On the Campaign Trail in Corozal South East

There are thirty-one constituencies, sixty-two candidates from the big blue and big red and about eight independent and third party candidates; that makes the final count no less than seventy individuals who intend to run for public office on nomination day. And though we are unable to feature all of them, our reporters are rocketing across the country to introduce you to available candidates.  Florencio Marin Junior is the incumbent P.U.P. Corozal South East candidate. He won his first election in 2008 but his constituency was recently flooded with a wave of the registrations by new Belizeans. Marin and his campaigners were going door to door in Calcutta where the blue and white flags were flying high. News Five’s Andrea Polanco reports.

Andrea Polanco, Reporting

Incumbent Florencio Marin Jr, the P.U.P.’s Corozal South East Standard Bearer, is seeking re-election in the 2012 General Elections. The young politician says that his division has been abandoned for the past four years but with his platform focused on employment opportunities, which he believes can jump-start growth in his constituency:

Florencio Marin Jr, P.U.P. Standard Bearer, Corozal South East

“Well, for the past four years we have been abandoned by this country, like nearly everywhere in this country. The main platform that we have is jobs nuh; we have to revive this economy. Wherever I am going right now I am encountering in a lot of homes, young people who do not have jobs; the parents, are asking ‘please when unu get in, please find a job for my son or my daughter,’ As well too, while these people are young, they are already adults and are starting to form their families and they don’t have any lots. And that is one of the priorities that we will be working on, accessing lots for these young people, as well as jobs.”

Florencio Marin Jr.

And his house to house campaign strategy has enabled him to get first hand knowledge of the work needed for different areas in his constituency:

Florencio Marin Jr.

“We have to upgrade and maintain the roads. We have two ferries within the area; we have to maintain and upgrade them and maintain the sugar roads which is an annual thing we have to work on. We also have the fishing industry in Sarteneja, Caledonia, Chunox and the Copper Bank. We have to give more support to that industry because they have a lot of issues that they are facing. We also have a budding tourism industry in Sarteneja that will need some major push. Another issue is the cane industry; this P.U.P. government will have to focus a lot of attention to the cane industry. As you can tell in the past four years, my god, the industry is just getting along because it is strong enough to stand on its own. But it still needs government’s support.”

Andrea Polanco

“Have you had the opportunity to take with the caneros as a group, as a body?”

Florencio Marin Jr.

“Yes we have. Some weeks ago, the party leader came and we met with the members of the cane farmers association. We had a frank dialogue where they expressed things that they would like from a P.U.P. government and we explained to them what we believe we would be able to offer. So yes we have sat down with them. We had a very frank and fruitful discussion with the representatives of the cane farmers.”

And no stranger to the electorate of his division, Marin says that the reception has been encouraging:

Florencio Marin Jr.

“Oh, very positive, very positive, and in comparison to last year, I am going house to house, meaning, I don’t skip any house. And what I find of people, even those who are opposing, they welcome me and they receive me warmly. That doesn’t mean that they are with us nuh, but at least they are there and willing to hear what I am offering to this area.”

And if being the incumbent isn’t enough to give Marin confidence, then the presence of the blue and white flags flying high on roof tops in Calcutta Village, gives this standard bearer an indication of the PUP’s strong hold over this community:

Florencio Marin Jr.

“One thing I could tell you the base is really hyped up right now in the Corozal South East Area. We have a lot of swing voters saying that they’ve voted U.D.P. the last time and they have gotten nothing from it. They were made so many promises, but they have not realized any of them under this government. They want a change. And I promised them that we will work with the people, we will revive this economy, we will provide more jobs for them especially for the young people. I am confident. Definitely we will win.”

Andrea Polanco

“So one last thing; tell the people of your constituency whey they should vote for you come March seventh?”

Florencio Marin Jr.

“Well to the beautiful people of Corozal South East, thanks for the support in 2008. I am asking your support one more time because we will definitely work to revive and bring back this economy. Only an economy that is vibrant is an economy that can provide jobs and that is one of the main priority that we need to work on for this government. If you notice I keep repeating jobs, jobs, jobs because that is the number one priority for this government.”

Reporting for News Five, I’m Andrea Polanco.

In a subsequent newscast, we will feature Raul Rosado who is opposing Marin in the Corozal South East Constituency since he was not available today.