| Yesterday San Ignacio was the stage for much political scenery - when the UDP and the PUP turned things up for nomination day. Both sides brought out crowds, and both of them relied on out of towners to populate the parades. But tonight the PUP is crying foul: they say that UDP Candidate Omar Figueroa brought in support not only from out of town, but out of the country. The PUP campaign today sent us these pictures, which show persons wearing Omar Figueroa shirts coming across the border for the rally. You could say they were caught red-shirted, but seasoned political observers will tell you that as odious as it may seem, bringing in supporters, and, yes, even registered voters, from across all borders happens a lot during elections.
It's just one issue springing out a local campaign that's garnering national attention because on the verge of a municipal election season, the Cayo North by-election is seen as an important heat-check for both parties.
As we showed you yesterday, the contrast in political cultures was very distinct: the PUP supporters were more reserved, while the UDP loyalists were dancing in the street.
But that isn't the only contrast: there is also a contrast in styles between the candidates. Both are well-educated sons of Cayo, but Figueroa is a wildlife expert while Harrison is a businessman. Harrison is also an ideas man, regularly putting forth ad hoc policy papers on business and governance. But while he's for business, yesterday he told us that he wants to take the PUP back to its working class roots:..
Richard Harrison, Nominated for PUP Cayo North
"We need to bring back the People's United Party and hand this country back to the workers of Belize. That's what I want to do here. That's the reason why I am here. This party has to return to the working men and women of Belize and this is where it starts in Cayo North."
Indeed, the PUP did come out of the labour movement - but Harrison also advocates for the private sector - and the neo-liberal position he has publicly adopted on GST exemptions doesn't quite seem to square with working class needs:..
Richard Harrison, Nominated for PUP Cayo North
"This thing has a lot of exemptions to it. Over 35%-45% of the consumption of the country is being charged GST and the balance, the majority of consumption is not being charged GST. So, this causes a major imbalance in the distribution and the revenue source. So what I had proposed and very clearly so, is that all taxes should be lower and they should be balance across all shoulders equally. That's something that we need to do to create a fair and balance distribution of wealth in the country."
Jules Vasquez
"Sir, but some shoulders can't take it, that's why the exemption for things that poor people very sadly have to eat, ramen, sausage - that's why those things are exempted. But you are saying those should not be exempted?"
Richard Harrison, Nominated for PUP Cayo North
"The assumption that you are making is a false assumption. It has been proven. The government of Belize in April 1st, Aprils Fools Day 2010, they said we will lower the cost of living no matter what. Remember that? And then they proceeded to lower the import duties on certain goods, destroying my business too and removing GST on a lot of items including ramen, destroying the rice industry, forcing people to eat ramen instead of rice. So, the lowering of these things, the exemptions of these things does not cause reduction in cost of living."
And in an effort to make this one just a little more interesting we've cut together a few positions and counter-position taken by both candidates. Sure, it's not as much fun as Boots Martinez and Gilroy Usher going at it on the sidewalk - but it's the best we could do early into the race:..
Richard Harrison, Nominated for PUP Cayo North
"Now, I have come up with a strategy; a tripod. It's basically the growing of the value of the tourism of our area. The growing of the agri-business, mining and forestry area and then the creation and growth of the service sector in health, education and technology."
Omar Figueroa, Nominated for UDP Cayo North
"They are not asking for 5 star hotels and to sell this building and all kinds of empty promises. They want some tangible, concrete promises."
Richard Harrison
"First of all we haven't promise anything. What we have done is created a draft plan of ideas. This is completely different. The people of Cayo North are not use to getting a representative that ask for their vote and at the same time give them a menu of different potential things that we can do to develop the area."
Omar Figueroa
"It doesn't make any sense for me to come to them with a 5-10 year plan. This bi-elections is for 2 years and after this two years, they will decide whether I are meeting what their needs are or whether I am not."
Richard Harrison
"But the thing is when we reach to government we will have people behind our plan and that's completely different. The other person doesn't have a plan."
Omar Figueroa
"I mean no disrespect to him when I say that he is irrelevant in this fight."
Richard Harrison
"We are walking the streets and we are visiting the homes and that's where we will win."
Omar Figueroa
"I won't come and tell you what I think will happen on January 5th, but I am telling you, some people in this country will have a rude awakening."
Richard Harrison
"This is not an election only about Cayo North. This is an election that will have impact on the municipal elections and also on the general elections to come. So, this is the first domino that will fall and we will deliver this seat on January 5th."
Hon. Dean Barrow, Party Leader - UDP
"January 5th, the start of the increase in momentum. March 4th, a continuation in that increase of momentum and that takes us straight into a general election victory."
Municipal elections are set for March fourth.
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