties came out in their numbers to cheer their candidates on.
The U.D.P. Fort George candidate Derek Aikman was prompt at ten o’clock at the government complex on Mahogany Street to ensure that his name gets on the ballot paper. According to returning officer for Fort George Winston Grant, nomination day is an important part of a general election for a couple of reasons.
Winston Grant, Returning Officer, Fort George
“It’s the day that candidates for the respective parties, from the respective political parties, they come and they nominate to run for the general elections. After nomination day, the names will be taken to the printery, the government printery, and the ballot paper will be start printing. And we don’t want a candidate to come and say that’s not the way I want my name to appear on the paper. So you ask them to make sure because it will cause a lot of problems if you done print the paper and the candidate come back and say well that’s not the way I want my name; it’s this way. You have to go back and print the ballot paper over.”
Once the process is completed, all the names checked, the “I”s dotted and the “T”s crossed, the Elections and Boundaries Commission gets busy printing ballot papers, and the candidates hit the campaign trail for the home stretch.
Hubert Elrington, U.D.P., Lake Independence
“I think we’re ready and I’m certainly looking forward to a smooth, incident free campaign. That is very important because the democratic system is a very important system. We must make sure that however much we feel heated or we feel heated on issues, we have to make sure we go about electing our government in a peaceful and friendly way.”
Q: “How has the campaign been going?”
Faith Babb, U.D.P., Collet
“Very good, very responsive and we’re getting the results that we expected.”
Q: “What are some of those results?”
Faith Babb
“Well, people are saying that they are going to carry on. They’re going to keep Faith in Collet.”
Kenworth Tillett, U.D.P. Secretary General
“All of our candidates are ready. Basically we’re out in the streets, the campaigners and supporters are out showing their support in their colors and everything else. It’s a good day.”
While the U.D.P. candidates and officials were high on confidence, it was the P.U.P. that had the numbers.
Dolores Balderamos Garcia, P.U.P., Port Loyola
“We fell good, we’re on the horse now and we’re ready to move off.”
Q: “It’s nomination day, how confident are you about this whole thing?”
Mark Espat, P.U.P., Albert
“Oh, we’re going to beat them badly. The people are tired of this government. They’ve had enough of the U.D.P. lies and false promises.”
Said Musa, Leader, P.U.P.
“Feeling very good. Enthusiastic. Energized. We’re ready to go Patrick.”
P.J.
“You brought out a crowd today.”
Said Musa
“Well they came out. It’s a spontaneous crowd, you know.”
Q: “You’ve been nominated now. There’s no turning back. You’re sure you’re ready for this?”
Cordel Hyde, P.U.P., Lake Independence
“Am I sure? I’m born sure.”
Remijio Montejo, P.U.P., Collet
“It’s no flukes this time. It’s no flukes or fabrication.”
J.P.
“Your opponent says she is going to walk away with the elections.”
Remijio Montejo
“Well, she stole it the last time, so election day we will know.”
While the U.D.P. candidates made a quick exit after nomination, the P.U.P.s gathered en masse, leader, leader emeritus and all for what they called a victory parade from the government complex through the streets of the city. In sixteen more days, they’ll find out if the celebration was premature or an accurate prediction. Patrick Jones for News Five.
Due to the long time frame in which candidates could be nominated we were unable to feature more of the candidates from N.A.B.R., P.D.P. or independents. Prominent among the N.A.B.R. nominees who made the trip today was Gilda Lewis in the Albert Division.
