Year: 2024

Moving west to the twin towns of San Ignacio/ Santa Elena, the only municipality where the United Democratic Party gained some grounds. The U.D.P. secured six of the seven seats that were up for grabs. That is four more seats than what they claimed in the 2021 municipal elections. But, it was not the clean sweep they were hoping for. Residents also elected one People’s United Party councilor candidate, leading to yet another mixed council in that municipality. News Five’s Paul Lopez reports.

Paul Lopez, Reporting

In March 2021, residents of San Ignacio and Santa Elena elected a mixed council with a People’s United Party majority. Mayor Earl Trapp and Bernadette Fernandez were the only two UDP representatives on the council during the last term. At the start of the day on Wednesday, the incumbent mayor was among the first to cast his ballot.

Earl Trapp, U.D.P. Mayor Elect, SI/SE

“We have been living in crisis lately, so this is a stepping stone, this is the initiation to stepping into the general elections. So, certainly this is very important for us. We want to win at least four to five municipalities and then I believe we are ready for general elections. The people are suffering and we need to bring a turning point and we need to bring back the lives of people to normalcy.”

The People’s United Party, on the other hand, had its machinery working on the ground in the twin towns. PUP Area Representative for Cayo North, Michel Chebat, was present to give his support to this machinery.  The polling station in Chebat’s constituency was the largest in the municipality.

Michel Chebat, P.U.P. Area Representative, Cayo North

“This morning we were very busy, from about seven o’clock and we had a very steady pace till about eleven o’clock and between eleven and one it slowed down a little bit but now again, we have been busy and from about three o’clock it has been going really crazy.”

Reporter

“How soon do you think you will see some victory today because I know that is what you will be projecting.”

Michel Chebat

“Well I don’t like to count my chicken before they hatch but from what we are seeing out here Cayo North looks very positive, but this is the biggest polling station in this area. We have seventeen boxes here. So this will be the last one to finish counting.”

At the close of the polls, U.D.P. supporters appeared energized and in high spirit. U.D.P. councilor candidate Lin Valentine was optimistic that the votes were leaning in his party’s favor.

Lin Valentine, U.D.P. Councilor Elect, SI/SE

“Everything was very smooth and I appreciate that we didn’t have no back and forth with one another and I appreciate that about our people here. We showed that unity and I want it to continue this way. That has shown us that we are a people of one.”

Reporter

“I notice that some of your other candidates like Mr. Fernandez is still trying to get some voters in.”

Lin Valentine

“Yeah, that is the energy we show. WE are here fighting for our grass roots. I believe we are going through serious punishment at the moment so we are coming with changes, with new changes.”

Rutilia Gabriel, Returning Officer

“Overall at six o’clock in the municipality of San Ignacio, Santa Elena, eight thousand one eighty-six person voted, out of the thirteen thousand seven, twenty-nine. That represents a percentage of fifty- nine point six three.”

The figures for voter turnout at the end of the day in San Ignacio/ Santa Elena  represented a three-percent increase when compared to the 2021 municipal elections.  A couple hours into counting and there was no clear indication as to which of the candidates were in the lead. There were ballot boxes that favored each slate. But as the process continued, votes in favor of the United Democratic Party’s candidates started to trend upward. And, before any official results were announced, PUP candidates and supporters began leaving the counting station. Trapp then preliminarily announced that his full slate would be elected.

Earl Trapp

“Unofficially the, we will have a full UDP slate here in San Ignacio and Santa Elena.”

Reporter

“So, what is taking so long and were there any close vote?”

Earl Trapp

“Yes that is correct, the results were close with one of the PUP candidates, hence the reason why they are taking more time to review the addition.”

Reporter

“So that can still go either way?”

Earl Trapp

“Yes, like I say it is unofficial, but when we plug the results into our system it indicated seven UDP.”

Reporter

“In terms of your unofficial margin is it substantial?”

Earl Trapp

“It is big enough to call it a clean slate.”

Counting continued all the way pass midnight because of the slim margin of votes between a UDP and PUP councilor candidate. And, when the official results were announced, the United Democratic Party emerged with six seats, including the mayoral position. The People’s United Party’s Aaron Mai secured the seventh and final seat. Once again, the twin towns will be lead by mixed town council. Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.

The People’s United Party secured another victory in the town of Benque Viejo Del Carmen but the victory did not come as easily as it did in other municipalities, as there was only an eighteen point six disparity between blue and red votes. A total of two thousand, eight hundred sixty-four ballots were cast, with fifty-nine point three percent of those votes going to the P.U.P.; as opposed to the forty point seven accumulated by the U.D.P. Here’s News Five’s Britney Gordon with the story. 

Britney Gordon, Reporting

The morning started off slow, with only two hundred sixty-nine voters showing up within the first hour. The low voter turnout would persist through the entirety of the day, dropping as low as one hundred thirty-five during what should have been a midday spike. With a turnout this low, PUP Mayoral candidate Jorge Rosales stated that he was feeling nervous for the day to come.

Jorge Rosales, Mayoral Elect, Benque

“Right now. I am a little bit nervous trying to get all the people squared up to come and vote.”

Although anxious, Rosales expressed optimism for a higher voter turnout midday, although that would later fail to be accomplished as it would reach its all-time low for the day.

Jorge Rosales

“So I think people are coming, but it’s a right now. It may be about seventy percent of movement has been maybe about one o’clock, two o’clock. Things will be a little bit stronger because people are have to do their like launch. And so after one o’clock, I think people will be more stronger around.”

Area representative for Cayo North, Michel Chebat noted that the activity finally picked up around three p.m. and attributed the initial slow pace to the work day.

Michel Chebat, Area Represenative, Cayo North

“You know what? I think the work the work day affected many people because, you know, the employers are not giving so much time. They’re giving one or two hours and we have many voters who live outside of the constituency. So they need a little bit more than that. And so I think that’s why you’re seeing the rush now because they’ve just been let out, so to speak.”

Despite the heightened spirits due to a rise in voters, Chebat was hesitant to predict a victory for the PUP candidates before the end of the day.

Michel Chebat

“Well, you know, I don’t like to count my chicken before they hatch. But you know, from what we’ve been seeing out here, Cayo North looks very positive. But this is the biggest polling station in this area. We actually have fourteen boxes here. And so this seventy-three will be the last one to finish counting. So we’re gonna probably see this around eleven to midnight tonight.”

After the last polling box was collected, an update on the total number of voters revealed that a little less than sixty percent of registered voters showed up to vote that day.

Jose Sanchez, Reporter

“So for polling station eighty-three, the last count for six p.m., there were four hundred thirty eight voters. There was a surge at the end. When you add it on to the one thousand one hundred nineteen people who already voted, we’ve had a total of two thousand three hundred fifty-seven for polling station eighty-three. For polling station eighty-four now, at last count at six p.m. there were only eighty-one people who came in. You add it on to the four hundred twenty people who voted throughout the day at eighty-four, gives us a grand total of five hundred one for polling station eighty four in Cayo. Now when you add up the totals for the day, between the two thousand three hundred fifty-and the five o’ one, and that brings us to, two thousand eight hundred fifty- eight people who voted today in Benque from the total of four thousand eight hundred sisteen registered voters.”

Despite the low turnout initially, the P.U.P. was able to secure a victory that night, winning all six councillor seats and another mayoral term for Jorge Rosales. Britney Gordon for News Five.

Earlier in our newscast, we showed you the U.D.P.’s singular elections victory in San Ignacio/Santa Elena with a team of councilors led by returning mayor Earl Trapp.  With a majority of the municipalities now controlled by the People’s United Party, will the Briceño administration be vindictive in how it treats with the San Ignacio Town Council under U.D.P. leadership?