We know all too well of the crazy stuff that happens during elections - the choice words or dirty talk that is thrown around about opponents, not to mention the brawls or just the very heated confrontations between opposing camps. Well, that is the same spirit that overtook the village council elections in Orange Walk North this weekend. After the UDP's slate won on Sunday in San Jose Village, there was reportedly a pint bottle battle between UDP Gaspar Vega's supporters and the PUP crowd from Monchie Cervantez's camp . A PUP party supporter was even struck in the head with a bottle. Now, Orange Walk North is already one of the most contentious constituencies - matter of fact, Monchie Cervantez has even accused Gaspar Vega of plotting a murder conspiracy against his father - so things in Orange Walk-North are never cool. And Sunday's pint fight was a reflection of all that simmering tension. PUP Standard Bearer Monchie Cervantez spoke to our colleagues at CTV-3 and he explained his version of what happened and what might have fueled the escalation.
Ramon Cervantes Jr.
"Last night between 7:30 and 8:00, the PUPs were assembled under tents and around at the football field in San Jose and when all of a sudden pints were being thrown at us by the UDPs. And so the people started to disperse and run away. I was going towards my mother to ensure that she was safe in her vehicle and then I was going towards my vehicle to get out of the way, when they told me that Lorena got hit in her head with a pint and when I turn around, I saw Lorena was bleeding and then I went to help her and I went, she fainted and then another guy came and help me and then both of us back her and took her into my pickup truck where my mother was and told them to get out. By that time I tried to reach my vehicle, but already there were too many pints being thrown around and my vehicle was like in the middle of fire, of the pints being thrown and then the same pints that the UDPs were throwing, those same pints, some PUP guys took those pints and threw it back at them and for a while I 
couldn't get to my vehicle and then we saw 4 guys approaching my car and then we saw the hit. One of them threw a rock at it or a pint. He threw something - an object at it and that is when our people said well lets charge at them and then they charge at those guys and the guys they threw some more pints at my vehicle and then they ran away like a bunch of cowards."
"The whole incident was started by the UDP. In fact they had two pickup loads of bottles in preparation. They knew what they were going to do. The minister was there and even though they knew they had won, normally the leader stays to celebrate, but he left and right after he left was when everything started to happen. Despite that, we held our ground. We felt short of about 32 votes, but San Jose is a village that 3 years ago, the PUP lost the election by over 700 votes I understand. So we have narrow that gap. We were within 3 percent and I think that's what had them behaving so hostile."
Cervantez says he plans to sue for the damages to his vehicle. So far, 83 villages selected their councils countrywide and the UDP claims to have 49 village slates elected.
Email
Print