7 News Belize

A Blue Bayou In the North
posted (March 9, 2012)
Earlier on we showed you what the election day energy was like in Belize city - that's the UDP stronghold where it controls eight of ten seats.

But in the north - the PUP made a strong resurgence, taking five of eight seats, and three of those five are seats that the UDP formerly held.

It is a strong showing - and our team detected that presence when we travelled north on Election Day. Here's what I found in a number of divisions:

Jim McFadzean Reporting

The troubled economies of both the South and the North were heavy on the minds of both major political parties leading up to the elections.

In the Corozal Southwest division where unemployment is one of the highest in the country, the long defunct Libertad Sugar Cane factory overshadows polling station number 50.

Ramiro Ramirez - PUP, Corozal Southwest
"The #1 concern is jobs. You know that especially here in this village, Libertad, we had a factory. It was closed down and it caused a lot of unemployment. That is the most important part here in Southwest. Jobs, jobs, jobs, we need jobs. We need to eat."

Two and a half hours after the polls opened, Ramirez, a first time candidate, was busy ensuring every vote in his constituency would count. After all he was up against UDP incumbent Gabriel Martinez and was banking on high voter turnout.

Ramiro Ramirez
"4 years ago, we got 85%, and I think that we are going to get the same thing this time, but the only good part is that it will be for the People's United Party, definitely."

But if Ramirez was banking on high voter turnout, then his colleague Gregorio Garcia was betting on a change of location.

Garcia is the standard bearer for the PUP Corozal Bay, where he faced the UDP's formidable Pablo Marin. When we met up with Marin he was directing taxis that were playing a key role in his campaign to get out the voters.

Jim McFadzean
"How are you getting your voters out here?" There are long lines at the gas stations. Taxi drivers are making good money in this election, aren't they?"

Pablo Marin - UDP, Corozal Bay
"Yes, what we normally do is that every taxi, we give them the gas, and they are the ones who are rounding up our people. We have a group that is only dedicated to bringing the voters, and another group that only takes them back. So that's the procedure that we are doing here."

It's that kind of logistics, backed by two decades of winning general elections, not to mention name recognition that has given the former PUP party leader Johnny Briceno, the incumbent Orange Walk Central area rep the overwhelming odds in his division.

Johnny Briceno - PUP, Orange Walk Central
"I believe that we are one of the few that have been using consistently, a computerized voter's list. We have been using that and we use it every day. For instance, when people come into my office, we log that they came in, and what it is that they came for. So, we keep track of all the voters that move in and out of my office, throughout the entire year. But, on Election Day, we have the voter's list. Our campaigners have the list of a particular street who they need to bring out. If we believe that you are not going to support us, you're not on that list."

Jim McFadzan
"How are the young people in the constituency responding to your call for them to come out to vote?"

Johnny Briceno
"In Orange Walk Central, we've always managed to attract and encourage the young people to come out to vote. If you are to look at my booth, it's mostly young people that are here, all of them volunteering to work and greet the people. I do believe that we will get the young people coming out to vote, and I am confident that the majority of them will vote for me."

But don't tell that to Phillip De La Fuente, the outgoing UDP Mayor of Orange Walk.

Jim McFadzean
"Is this another sure Johnny Briceno win in Orange Walk Central?"

Phillip De La Fuente - UDP Orange Walk Outgoing Mayor
"No, that's a definite no."

And while the incumbent Mayor declined running for another term, his friend and UDP colleague, Gaspar Vega was set for a comfortable win over political newcomer, Jorge Briceno.

Jim McFadzean
"If the UDP should win the elections, it will be because?"

Gaspar Vega - UDP, Orange Walk North
"It will be because clearly, there is a huge difference in management between the 2 parties, the 2 governments. We have been a government that has been very transparent. We have been a government that has reached the poor people especially, and all of them, like for example, the education policy that we have implement. It is clear that we are not trying to be unfair. We are trying to be as just as possible."

Jim McFadzean
"And if you lose, it will be because of?"

Gaspar Vega
"If I lose it will be because God wants me to stay with my family."

And one UDP candidate the pundits were saying would likely have more time to spend with his family after the elections is Denny Grijalva.

Up against the formidable machinery of Johnny Briceno, the preacher turned politician says his personal relationship of trust with the people of Orange Walk Central was key to winning.

Denny Grijalva - UDP, Orange Walk Central
"I believe that if they are paying or giving out money, the people will take the money, and go with the person that they have that relationship and that trust. We are prepared. I am here to lead, and I am not here just for this time, I am here to stay."

For PUP political veteran, Valdemar Castillo of Corozal North who lost his bid for re-election in 2008, re-establishing the trust and confidence of his supporters was paramount for victory.

Jim McFadzean
"You lost around 400 votes to Nemecio Acosta. Have you gained ground for this election?"

Valdemar Castillo - PUP, Corozal North
"Yes, we lost to Don Nemencio Acosta 400+, and I must tell you that great amount of these votes supported the PUP. So, for this elections, these people have come back home, they are working with the People's United Party."

And while Castillo might have had successes in bringing back some of his supporters back into the fold, his age was becoming a significant factor in the race. After all he was running against a young, outgoing, educated and articulate UDP challenger, named Hugo Patt.

Jim McFadzean
"Do you think that your youth is going to be an advantage in this election between you and Valdemar."

Hugo Patt - UDP, Corozal North
Certainly, Jim, you would know that as with everything in the world, there is a time that we begin, a time that we peak, and there is a time as well that we have to realize that we have to come down. I would say that as a youth coming into this political arena, bringing new ideas, thoughts, and a new vision, I have certainly received a lot of support coming from the youths. So, to me, the generation coming onwards, is the one that will give me my victory."

Victory was on the minds of all 74 candidates for the General Elections and 170 candidates for Municipal elections.

And so while some relied on their party's legacy for a win, others simply turned to social media.

Jim McFadzean
"Has Mr. De La Fuente left a legacy that will ensure victory for you and your slate of town councilors?"

Ivan Leiva - UDP Mayoral Candidate
"I believe that during our campaign, many of the people in Orange Walk have spoken very well of the current mayor, Phillip De La Fuente. I think that he has been transparent, he has shown us a lot of development, and I think that he wants us to continue the development which he has laid out already."

Kevin Bernard - PUP Mayoral Candidate
"We can just go by our Facebook page, our comments we've been getting, our supporters have been telling us that we have their support, and they will be coming out. The young people will be coming out. Many of them will be coming out on their own, but some of them are working with us in the different polling areas, so they will be coming out and support."

And before we close off on the north, we note that one independent candidate did do major damage in that area.

In Corozal Southwest, Angel Roberto Campos garnered 384 votes, almost 8% of the turnout. That is the best any independent candidate did in the general elections, and it certainly affected the outcome as the UDP incumbent Gabriel Martinez lost to the PUP's Ramiro Ramirez by only 33 votes. Campos, was formerly a UDP and no less than Gabriel Martinez's campaign manager - so his candidacy was definitely consequential.

And looking now at the municipal governments. In Belize City - the party's strong support at the divisional level was reflected in that outcome. The UDP slate beat the PUP slate by an average of four thsoaund votes.

Eric Chang topped the polls for the UDP and Doral Vaughn did so for the PUP.

Notable, UDP Mayor Darrell Bradely polled the lowest for his party but that's probably because there were so many candidates for Mayor. Paco Smith got 741 votes, Erensto Torres got 387 and Stephen Okeke got 204.

And in San Pedro, remember Severo Geurrero - the dentist who was caight on the Elections and Boundaries computer? Well if you thought that scandal might have wrecked him you were wrong; he came in second in the polling for his party there. And the UDP slate was almost elected in its entirety with only one PUP candidate getting on.

The UDP slate in Benque Viejo Del Carmen Town were all elected - similar to Corozal Town, where it was a clean sweep for the red amd three term mayor Hilberto Campos topped the polls.

And while Corozal was all red, Orange Walk Town is all blue with a full PUP council and mayor. The same goes for Dangriga Town where the 6 PUP councilors and PUP Mayor were elected.

In Punta Gorda Town the outcome was almost the same as it is almost full blue with just one UDP councilor.

It is full red in San Ignacio and Santa Elena Towns - but in Belmopan it is now a split council with 4 UDP councilors and 2 PUP councilors along with Simeon Lopez as mayor in his third term.

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