U.D.P. Convention: larger voter turnout
Voting started on time for the unprecedented number of candidates that offered themselves as councillors for the U.D.P. On the ground, the battle was fierce with strategists putting last minute tactics in place to get the voters out. The big fight was between the incumbent Mayor and her Deputy who aspired to unseat her. The mayor’s machinery appeared well-oiled and better organized led by the veteran Michael Finnegan. The deputy mayor had most of the party hierarchy on his side but as it turned out, not the votes. Marion Ali worked the convention floor and reports.
Marion Ali, Reporting
Convention day had its share of political theatre, but there was the typical meet and greet by party loyalists and party leader, Dean Barrow, and the last minute campaigning by candidates.
The grounds of the Belize City Centre were buzzing with voters making their way to their favourite booths and party strategists fine-tuning logistical plans. There were the candidates who chose to run independently…
Marion Ali
“Was it by design that you didn’t make it on any on of their slates or …?”
Thomas Shaw, Ran as Independent Councillor Candidate
“Yes, that was by my choice. I chose to run as Thomas Shaw only.”
Marion Ali
“Why?”
Thomas Shaw
“My choice. That’s my choice. I had no preference with any mayoral candidate and I choose to go to support myself fully.”
Marion Ali
“You’re not pleased with the performance of any one of them why you made that decision?”
Thomas Shaw
“No, I don’t know anything about them so I am not judging them from what you said on the media and so forth. So I chose to support me, which I know about and I can answer a hundred percent about any questions asked towards me.”
Marion Ali
“But they were in office for two and a half years and you still don’t know nothing about them?”
Thomas Shaw
“Besides what is said on the media, no.”
Marion Ali
“Who do you support, Anthony Michael or Zenaida Moya for mayor?”
Joseph Lopez, Ran as Independent Councillor Candidate
“At this point in time I can’t explain what I am saying because there are some lists showing out right now with people on their slate.”
Marion Ali
“You, who do you support? Who would like to be a councillor under?”
Joseph Lopez
“Well, I would—Zenaida Moya. She is the lady, actually she is the one who makes U.D.P. looks good right now.”
…and who paid the price perhaps because of the decision to run independent.
Upstairs in the building Prime Minister and Party Leader Dean Barrow was at the door greeting the voters who had come from all over the city to support their favourite Mayoral and City Council candidate. And from the looks of things, the inclement weather did not deter the voters from coming out, and the tedious process, which created long lines, did not let up for hours as voters kept the turnout to a steady flow.
There were even the elderly and those confined to wheelchairs, who required the help of U.D.P. officials to cast their ballots. At the end of it all, over six thousand Belize City residents showed up to vote in the U.D.P. open convention and the process ended without incident. Reporting for News Five, Marion Ali.
