A Belize Defence Force truck flipped earlier this afternoon as it was heading towards San Ignacio Santa Elena. The incident happened near mile 37. Witnesses say that four members of the BDF were injured and rushed to the nearest hospital. The soldiers were on their way to participate in this year’s La Ruta Maya canoe race which starts on Friday. This is a developing story.
In a Facebook post, Prime Minister John Briceño expressed his gratitude to “all Belizeans who exercised their democratic rights yesterday during our nationwide municipal elections.” Briceño, who is the leader of the ruling People’s United Party (PUP), said that he was thankful that there were free, fair, and peaceful elections.
The 2024 municipal elections were held on March 6th in Belize. The PUP retained control of the two cities (Belize and Belmopan) and six towns (Corozal, Orange Walk, San Pedro, Benque Viejo del Carmen, Dangriga, and Punta Gorda). The UDP gains seats in San Ignacio/Santa Elena Town. The UDP took six out of the seven seats. PUP councillor Aarom Mai retained his seat.
In his statement, Briceño also extended appreciation to the public officers responsible for managing and overseeing the elections, recognising their competence and fairness in carrying out their duties.
There were 67 seats up for grabs for the 2024 municipal elections. The ruling People’s United Party fielded 67 candidates. The United Democratic Party also fielded 67 candidates. The People’s Democratic Movement had 11 candidates in the race. There were 11 independent candidates. Out of the 101,190 persons eligible to vote, 58,155 cast ballots. This translated to a 57.47% voter turnout countrywide. 52.16% of the voters were female, and 47.84 were male. Orange Walk Town had the highest voter turnout with 64.53%, and Dangriga Town had the least with 51.27%.
While the UDP increased the number of seats when compared to the previous municipal elections, the PUP dominated the 2024 municipal elections, winning all but one town council.
Corozal Town
Registered electors: 7,826
Ballots Cast: 4,709
Voter turnout: 60.17%
Orange Walk Town
Registered electors: 10,511
Ballots Cast: 6,783
Voter turnout: 64.53%
Belize City
Registered electors: 37,224
Ballots Cast: 20,197
Voter turnout: 54.26%
San Pedro Town
Registered electors: 8,704
Ballots Cast: 5,397
Voter turnout: 62.01%
Belmopan City
Registered electors: 10,065
Ballots Cast: 5,623
Voter turnout: 55.87%
San Ignacio/San Ignacio Town
Registered electors: 13,729
Ballots Cast: 8,059
Voter turnout: 58.7&
Benque Viejo del Carmen Town
Registered electors: 4,816
Ballots Cast: 2,856
Voter turnout: 59.3%
Dangriga Town
Registered electors: 5,282
Ballots Cast: 2,708
Voter turnout: 51.27%
Punta Gorda Town
Registered electors: 3,033
Ballots Cast: 1,861
Voter turnout: 61.36%
Data compiled by the Elections and Boundaries Department in partnership with Total Business Solutions Limited shows that 452,073 voters were cast. The PUP received 63.23% of the total voters while the UDP received 35.15%. The UDP increased its number of seats in San Ignacio/Santa Elena Town when compared to the previous municipal elections. That was the only mixed slate with one PUP candidate retaining his seat.
Anglican Cathedral College, the school where fifteen-year-old Lamisha Moody was enrolled, issued a statement on her murder. The school said, “Last night, we received devastating news that Lamisha Moody, a cherished member of our A.C.C. family, was taken from us by senseless gun violence.” The school says that Lamisha was more than a student. “She was a bright light cherished by her peers and loved by her teachers.” The school said, “Gun violence has no place in our society, and Lamisha’s passing reminds us of the urgent need for action.”
The school’s counselling team and spiritual leaders will support students through this time of grief.
Lamisha along with street figure thirty-six-year-old Troy Hyde were shot and killed last night in the Jane Usher Boulevard area.
Belize City police are investigating a double murder that occurred last night near a basketball court in the Jane Usher Boulevard. The victims have been identified as thirty-six-year-old Troy Hyde and fifteen-year-old Lamisha Moody. The shooting happened at around 8:40 p.m. when a silver vehicle stopped nearby and one of the gunmen inside opened fire. Hyde and Moody were rushed to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital where they died minutes later.
Hyde is a known street figure in the area. Moody was a student at Anglican Cathedral College.
