U.D.P. Nomination Day March in Belize City
Early in the afternoon, it was the turn of the governing party to get their candidates nominated. Prime Minister Dean Barrow led his party’s supporters to the nomination centre. Well financed and hyped, the wave of red and white washed through Mahogany Street heading to the Charles Bartlett Hyde building. News Five’s Delahnie Bain reports.
Delahnie Bain, Reporting
There were red shirts as far as the eye can see when the United Democratic Party supporters hit the streets for this afternoon’s nomination day parade. The U.D.P. clearly won the numbers game in Belize City today and Prime Minister Dean Barrow was exuding confidence.
Prime Minister Dean Barrow
Dean Barrow
“As you can imagine, this is a huge lift, a huge morale boost. I think this is going to be a tremendous victory for the U.D.P. and I think a victory that we deserve. We have tried to work for people throughout the four year term and I think that it’s paying dividends. I think people recognize the efforts we have made, they know that we are sincere; they know that we’re always for the people and this is what you’re seeing in terms of the support today.”
The massive crowd brought an early taste of victory to the U.D.P. candidates, who were more confident than ever walking into the Charles Bartlett Hyde Compound today.
Patrick Faber
Patrick Faber, U.D.P. Standard Bearer, Collet
“Wonderful feeling of victory. The people of Collet have really come out—not only today, but also on Wednesday—the crowd of course is much bigger today. And it’s a testimony that we’ve been taking care of people. For us in the United Democratic Party is a party for the people and we have really, in our division especially as it relates to educational assistance, as it relates to the kind of programs that the prime minister has put in place, the food pantry, the boost program. It has really affected the lives of the people. That is why this kind of support is out here today.”
Santino Castillo, U.D.P. Standard Bearer, Caribbean Shores
Santino Castillo
“Well, if this is any indication of the general elections, it’s really a darn good supportive crowd here with us. I’m feeling the energy, we’re all enthusiastic and goodness gracious I’m overwhelmed; got cold seed and all.”
To top it all off, the contenders on the red team say they have had nothing but positive feedback from their constituents.
Prime Minister Dean Barrow
“That’s—how you say it—that’s dog bite man. Nothing strange, nothing new, nothing out of the ordinary and we’re sailing home.”
Patrick Faber
“Most definitely, I am very confident that we will win. Of course I continue to do the kind of work that will ensure that victory; pounding the pavement and visiting the people in their homes, but everywhere we go people are telling us that we don’t have to worry and that’s because we have been in contact with the people over time and we’ve developed that relationship. I’ve spent twenty years—October here will make twenty years in this constituency and the people here are my family.”
Santino Castillo
“My campaign has been on the ground since the convention; I’ve never stopped, I’ve never relented. I take the page out of the honorable Philip Goldson’s book that says “you should always pretend that you’re behind”. I’m pretending I’m behind every single day so I’ve been working. I have a great campaign manager in Roger Espejo, a great Caribbean shores team which amalgamated my team along with the Carlos Perdomo Caribbean Shores team and it’s all about team effort. We’ve been working every evening campaigning and I’m feeling very positive.”
George Gough
And while Patrick Faber is undefeated in Collet and Santino Castillo is a newcomer, U.D.P. Fort George Standard Bearer Dr. George Gough lost in the previous election to the P.U.P.’s Said Musa. But he says Fort George is going red this time around.
Dr. George Gough, U.D.P. Standard Bearer, Fort George
“All the homes, the older people know me; the younger people went to school with me in Holy Redeemer. It’s—I don’t have words to describe. The reason you go back into an area like Fort George is because you belong to the area. No other reason; you simply belong to the area. Even though this administration has had challenges that we have inherited, I think there’s been a lot of pro-poor initiatives and policies. I think the government has been very responsible with the problems we inherited and I think that moving forward isn’t going to be easy but I think people realize that we’ve been fair and I think the people of Fort George realize that a red government is coming.”
Delahnie Bain for News Five.
