Year: 2025

Belizeans across the country had their eyes glued to Queen Square and Port Loyola for different reasons. In Queen Square, the People’s United Party was aiming for a historic first-time win in the division. Meanwhile, Port Loyola was buzzing with excitement, boasting the highest number of candidates in any division, including three from the United Democratic Party. News Five’s Paul Lopez was on the ground in both areas and brings us this report.

 

Paul Lopez, Reporting

On election day, the Queen Square Division, with two thousand, eight hundred and twenty-four registered voters, saw a seventy-two percent turnout. The candidates were Godwin Haylock and Shane Williams for the United Democratic Party, Dr. Lorna McKay for the People’s United Party, and Gary Matus for the People’s Democratic Movement. We spoke with the candidates early in the day. By the end of the day, after counting all two thousand, twenty-six ballots, Godwin Haylock emerged victorious with one thousand, one hundred and ninety-two votes.

 

Godwin Haylock, Area Representative, Queen Square

“I must say they have been strong with me. The U.D.P voters in Queen Square are really strong like a rock. They have held this division together for more than forty-years now.”

 

In its forty-year history, Queen Square has never had a representative from the People’s United Party. Dr. Lorna McKay aimed to change that by promising to meet the needs of the residents if elected.

 

Dr. Lorna Mckay, P.U.P. Candidate, Queen Square

“Incrementally we have done our job, we have campaigned, we have spoken to residents, we have made sure they know what we are about. Residents are ready to make that change, they are willing to move on and leave the old Queen Square behind.”

 

But when the dust settled, Dr. McKay only managed to get six hundred and eighty-seven votes, just thirty-five percent of the total. Shane Williams got sixty-six votes, and Matus received only nine. The deep divide within the UDP was a hot topic in this election, almost as much as who would win. In his victory speech, Haylock mentioned that his win strengthens the effort to unite the party.

 

Godwin Haylock

“Really it is an attempt to bring unity not only in Queen Square, but unity in the entire country. I think the party is plagued by the infighting. I hope I will be meeting with the Honorable Tracy Panton, the party leader and we get everybody together and form one U.D.P.”

 

Election day in the Port Loyola division was marked by a fierce contest. The most intriguing part was the number of candidates, five in total, the highest in any constituency across the country. Three of them ran under the UDP banner. Port Loyola had fifty-three percent voter turnout from four thousand, eight hundred registered voters.

 

Gilroy Usher, Area Representative, Port Loyola

“I want to say sincere thanks to the people of Port Loyola for having that confidence in me for appreciating the work I have done in that division and to show it by voting for me in an overwhelming manner at the polls. Today I want to say again, that four and a half years after being elected, despite the challenges, I am even more committed, two hundred, I would say four hundred percent committed to betterment.”

 

In this five-way race, Doctor Nelma Mortis, Phillip Willoughby and former Port Loyola Area Rep. Anthony Martinez, all ran under the UDP umbrella.

 

Anthony “Boots” Martinez, U.D.P. Candidate, Port Loyola

“The thing here is that everything is up to the people and the people will make the decision and the determination. I don’t have a problem with it you know.”

 

Phillip Willoughby, U.D.P Candidate, Port Loyola

“Even if we don’t make it, or any candidate don’t make it, still congratulations to anybody who decided to put themselves on the ballot. To the victor, be prepared to be challenged by myself.”

 

Dr. Nelma Mortis, U.D.P Candidate, Port Loyola

“I have done my campaign and I am relying on the people to chose the best candidate for Port.”

 

Nelma Mortis got one hundred and fifty-one votes. Willoughby earned two hundred and sixty-one votes, while Martinez led the three with three hundred and fifty-two votes. Third-party candidate Wilmore Tablada received the fewest votes, totaling fifty-four.

 

Wilmore Tablada, P.D.M. Candidate, Port Loyola

“At the end of the day people done mek up their minds about what they need to do. I don’t end to burst my brain. I don’t have nothing to lose. This dah my first time in the general election and I might do better than them.”

 

Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez

 

Freetown and Caribbean Shores are sticking with their People’s United Party reps. Francis Fonseca clinched his sixth term as the area rep for Freetown, while Kareem Musa nailed his third term in Caribbean Shores. Their opponents didn’t stand a chance in these constituencies, according to the results. News Five’s Paul Lopez tells us more.

 

Paul Lopez, Reporting

For many, the Freetown electoral race seemed decided from the start. Five-time Area Representative Francis Fonseca went up against United Democratic Party newcomer Dr. Abraham Flowers.

 

Dr. Abraham Flowers, U.D.P. Candidate, Freetown

“So far, we don’t have a huge machinery when it comes to the P.U.P. and that is through financial constraints, but we use what we have and the collaboration and the unity of the team, we actually got the work done. I am so proud of my team today; they actually are here to support us. Although the impossible may look possible I give God thanks for my team and also bless them as well.”

 

Throughout the day, the crowd at Dr. Flowers’ tent was sparse, compared to the bustling activity at Fonseca’s tent. It seemed like a sign of the landslide defeat Dr. Flowers would face from Freetown voters.

 

Dr. Abraham Flowers

“I am going to be honest with you, I don’t think there will be a huge turnout on our part, because of the division between us. That will greatly affect and ripple throughout all the constituencies, not only mine.”

 

At the close of polls, a total of two thousand, four hundred and twenty-one ballots had been cast or sixty percent of the registered voters. An impressive ninety-one percent of the total votes went to the incumbent, Francis Fonseca.

 

Francis Fonseca, Area Representative, Freetown

“These are people who have stood with the People’s United Party and me through good times and bad times. So, even when the P.U.P. was in opposition you would come here and se these same people sitting under the tent, 2012 and 2015. They are here and they believe in this party and me as their area representative. So, I am very happy for that. It has been a strange election, because we use to and like a little fight and tussle and for the most part the U.D.P. has been absent.”

 

Dr. Flowers received just two hundred and sixteen votes. In Caribbean Shores, many expected the outcome to be predictable, and they were right. Two-time P.U.P. Area Representative Kareem Musa went up against two UDP candidates, Andrew Bradley and Tyrone Louriano. Bradley ran under the Tracy Panton UDP.

 

Andrew Bradley, U.D.P Candidate, Caribbean Shores

“Machinery the work hard today. We the up form like three in the morning to make sure we are prepared and everything is organized so that when the polls open up six o’clock all our machinery hit the ground running. I am still campaigning. I actually just left a lady house to convince her to vote. When I win I wont call it a victory, it is a win for Caribbean Shores because they will get an area representative that works for them.”

 

Louriano ran under the Moses “Shyne” Barrow U.D.P.

 

Tyrone Louriano, U.D.P Candidate, Caribbean Shores

“I believe what is happening here for this unique election is that it is going to allow our Belizean voters throughout the entire country to now be able to look at candidate as opposed to party color and affiliation. You want to be able to elect the best person for the job, whether they are wearing a blue, a red, a yellow, a green.”

 

Caribbean Shores had a fifty-seven percent voter turnout by the end of the day. Out of the two thousand, five hundred and five voters who cast their ballots, two thousand, twenty-five voted for the incumbent, Kareem Musa. Bradley received three hundred and twenty votes, and Lauriano got one hundred and nine. This marks Musa’s third consecutive victory in the constituency. We caught up with him early in the day.

 

Paul Lopez

“There is this narrative that here in Caribbean Shores it is a foregone conclusion.”

Kareem Musa, Area Representative, Caribbean Shores

“Never count your chickens, and by the way my name is David. I always go into each election very humbled. I treat each election, each opponent as they are the best opponent and we have to grind from six a.m. to six p.m. and at the end of the day we will do the counting.”

 

Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez

 

 

In Belize Rural North, a son is following in his father’s footsteps. P.U.P. candidate Marconi Leal Junior clinched a landslide victory in the 2025 General Elections, taking over the post from his father, Marconi Leal Senior. Facing off against two other candidates, Leal Junior emerged triumphant. Now, let’s hear more from News Five’s Britney Gordon.

 

Britney Gordon, Reporting

Following a landslide victory for the People’s United Party, Marconi Leal Jr. is now the area representative for Belize Rural North. This win is one of the twenty-six seats secured by the P.U.P. in the 2025 General Elections. Although Leal Jr. was new to the race, he assured voters at the start of the day that he was no stranger to them.

 

Marconi Leal Jr., Area Representative, Belize Rural North

“I’ve been working with my dad over the past four years and I’ve been the PUP chairman of the executive. So I’ve been working with him and definitely across the constituency. So I’m well known across the constituency.”

 

Sabreena Daly

“Talk to me about the work that was involved, not only as a standard bearer after nomination, but prior to that. Are the people familiar with who you are?”

 

Marconi Leal

“They’ve been familiar because I’ve been involved in all the project. I’ve supported all the village councils. I’ve been involved with all the sporting events, all the tournaments that we have, all the projects that we do, the land distribution that we’ve been doing. So, definitely well known.”

 

Belize Rural North covers twenty-five villages and has over five thousand registered voters. Delphin Henderson, a resident of Burrell Boom, shared that he came out to vote with the hope of finally seeing the changes the constituency has needed for years.

 

Delphin Henderson, Voter, Belize Rural Central

“People who have land, they need to cut their land so that Burrell Boom have a beautiful place to live in. Now, Burrell Boom is one of twenty-five villages that are a part of the Belize Rural North constituency. Based on the entire time that you have been living here in Burrell Boom, all your life as you mentioned, have some of these changes that you have hoped for come to fruition? Or, what’s the state of Burrell Boom? Has it been one of those villages that has been left out? Yes, it’s been left out. Because I noh see nothing the both parties doing so that kids need to have a beautiful park. I don’t see no one like that.”

 

Leal faced off against United Democratic Party candidate Eustace Shaw and Belize Justice Movement candidate Andrew Reynolds. Leal had the advantage of a strong support system, thanks to his father, former area representative Marconi Leal Sr. After stepping down from the race earlier this year, Leal Sr. has been fully backing his son’s campaign.

 

Marconi Leal Sr., Former Area Representative, Belize Rural North

“Today is one of the easiest election ever in Belize, rural north. It is so easy. I’m amazed and I believe it’s because of the work we have put in over the last four years plus months We are a family that work and my son was always the chairman of the executive and he was always pushing me and we together with my other boys and my wife, we have done a lot of work in Belize Rural North. I know you are from Burrell Boom and you’ve seen some of the work we have done on the community grounds we have paved some roads there in Burrell Boom also, cemented almost a mile. So we have done a lot of work in Belize Rural North.”

 

As expected in such a large constituency, the vote counting stretched late into the night. After tallying three thousand, two hundred and fifty-two ballots, Marconi Leal Jr. was declared the winner, securing a landslide victory over his opponents.

 

Returning Officer, Belize Rural North

“For the candidate Mr. Marconi, Jr. vote two thousand eight hundred and ninety-eight  for Mr. Reynolds, Andrew Truth, fifty-six,  for Mr. Shae Eustace, Big C,  two hundred and ninety-eight, a total number of votes, three thousand three hundred and fifty-two we have rejected ballots, sixty-three, objected zero.  I thereby declare that the duly elected candidate for Belize Rural North is no other than Mr. Leal Marconi  Devane Leal.”

Britney Gordon for News Five.

Belize Rural Central is still proudly blue after Dolores Balderamos-Garcia clinched the victory in the 2025 General Elections. On Wednesday, it was a showdown between five candidates vying to be the next area representative, but in the end, it was P.U.P.’s Dolores Balderamos-Garcia who emerged triumphant. Now, let’s hear from News Five’s Britney Gordon with the full recap.

 

Britney Gordon, Reporting

Wednesday saw five candidates battling it out at the polls in Belize Rural Central, all aiming to become the next area representative. Despite the different choices, the usual election day buzz was missing, with fewer voters showing up than expected. UDP candidate David Almendarez pointed to voter dissatisfaction from past years as the reason for the low turnout.

 

David Almendarez, U.D.P. Candidate, Belize Rural Central

“ We’re not going to buy a vote. We’re noh wa beg, we ask for honest change, good change. So if David, by some, miracle of the stars I win, that will be genuine, organic votes. We ask the voters to turn up early, voice your opinion. A lot of the voters in the Belize Rural Central are very disgruntled about the overall scenarios.”

 

Just as Almendarez predicted, the morning saw a low voter turnout. Beverly Williams, the U.D.P. candidate on Tracy Taegar-Panton’s team, was out and about, rallying her supporters throughout the day. Williams was determined to make a comeback after losing the seat to Dolores Balderamos-Garcia in the 2020 General Elections.

 

Beverly Williams, U.D.P. Candidate, Belize Rural Central

“We’re here because we think we belong here. I’m feeling good. The response on the ground, the campaign was good. And so we are very encouraged by what we heard on the ground. And as I said, a steady flow and hopefully people will be out.”

 

Williams was further motivated by the steady stream of support she received from members of the constituency.

 

Beverly Williams

“I’m getting thumbs up as they pass in their vehicles, so that’s the feedback I’m getting this morning. As they pass by, as they pass on the other side of the road, I’m getting the thumbs up. So those people that spoke to me, the vibes, they’re coming out to vote.”

 

Joining the race were Aaron Wilson from the Belize Justice Movement and Estevan Perera from the People’s Democratic Movement. Wilson shared why he was feeling calm and confident about the results.

 

Aaron Wilson, B.J.M. Candidate, Belize Rural Central

“From the start, I never really follow up the crowd or monitor the movement. I just want the results. That is the reason I joined. Because my people encourage me to do it. The people who I work with in the community. And I just want to show them that I’m brave enough to do what they want me to do. So, I just wait for the results and happy whatever the outcome.”

 

Although the turnout seemed sparse throughout the day, over half of the constituency’s seven thousand, eight hundred and thirty-two voters made it to the polls. Many of those votes went to PUP candidate Dolores Balderamos-Garcia, securing her victory.

 

Karen Jones, Returning Officer, Belize Rural Central

“Total number of votes counted for Dolores Garcia Balderamos is two thousand eight hundred and ninety-five. Total number of votes counted for Beverly “Ms. Bev” Williams is one thousand three hundred and seventy-seven votes. Total number of votes counted for David Almendarez is one hundred and forty-two votes. Total number of votes counted for Estevan Alejandro Pereira is forty-nine votes, and the total number of votes casted for Aaron Bonny T. Wilson is thirty-four  votes.  Total number of votes rejected, one hundred seventy-two, with one rejected, objected ballot.  I hereby declare that the duly elected candidate for the Belize Rural Central Division is Ms. Dolores Garcia-Balderamos.”

 

Before the official announcement, Balderamos-Garcia showed up to greet her supporters and express her gratitude for their votes. She emphasized that the hard work isn’t over yet—she and her team are committed to continuing their service to the people of Belize Rural Central for another five years.

 

Dolores, Balderamos-Garcia, Area Representative, Belize Rural Central

“I have to feel good. My people feel good.”

 

Reporter

”You came out after all, did you expect this today?”

 

Dolores Balderamos-Garcia

“We were working hard, but I am always cautiously optimistic. As I told you earlier today, and I apologize. I don’t give interviews on voting day, but now that the voting is over and the people have spoken, not me, we can celebrate.”

 

Britney Gordon for News Five.

 

 

Down in Dangriga, the People’s United Party snagged another victory with Dr. Louis Zabaneh being re-elected as the area rep. Zabaneh, who was aiming for re-election, went head-to-head with his only challenger, independent candidate Cyril Garcia. In the end, Zabaneh clinched the win with two thousand, two hundred and thirty-seven votes, leaving Garcia far behind with just six hundred and twenty-eight votes. Here’s what Zabaneh had to say just before the official results were announced.

 

Dr. Louis Zabaneh, Area Representative. Dangriga

“I am totally grateful. I feel humbled by the large support that was shown today. And I’m grateful that we get another opportunity. Yes, it’s unofficial at this time. But all the numbers coming out of each of the polling rooms It was it would amount to a blowout. That is a blowout, not from me, but from the people of Dangriga Sawawee and Hope Creek, they were the ones who came out. And I’m grateful for them giving me another opportunity. And certainly I pledge again that  I will be working as hard as possible, working with them as a team for us to be able to reach our common goals and objectives.”

 

Dr. Gwen Nunez-Gonzalez

“What would be your concluding  thoughts to the people who have stood by you?”

 

Dr. Louis Zabaneh

“No from day one, we’ve always said that we are going to work together and that’s exactly what we did. I give all credit to everybody who have worked so hard. Our executive, our mayor, our senator, everybody working together is what made this so successful this first term, and that’s a first term with the first two years with COVID and all that that we had to do. If we continue on this momentum and we continue to work even closer than we did before, I am absolutely certain that we will be able to deliver even more to the great people of Dangriga, Sawawee, and Hope Creek.”

 

Over in Stann Creek West, Rodwell Ferguson scored another major victory for the P.U.P. He faced off against two challengers: Macario Augustin from the U.D.P., who got one hundred and seventy-one votes, and independent candidate Matteo Polanco, who managed just twenty-four votes. Rodwell came out on top with a whopping three thousand, nine hundred and seven votes. Earlier in the day, we caught up with Ferguson to hear his thoughts on the overwhelming support he was receiving.

 

Rodwell Ferguson, Area Representative, Stann Creek

“I feel very excited, because today is Election Day. And the people of Stann Creek West will decide who will be elected for the next five years. I feel very confident that I’m going to be elected back to office after the election, after the last ballot count, there will be a victory for Rodwell Ferguson in Stann Creek West.”

 

Wahrisie Elijio

“So, Mr. Ferguson, what do you think motivates the support that you are having today?’

 

Rodwell Ferguson

“I work with them since  2020 when we became the government. I never stop one single day. And even though it’s a huge constituency, I make sure every village see the benefit of my leadership. So they’re all happy. The key behind it, I work with all elected village councilors, bar none. And so they came out,  the leader of the village, and said, We must support Rodwell Ferguson, because you worked with us, and we see improvement in our village, over the last four years”

 

Wahrisie Elijio

“ So if you were to be elected again today, what would be your top priority?”

 

Rodwell Ferguson

“My top priority is to continue development. We are a small country with limited resources, so whatever I get from the government is for my people. And so whatever needs to be done, I will continue for the next five years.”

 

In Toledo East, Doctor Osmond Martinez absolutely dominated the race, blowing away his two opponents. Out of the five thousand, three hundred and sixty-five votes cast, Martinez secured a whopping four thousand, nine hundred and fifty-four votes. His competitors, Wil Maheia and Orlando Muschamp, only managed to get three hundred and seventy-four and thirty-seven votes, respectively. After the Returning Officer, Marion Nolberto, announced the final tally, Martinez noted that voter turnout could have been better. He pointed out that many eligible residents still haven’t registered to vote. Martinez made an appeal to those residents and shared his vision for what constituents can expect from him over the next five years.

 

Dr. Osmond Martinez, Area Representative, Toledo East

“ We have about 24, 000 people that are eligible to be registered in Toledo East. And I want to take this opportunity to ask, everyone, please go and register between July 17, after the by election to know we almost did 1,000 new register. And even after January 10th to present, it was almost a hundred new voters that got registered. But it’s important that everyone go out there and register to vote. Then that will help us, it will justify why we should have redistricting because redistricting is not asked because of the landmass, but it’s asked because of the amount of voters that you represent.”

 

Reporter

“Tell us what Toledo East  can expect from you in the next five years.”

 

Dr. Osmond Martinez

“ Work, work, work and work comes within three pillars within our plan. Um, our plan of Plan Belize 2. 0 and Plan Belize Toledo, which is compatible to Plan Belize 2. 0. And that is It’s our social protection programs. The only thing is that we will start to look at multi dimensional social protection programs, productivity because we want to move from social protection to being productive as well. Then we have to look at economic activity, you know, economic activity that will be focused on two main outcomes, income per capita and an increase in human capital.  And then infrastructure development.”

Polling in Belmopan started off slowly. In the morning, our cameras struggled to capture any lines at the constituency’s four polling stations. By midday, less than forty percent of the over ten thousand voters had cast their ballots. However, by the time the polls closed at six, Belmopan recorded a sixty percent voter turnout, just shy of the nearly sixty-one percent turnout in the 2020 elections. News Five’s Marion Ali was on the ground in Belmopan on Wednesday and filed this report.

 

Cecilia Ramirez-Smith, Returning Officer, Belmopan

“There are ten thousand, three hundred and eighty-one registered voters in Belmopan and at six p.m., the voter turnout was recorded at approximately sixty percent. The number of votes counted for Ralston Frazer is two hundred and fifteen; the number of votes counted for Oscar Mira is four thousand and nine; the number of votes counted for John Saldivar is one thousand seven hundred and eighty-nine. There were a total of one hundred and seventy-seven rejected ballots. I hereby declare that the duly elected candidate for the Belmopan electoral division is Oscar Mira.”

 

Marion Ali, Reporting

Oscar Mira shared with News Five that his resounding victory was thanks to his strong campaign machinery and the unwavering support of Belmopan voters.

 

Oscar Mira, Area Representative, Belmopan

“The voters who came out today, man, Belmopan is the capital city and Belmopan has shown to me that they want to continue with this leadership and I must thank them from the bottom of my heart because I cannot do this alone. It is a community effort and when we involve everyone, we make sure that we get community results.”

 

Marion Ali

“What’s the first thing that you want to do when you are sworn in?”

 

Oscar Mira

“I want to make sure that we continue the work for Belmopan. There are so many great plans – planBelize 2.0 is about the future of this country and we want to make sure that we follow planBelize 2.0. That is what is guiding us in Belmopan as well.”

 

Even though the final tally showed a sixty percent voter turnout, the morning hours were slow, with voters trickling in at the four polling stations. This slow start gave UDP candidates John Saldivar and Ralston Frazer a boost of encouragement early on.

 

John Saldivar, U.D.P. Candidate, Belmopan

“Normally a low turnout does not favour the incumbent because obviously they are not bringing out their people. We are hoping that our numbers are going to hold up and right now it is so we feel very good.”

 

Marion Ali

“And how effective has your machinery been? It’s now the afternoon hours and sooner or later we’ll be getting to winding down period.”

 

John Saldivar

“I’m very satisfied with our machinery up to this point. When we look at the numbers, vise vie the PUP, we’re doing pretty good.”

 

Ralston Frazer, U.D.P. Candidate, Belmopan

“It’s slow but in my opinion, for me, this slow is good because I see my people coming out. I see them at all three polling stations in Belmopan. I see them coming out.”

 

Marion Ali

“I took a look at the turnout since seven a.m., and it’s just over thirty percent. Is that good or bad? I think from previous trends, that’s very low.”

 

Ralston Frazer

“Yeah from previous trends for the first half of the day, that is very low in my opinion. How is it working in my favour? Like I said earlier, I see them coming out at a satisfactorily good rate, so I am hoping that my eyes are not deceiving me, but that be the case, I am hopeful.”

 

When we caught up with him just past midday, Mira was confident of his victory, despite less than forty percent turnout at that point.

 

Oscar Mira

“My machinery is dynamic; my machinery is full of energy; my machinery di bring out fi we people. If you go to Salvapan you will see that we are working, we’re bringing out our people. We are looking at our data and we are right on track.”

 

In the end, Mira was thrilled with his supporters’ turnout. His vote count was double that of his two opponents combined. Marion Ali for News Five.

 

Just like in every other district, the momentum in Cayo District was set from the moment the polls opened at seven a.m. Although there were some quiet periods throughout the day, by six p.m., it was clear how the voting had gone in some divisions. The People’s United Party secured all but one seat. The exception was in Cayo West, where Jorge ‘Milin’ Espat represented the residents since 2020. The winner in Wednesday’s elections was UDP candidate Miguel Guerra. News Five’s Marion Ali reports on the outcome of the polls in the Cayo District.

 

Marion Ali, Reporting

Michel Chebat won his seat in Cayo North by nearly eight hundred votes over UDP candidate Dr. Omar Figueroa. Chebat promises to be more engaged with his constituents moving forward.

 

Michel Chebat, Area Representative, Cayo North

“What will certainly change is greater engagement with the people who have contributed to this victory – all these people here contributed to my victory so I think a greater level of communication with them has to take place. We have to look keenly at the needs of this community. I can tell you that in Bullet Tree for example, one of the big needs is a proper water system and I intend to deliver that over the next five years. We saw here in Cayo North and in Bullet Tree with the recent floods, the great need for streets and drains in this community and we want to deliver on that as well. I can tell you that I’m proud to be part of a government, the previous administration, that in June of this year we’ll be delivering N.H.I. to the people of the Cayo District.”

 

In Cayo Northeast, incumbent Area Representative Orlando Habet easily defeated Alberto Fernandez. Habet’s victory is especially meaningful because a low voter turnout initially caused concern. However, by the end of the day, Habet won by a larger margin than in the last election. He understands that expectations in his division will be even higher now.

 

Orlando Habet, Area Representative, Cayo Northeast

“In the beginning we thought that the poor turnout could have affected the results for us. We had anticipated a certain percentage turnout. The turnout was much lower, but true to fact, the people who supported me came out and gave me their support. I will have to seek the support, not only from the government, but I also have a strong team in my executive and in the people that I had in my ministry, if I get the same ministry, to write up project proposals for some of the projects that we want to see executed within my constituency.”

 

In Cayo Central, Alex Balona was re-elected for a second consecutive term. He is prepared to continue working to deliver on Plan Belize 2.0.

 

Alex Balona, Area Representative, Cayo Central

“There’s a lot more houses to build, there are more house lots to deliver, there is N.H.I. to deliver. We have more to do in education, in sports, and we have jobs to create for our people.”

 

The P.U.P.’s loss was suffered in Cayo West, where Jorge “Milin” Espat was defeated by the U.D.P.’s Miguel Guerra, who thanked his team.

 

Miguel Guerra, Area Representative, Cayo West

“My campaigners who worked for no money; the taxi operators who helped me without me paying them because I did not have the money for my campaign. I didn’t have it. This victory is for the people. I want to give my heartfelt appreciation to all my campaigners who up to right now have not been paid. I want to give thanks to the taxi men who said “Mike, we will work with you”. Mike Guerra won without any money without any flag on poles.”

 

Julius Espat secured his seat in Cayo South, defeating UDP candidates Dr. June Young and Antonio Samayoa. Espat told News Five that the vast size of the Cayo South constituency makes it challenging to reach everyone. However, meeting the residents was crucial for his victory. He aims to continue helping residents gain access to land and improve infrastructure.

 

Julius Espat, Area Representative, Cayo South

“Our problem was that people were telling us, “You done already so why should we come out?” So we were going house to house trying to explain to them that it’s important to voice what you want in a democracy. So we managed to convince most of the people we had pledges for, but it’s still a bit lower than the last time. I think the last time we had seventy percent turnout. This time it was close to sixty – fifty something. The issues in rural communities are predominantly land, that’s number one. Infrastructure is very important because we have a lot of rural roads. And then the basics: health, education, but land is number one.”

 

The election results in the Cayo District were determined long before midnight. Marion Ali for News Five.