Rodwell Ferguson Declared Winner after Recount

After a hard fought battle for a seat in Stann Creek West, People’s United Party candidate Rodwell Ferguson has been re-elected as its two-term area representative.  That announcement was made official and was met with loud cheers from supporters on Thursday night, following a recount of ballots in that constituency earlier that evening.  It means the P.U.P. officially has twelve seats in the house and the U.D.P. nineteen, the same numbers that both parties had before Wednesday’s elections. Stann Creek West was initially declared red several hours after the close of polls on Wednesday evening.  U.D.P. newcomer Walter Garbutt, who believed that he had won the division, went as far as giving his victory speech prematurely, only to have the title of area representative stripped away twenty-four hours later.  At the end of a lengthy recount, Ferguson would emerge triumphant having defeated Garbutt by a mere eight votes.  But, as they say, a win is a win regardless of the margin of victory.  When we caught up with Ferguson following the verification, he said he was more than happy to have delivered the third of four blue seats in southern Belize.

Rodwell Ferguson, PUP Area Rep., Stann Creek West

Rodwell Ferguson

“I want to thank all my supporters, the people of the constituency.  It was a hard fight and I want to give respect to Mr. Walter, he gave me a very good run.  Independence and Placencia have always been my difficult spot and Mr. Walter is from both villages so he was able to give me a serious fight but thank God to Pomona, Silk Grass, the entire Stann Creek Valley, Sittee River, Maya Center and most of all, Santa Rosa, San Roman, Georgetown, Maya Mopan, Red Bank.  You did extremely, extremely well.  Seine Bight, you did extremely well again.  Mullins River.  I already called Sittee River.  Silk Grass did extremely well and I want to thank you because if it was not because of you we would have lost tonight. Pomona, I’ve already called Pomona.  Hopkins, you did well.  Now the time has come despite being in opposition, we all have to work together to achieve the goal.  I will call on every one of you because I will need your full support if you want to go forward.  Thank you all very much, I love you all and long live Belize and long live Stann Creek West.  Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!”