But, what do the unfavorable results on March sixth for the U.D.P. say about the organization’s leader? He says his name was not on the ballot and that it was a team effort. According to Barrow, the U.D.P. has scheduled a postmortem and a National Party Council meeting where they will have the difficult discussions about the party’s future.
Moses “Shyne’ Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
“We as a political organization, every member, this is a team effort. I was not on the ballot. We were all championing the cause of the United Democratic Party but standard bearers and the councilor candidates had the specific task of the day and we need to do a postmortem which we have scheduled shortly and do some analysis and really see where the fat is that we need to cut and we need to narrow down our focus to eighteen or nineteen divisions. If I can accept blame for anything my error is on strategic miscalculation as far as going after all nine. It is clear that was impractical and so rather than pouring resources into an additional four municipalities we should have focused on the five in reach. Obviously Santa Elena, San Ignacio, PG which we won, then on a recount we lost by twenty-five votes, I am asking for another recount to make sure the integrity of the vote is in order and there is no stealing of the vote. In Benque and Dangriga, I believe if we would have focused all the resources there we would have fared much better. So moving forward we are going to have a national party council so that we can decide the way forward.”
A Belize City family is asking for your help in locating sixty-nine-year-old Idolly Young. Young, who is diagnosed with dementia, was last seen on Tuesday, January 5th, near Sanker Street in Belize City. She was wearing a white blouse and a floral skirt. If you have any information that can help the family, you are asked to call +501 613-3361.
Forty-two-year-old Everaldo Garcia was found this morning in his jail cell at the Belize Central Prison. Prison officials do not suspect foul play. Officials say that prison officers were alerted by another inmate to the fact that Garcia was unresponsive. The head of the intelligence unit, Lismark Bennett, was informed of the matter.
According to reports, Garcia received medical attention on Wednesday and was last seen early on Thursday morning. There were no signs of foul play on his body.
Garcia pleaded guilty to theft in 2022. He stole two bottles of carpet cleaner in Belize City. He was fined $400. He was again convicted of theft in January 2024 and was serving a custodial sentence.
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.
Across the country today, thousands of voters and supporters of the various political organizations paraded through the streets of their cities and towns to usher they candidates of choice to be nominated. In Belize City, Belmopan, and Orange Walk, much like in San Pedro and other parts of the Jewel, the spirit was festive, as motorcades and processions kept the mood energized. Tonight’s newscast is a look at the sight and sounds, as well as the campaigns leading up to March sixth.
Isani Cayetano, Reporting
Today is significant for politicians, seasoned and novice, because it marks the formal process of being selected as a candidate for a political party. It is also the first step in the election cycle where politicians are officially recognized and supported by their respective organizations to run for office.
Bernard Wagner
Bernard Wagner, Mayor Candidate, P.U.P.
“Nomination Day is always an exciting time for the party machinery, being able to galvanize the number of people we saw out there this morning. Essentially, the horses are now at the gate and we have to dig in deeper as a team.”
It is crucial because it validates the eligibility and readiness for the slate to move advance to the municipal elections on March sixth. It also signals to voters and other politicians that these candidates are the official choice of the People’s United Party.
Kareem Musa
Kareem Musa, Area Rep, Caribbean Shores
“It’s an exciting time. I know that the people of Caribbean Shores are waiting for March sixth to deliver another victory for Mayor Bernard Wagner and his team and I think I speak not only for myself, but my predecessor, Santi Castillo, and it’s not often that you get two candidates, the predecessor and the current candidate endorsing a mayoral candidate like Mr. Wagner and so I think that speaks volumes of his integrity as a mayor and the hard work he has put in.”
Nomination Day is one for celebration and commitment, as it sets the stage for the approaching electoral contest. Today, the incumbent administration, led by Mayor Bernard Wagner, shored up the support of as many voters from across Belize City. It began with a procession from Independence Hall, the seat of the People’s United Party, and made its way to ITVET where all councilor candidates, as well as the two-time mayor, made their formal application.
Allan Pollard
Allan Pollard, Councilor Candidate, P.U.P.
“I’m feeling good, and I am amped up. With that crowd today and I was feeling the vibes of the residents of the city was a good way to get here. You know, I just feel blessed, in general, just to wake up and to have the opportunity to run on the slate again, this is my third municipal election so I’m pretty hyped, I’m pretty hyped.”
Isani Cayetano
“What’s different about this time around for you?”
Allan Pollard
“What’s different? For me, it’s like we have a lot of new candidates in it. I think now, for me when I was just coming in, it was sort of a newcomer type. So right now I feel a little bit of nostalgia and also being more senior to it. It’s just a different role now. So that’s kind of the contrast there.”
This is Bernard Wagner’s third bid for the highest seat at City Hall. Is he poised for another victory at the polls?
Bernard Wagner
“I never want to say that you are overconfident, you always want to maintain humility throughout the whole process and ensure that you do what you need to do as a team, as a party, as a machinery and let the other chips fall in place.”
Isani Cayetano
“With that said, how satisfied are you with the work that you’ve been able to accomplish in office over the past three years?”
Bernard Wagner
“I am so amazed at this team and the resiliency of this team. I always stress it, the perseverance and the tenacity of the team, the six years that I’ve been there. We have really faced some tremendous crisis.”
With those challenges, including the setbacks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic behind it, the People’s United Party is once again ready to lead the residents of the Old Capital into the next three years.
Allan Pollard
“I think the residents have received us well. They are excited for the election and of course they have seen the work that we have been doing over time. So, for them, they are excited to go to the polls just as we are.”
The United Democratic Party also had its turn this afternoon and, like the People’s United Party that came before it, did not fail to disappoint. The procession began at its headquarters on Youth for the Future Drive and ended at the ITVET a short while later, but it was also energetic and festive. Here’s News Five’s Isani Cayetano with another report.
Isani Cayetano, Reporting
This afternoon, the United Democratic Party also led a parade of supporters from the foot of the BelChina Bridge to Freetown Road, where its slate of candidates presented themselves for nomination. Notwithstanding the challenges that the U.D.P. has been facing internally, it was able to muster a throng of supporters to rival the numbers brought out by the People’s United Party earlier today. Leading the charge for his party its team of eleven was Opposition Leader Shyne Barrow.
Shyne Barrow
Shyne Barrow, Party Leader, U.D.P.
“I want the Belizean people to see, with all humility, this is my projection, nine, nine municipalities and it is not farfetched. There was a time where the United Democratic Party administered all nine municipalities and no municipality is out of reach because the cost of living, the neglect, as Dr. Mortis Jones mentioned, people just don’t feel the love. They feel abandoned, they feel neglected and maybe it was the over-promising, maybe it was the hardies and brodies that the People’s United Party sold, rather than be practical and give deliverables that they could actually meet.”
Dr. Nelma Mortis Jones is the U.D.P.’s mayoral candidate. She is a first-time politician running under the red banner. She is optimistic about her chances of taking City Hall.
Nelma Mortis Jones
Dr. Nelma Mortis Jones, Mayoral Candidate, U.D.P.
“I was confident from I was in the field because of the expression and the sentiments of the people that I associated or made relationships on the ground.”
Reporter
“While you were campaigning, what were some of the criticisms or complaints you’ve been hearing?”
Nelma Mortis
“Basically, the issues are more of national issues and the people feel that the People’s United Party has no love for them. The relationship was not there and so that was one of the major complaints for them. The local issues were secondary and we can understand that, people’s basic needs come first.”
Of particular interest is the fact that the U.D.P.’s mayoral candidate was endorsed by the sitting party leader, as well as his predecessor. For the most part, they haven’t seen eye-to-eye on a number of issues within the party.
Patrick Faber
Patrick Faber, Area Rep, Collet
“At the end of the day, we’re all UDPs and that’s what we have always maintained. I did not want to ever leave my party and so when the election gun is sounded I am here and we are going to do our best to bring victory for our party on March sixth.”
Isani Cayetano
“How practical, in your opinion, has the campaign been in terms of trying to muster the support of voters across the country?”
Patrick Faber
“Well I think there’s been a really wonderful exercise on the part of the UDP. Of course, there are many new candidates and, as I am in those areas and I’ve visited many of them over the last couple of weeks, it is a testing of their machinery, it is putting in place that machinery if it didn’t exist. And I feel that win or lose for the party overall, the UDP will leave on March sixth with a victory and that victory can well be translated into a further victory whenever the general elections are called because we would have had a stronger machinery as a result of going through these elections on March sixth.”
With the possibility of a U.D.P. victory in Belize City on March sixth, a new mayor and a new team of councilors would mean that they would have to work with a People’s United Party central government. Here’s how the U.D.P.’s mayoral candidate responded to that question.
Nelma Mortis
“I am hoping to change that kind of politicking, in the sense that we’re supposed to move towards development. This is for all Belizeans and so I am hoping [that] if my opponents are still the central government and of course we’ll change them very soon, that they will see the relevance of my work and my leadership to serve the people of Belize and not to serve a UDP or a PUP person, but the people of Belize.”
