Their appearance at Mahogany Street may not have been accompanied by all the hoopla of the major parties but this morning a number of independent and third party candidates plunked down under their two hundred dollar deposits at Mahogany Street. News Five’s Marion Ali was there to greet them. Marion Ali, Reporting The first candidate […]
It’s no secret that the People’s United Party has been under attack for several years due to major scandals involving U.H.S., D.F.C., S.S.B., Mahogany Heights, various land grabs and assorted shady deals involving Glenn Godfrey. But the one area where the P.U.P. has shined beyond reproach is that of cultural development. And today, with a […]
It’s an electoral division that includes some of the nation’s most productive farms as well as our precious oil. And guess what? There’s no incumbent. News Five’s Ann-Marie Williams, as always on the campaign trail, reports from Cayo Northeast. Ann-Marie Williams, Reporting “This is Cayo Northeast; one of two new divisions added to the existing […]
The crowd was big, the spirits were high … and if the U.D.P. manifesto was pretty much an expansion of the previously ballyhooed twenty-one pledges, it really didn’t matter. What was important was electoral momentum … which the U.D.P. displayed in abundance. News Five’s Janelle Chanona reports. Janelle Chanona, Reporting By the busload and on […]
When they first appeared in the media spotlight almost two years ago the National Reform Party cut a strange figure on the political scene. Led by a Mennonite—a group that has traditionally shunned politics—boasting of deep pockets and an unsinkable faith in God, it was sometimes difficult to gauge the seriousness of the party’s intentions. […]
Today political parties and the media sat in separate sessions with officials of the Elections and Boundaries Department and Police to review the do’s and don’ts of election day. The issues dealt with included nomination day, timelines of the department’s internet updates, the voting process itself, the electoral list, the counting, and details of the […]
The People’s United Party today released details of their model for an elected Senate. Stating that the elected body’s main function would be increased oversight of the executive branch of government, the proposal calls for an expanded role in approving key appointments, the review of an annual report from each ministry and the power to […]
Manifestos are one thing but any politician in Belize will tell you that elections are fought and won, not on lofty party pronouncements, but on the ground, house to house. And that’s where we find Ann-Marie Williams, tonight reporting from Belmopan. Rolando Zetina, P.U.P. Candidate, Belmopan “Belmopan needs representation. Over the years, especially since the […]
As I speak, the United Democratic Party is officially launching its 2008-2013 manifesto to a crowd of supporters at the party’s headquarters on Youth for the Future Drive. But as Ann-Marie Williams discovered this week, politics is also taking centre stage in Cayo North. Ann-Marie Williams, Reporting There are only twenty-two days left in the […]
As political candidates enter the final lap of their campaigning, incumbents are depending on their performance over the last term to help them keep their seats in the House of Representatives. This morning the People’s United Party Candidate in Albert Mark Espat reflected on his political career. Mark Espat, Area Representative, Albert Division “In 2003 […]
As part of our general elections coverage for 2008, News Five will be touring the country introducing candidates to the electorate. Tonight correspondent Ann-Marie Williams takes us to the Cayo Central division. Ann-Marie Williams, Reporting With only twenty-three days left before the 2008 general elections, candidates all over the country are on the campaign trail […]
Voter registration is officially over and after more than a week of long lines, tonight employees of the Elections and Boundaries Department are now processing and validating those applications. This afternoon News Five’s Marion Ali sat down with Acting Chief Elections Officer, Ruth Meighan to find out more about this process. Ruth Meighan, Acting Chief […]
Almost everywhere you look in Belize, it’s apparent that women run things. The universities, government offices, banks … even here at News Five. But the one place you almost never see women is seated in the House of Representatives. It’s a disturbing fact because while many European countries boast legislatures with over thirty percent female […]
If you are watching this newscast and have not yet registered to vote for the upcoming election you’re pretty much out of luck. But the unregistered appear to be in a minority as citizens all over the country descended on Elections and Boundaries offices in preparation for February seventh. News Five’s Marion Ali canvassed the […]
On successive days this week we have seen Said Musa present his party’s thirty-one candidates and Dean Barrow introduce his party’s slate of equal number. Today it was the turn of Vision Inspired by the People, a Belmopan based third party that after contesting three consecutive municipal elections in the nation’s capital, believes it is […]
As we reported, tomorrow is the last day to register to vote in the February seventh General Elections. But if you’re eighteen years old and have not been motivated enough to sign up, you might change your mind after hearing this offer. The University of Belize Association of Student Government has embarked on a nationwide […]
The party’s manifesto isn’t ready yet, but Opposition Leader Dean Barrow took the offensive this morning following yesterday’s election announcement by the Prime Minister. While his twenty-one pledges broke little new ground in the art of political promise making, beneath the electoral boilerplate were some clear signs of where the U.D.P. may be heading. News […]
The reform of our system of government is a topic that has periodically grabbed the attention of citizens and on several occasions has prompted the nation’s political directorate to make some positive changes. Today three sincere and serious gentlemen made public their detailed recommendations for—to use their words—“fixing the system”. Calling themselves the Group of […]
After months of public speculation Prime Minister Said Musa has finally made it official. Belizeans will go to the polls on February seventh. The announcement came at a close door prayer breakfast with clergymen at the Princess Hotel. News Five’s Janelle Chanona caught the P.M. as he left the meeting this morning. Prime Minister Said […]
Five hours later the Prime Minister once again stepped up to the podium and while the crowd at Independence Hall were all true believers, their fervor was not about church. Francis Fonseca, Chair, P.U.P. “Ladies and gentlemen, party supporters, friends, all thirty-one candidates of the People’s United Party, join me in welcoming our Prime Minister, […]
All the speculation about the date of general elections will end on Monday. That’s the day Prime Minister Said Musa will finally let the official cat out of the bag. The announcement may come as early as a prayer breakfast to be held Monday morning in Belize City. That meeting with the nation’s religious leaders […]
And in case you were wondering whether government’s election machinery is running properly, a release from Cabinet today says that in its meeting on Thursday that body was briefed on the state of preparedness of the Elections and Boundaries Department to conduct not only the general election but also any proposed referendum on an elected […]
On Thursday we ran down the candidates planning to run in the Corozal, Orange Walk and Belize Districts. Tonight News Five’s Kendra Griffith lists the aspiring candidates from Cayo, Stann Creek and Toledo. The Cayo district gained two new divisions after the 2004 redistricting exercise. As a result, incumbent United Democratic Party area representative in […]
In putting together the candidate list, two things stand out: one is that despite their brave words over the last year, the so-called third parties and alliances remain poorly organised and unfocused. Both of the major political parties have never seen the newcomers as much of a threat, a sentiment expressed at the last House […]
The date of general elections will be announced next week. That’s the gospel according to the Belize Times. In its issue that hit the streets this morning, the P.U.P. party newspaper ended its lead story by saying that Prime Minister Said Musa had informed them of this via telephone on Wednesday night. Coupled with the […]
