Villages forecast political future during council elections
A second round of village elections was held over the weekend. To put it in perspective, there were elections in thirty-seven villages but not all were contested by the two major political parties since some villages prefer to field independent slates. In the Belize Rural North elections were held in nine villages, three which reportedly put up independent slates. In Double Head Cabbage, the elections were not contested and both parties are claiming victory in the remaining villages, so we will reserve results. In Orange Walk North, however, in the constituency of DPM Gaspar Vega, the battle ground was in Trial Farm where the vote and security were steady. When the votes were counted, Trial Farm stayed in the UDP corner. In San Jose Palmar, however, the day was hot and testy and there were skirmishes reported among supporters. In the end the village went blue by a big margin.
According to the opposition PUP, it swept across the south in villages in the Stann Creek and Toledo districts which is not good news for Minister Melvin Hulse and Juan Coy. The big news is that the UDP lost in Placencia, once considered a UDP stronghold and in Hopkins, another village formerly held by the UDP. Other villages the PUP is reporting victories are in Silk Grass, Maya Centre/Kendal, and Sittee River. The UDP took Santa Cruz and Seine Bight.
In Toledo East, the PUP is conceding Santa Ana, Boom Creek, Cattle Landing, Elridgeville and Forest Home. In Toledo West, the ruling party won Mafredi, but it was a mixed bag in favor of the PUP in Aguacate, Blue Creek, Jordan, St Teresa, Mabilha and the PUP won hands down in San Benito Poite. In Big Falls, a coalition group of PUPs and independents won slam dunk over the UDP. All be told, the PUP appears to be gaining strength in the south, but in the Orange Walk North, the UDP is retaining its stronghold.
Its not a big surprise that the PUP is winning the majority of the villages. People are fed up with this incompetent UDP government. STOP BLAMING AND START WORKING!!!The DPM won the majority of the seats in his constituency,but his support was decreased dramatically. As of elsewhere in the other constituencies in ow, well…the UDP is preparing for a dramatic defeat!!!
The PUP did not “win” in Placencia. The newly elected chairman, 29 year old Charles Leslie, Jr., has never declared a party affiliation – he ran as an independent even though his family is PUP. Elected Councilors included independents, UDP party members and PUP party members.No political party can claim victory in Placencia – the people of Placencia elected the people who they think are the best people for the job, regardless of political affiliation – and that’s as it should be, particularly in village council elections.
Thats rite, and in the North in was a low voter turn-out in trial farm their were 2,050 + registered voters and only about 1,500 voters came out which the UDP GOT 800 change- and the PUP recieved 600-change PUP lost for about 130 votes for a strong hold UDP\DPM Gaspar Vega is very low and HE must be disappointed that he’s not got the support the same way when he won 3 years ago with more than 400 + votes in favour ……and its good that the people are awake,even their were some who were bought with a sack or flour,rice,and cash…it sad that with that they would suffer more because all a we will have to pay for it.
The UDP lost in Placencia, but the PUP did not win either. The Placencia group was an independent team that was not affiliating themselves with either political party.
nice to hear that independent groups are winning in placencia village that’s a good start, belizeans should look for a better options than blue or red. they have manupulated this country poorly and we need other options a third party. very good think people of placencia nice example of thinking.
The Toledo West Area Rep seems to be foaming up these days as he can now be seen with his government ride windows down and hi-ing people. Well the cash and the rice and chicken did not worked. They got a very good throuncing in Big Falls where he spent almost the entire forthnight campaigning. As the readers were saying, the UDP did not win in that area. A majority of the seats were won by the PUP. The PUP seems to be getting sdtronger and stronger in Toledo West. Mr. Barrow, your boy in the west needs to do his work.
I just want to clarify that the PUP didn’t win big falls. it was the independent slate “The Village Team” who stood up against the Juan Coy team. It clearly showed and sent a strong message to the UDP representative that his intimidations, and his crook followers are not wanted by the people and that the people were the one who put him where he is and it is the people who will take him out! , in addition, let us be reminded that it was the independent slate who won big falls and won BIG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!