Survey Says Possibly 4 out of 10 for U.D.P. in Belize City in 2025

What’s the likelihood of the U.D.P. emerging victorious in the next general elections and how many seats can the embattled party clinch during the upcoming exercise?  A recent survey conducted by Viking Strategies sets out to determine the potential of the United Democratic Party based on a recent survey.  While the U.D.P. was soundly defeated at the polls in 2020, the results of the survey indicate that the party can expect a national vote share of forty-two to forty-four percent.  This was also determined using election data in Belize from 2008, 2012, 2015 and 2020.  Here’s News Five’s Isani Cayetano with that story.

 

Isani Cayetano, Reporting

The United Democratic Party (U.D.P.) is currently navigating through one of the most tumultuous periods in its illustrious history. Internal strife and unprecedented discord have left the party more fractured than ever before. The rift between the Alliance for Democracy and the U.D.P. leadership has deepened, primarily due to conflicting interpretations of the party’s constitution. Amidst this latest wave of disputes, a new analysis has emerged, shedding light on the U.D.P.’s prospects as the 2025 general election approaches.  An analysis of all thirty-one constituencies was recently conducted by Viking Strategies, using the results of a survey carried out with Belizean voters.  Of the ten seats available in Belize City, only four are likely to go red, including Albert, which is described, based on probability models, as a toss-up. In that division, incumbent area representative Tracy Panton is being challenged by P.U.P. councilor Kaya Cattouse.  Since tossing her hat into the political arena, Cattouse has hit the ground running.

 

Kaya Cattouse, P.U.P. Standard Bearer, Albert (File: September 19^th, 2024)

“The feedback has been very good.  I mean, people want a change, they want a  young, dynamic leader who is coming in to work for them and coming in from the local government level, they have seen the work that I have been doing, not only in Albert constituency but across the city.  And now, to be zoning in only on that one constituency, I mean, it means a lot to them and it means a lot to me.”

 

Historically, Albert has been a more competitive constituency.  In the 2012, 2015 and 2020 general elections, the United Democratic Party has held on to the seat, but the P.U.P. has been making inroads.  In 2020, the U.D.P. won by a narrow margin.  Going into 2025, with a seemingly formidable opponent, Albert remains a tossup.

 

Tracy Panton, Area Representative, Albert (File: September 11^th, 2024)

“I respect the fact that Ms. Cattouse has offered herself as a candidate, it’s good to see young women and women seek political leadership.  So I applaud her on that decision.  We don’t take any opponent lightly, we’ve never have taken an opponent lightly.  We’ve never made broad and sweeping statements against an opponent.  We know what our job is and our is to serve the people and when you serve the people, the people support you.  That has been my experience and we don’t intend to change our strategy because it has worked and it has worked very well for my campaign and we’ll continue to do so.”

 

With Panton ousted from the U.D.P., all eyes are on who will step up as the new standard bearer for the opposition. Despite her expulsion, Panton insists she remains a loyal member of the U.D.P. In Port Loyola, the United Democratic Party lost its grip to the P.U.P., who secured the seat with a commanding 57.7% of the vote in the 2020 general election. Recent surveys suggest that while the U.D.P. has a chance to gain ground, the odds still favor the incumbent.  Nonetheless, former Area Representative Anthony ‘Boots’ Martinez is once again in the picture.

 

Anthony ‘Boots’ Martinez, U.D.P. Standard Bearer, Port Loyola (File: August 22^nd, 2024)

“It’s from the request of the people of Port Loyola who asked me to hold the mantle, at least because they want a good area representative.  And so, for me, I am a creature of instruction and as a creature of instruction, you follow the people. I am the candidate, so I am touching back base with the people because one thing yoh could seh yoh opinion about Boots Martinez is another thing, but every man, woman, pickni, dehn dog, dehn cat, know who is Boots Martinez.”

 

Collet continues to be a bastion for the U.D.P., with Patrick Faber firmly entrenched as the area’s representative. However, recent probability analyses suggest that this stronghold could be tested if national polling trends increasingly favor the P.U.P. Adding to the political intrigue, Devin Daly has thrown his hat into the ring, declaring his candidacy for the People’s United Party. Isani Cayetano for News Five.