Caribbean Shores and Freetown Stays with The P.U.P.

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