It appeared like a miniature version of PUP vs UDP elections when Micah Goodin and Stafin Duncan faced off for the president of the Youth sub council in Belize City. PUP Leader John Briceño today told us that the UDP showed their hand too heavily during the youth elections.
Hon. John Briceno, Leader of the Opposition
"I think it is sad what has happened that the UDP has decided to make this political, because then it starts to divide the young people at a very early stage in their lives. The very same thing happened in Orange Walk, where, I understand, one of the ministers of the UDP, this time around, went and registered a lot of the defunct youth organizations. Organizations that were not operating, not functioning and not working. But he registered them so that they could vote for his candidate and obviously his candidate won because they made it political. Here in Belize city, it was so obvious that the UDP had their hands on it, it is sad and I think we should speak out against it in the most strongest of ways because we should let the young people to decide on what it is they should want to do. Let's not put party politics at so young in this stage, because what is going to happen now? That a lot of young people who believe that the president, Mr. Duncan was elected simply because of his of the UDP, may not want to participate and where does that put us? So I am very disappointed of what happened yesterday."
Emanuel Pech
"So you think there was political manipulation on the part of UDP to get this person elected?"
Hon. John Briceno, Leader of the Opposition
"Well only the ones that are blind can't see it. I mean, you saw all the UDP operatives out there yesterday campaigning for Mr. Duncan. And it's reprehensible and it's unfortunate that they decided to do that."
But the obvious question to Briceño is, didn't the PUP do the same with Micah? After all he is a vocal and visible PUP supporter.
Hon. John Briceno, Leader of the Opposition
"Micah is a part of the BYM, but then he went out there on his own to campaign, to get his support and I know they mentioned about Mr. Vellos, but Mr. Vellos he's a member of the BYM, he's the president of the BYM. So obviously..."
Emanuel Pech
"Which is politically associated with the PUP?"
Hon. John Briceno, Leader of the Opposition
"Yes and they are a part of the youth thing. I mean, all youth organizations are a part of it. The BYM and even the UDP youths arm and that's fine. But what's the problem is when you go out there as a party to campaign, intimidate, cajole and try to get people to vote for you through party lines. That is what is wrong."
Duncan beat Gooding by a margin of 8 votes.
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