Colors and Symbols of the U.D.P. on Election Day

On Tuesday, the Elections and Boundaries Commission decided that both the Tracy Panton United Democratic Party and the “Shyne” Barrow U.D.P. can use red for the March twelfth general election. The commission, which includes three members from the ruling party and two from the opposition, voted three-two in favor. One opposition member wanted only the Barrow U.D.P. to use red, while the other suggested different shades of red for each party. The final decision will likely involve distinct symbols, but nothing is final until after Nomination Day, as we learned today in Belmopan. News Five’s Paul Lopez has more.

 

Paul Lopez, Reporting

The main dispute within the divided United Democratic Party is which faction gets to use red in the March twelfth general election. On Tuesday, the five-member Election and Boundaries Commission voted on this. Most members agreed that both factions can use red, but with different symbols to tell them apart. This issue was discussed in detail at a meeting for election stakeholders this morning. Commissioner Orlando Espat shared his thoughts.

 

Orlando Espat, Commissioner, E.B.C

“The representation of the people’s act empowers us that in the case the political parties cannot agree with a color then there is a section that gives the commission the power to assign colors or symbols to the political parties.  That determination is expected to be made how?  We do it at the commission level and that defemination has already been made by taking a vote, as I gave you all today, we gave option and the option that agreed upon, not unanimously, but by a majority is that the two political parties will get red and we have them all the option to go back to their parties. The UDP side is saying no there is only one UDP and the other side is saying no we are also UDP. So we will give booth of them the red, but you go back to your party and come back to us and tell us next week which symbol you want to put there.”

However, Alberto August, the U.D.P. representative on the commission, believes the vote on Tuesday was premature. He insists that the final decision should be made after Nomination Day, when candidates declare their chosen colors.

 

Alberto August, Commissioner, E.B.C

“Like I told the commission yesterday, that voting that happened yesterday was premature. Everything comes to a head, on nomination day. The nomination forms clearly states at the last item on the right hand side of the nomination paper that the political parties advice that time of the color they want to put with their name. So, unless that process is completed, the commission cannot make a determination on that matter. What will happen in the event, one of the feuding factions says, let us abandon this, because it will be a great confusion and they say give me black. Because I am telling tou it is going to create some problems because there are some people who vote color and when you go on the ballot and you want to vote for a candidate weh red you might vote for the different red one.”

August argues that letting both factions use red will lead to more spoiled ballots. However, it’s unlikely either party will change their stance. So, they’ll need to agree on unique symbols for their red. Michael Peyrefitte, U.D.P. Chairman under Moses “Shyne” Barrow, shed more light on this issue.

 

Michael Peyrefitte, Chairman, U.D.P

“You are going to the election and boundaries commission and say I am Paul Lopez and I want to run for this constituency. I want to use the color mother of pearl.it turns out that he comes in that same division and says I want to use mother of pearl, what the commission then does is like listen to me, you two come in, both of you have the same color and symbol that you want to use. We need to have you agree that one of you will take a different color or if you can’t agree, then we will make the differentiation as to what will differentiate you in terms of signs and symbols. If Paul Lopez the run and he the run under the sandfly or mosquito, you have the sample ballot with his x next to it, if he goes to campaign, he will distribute his sample ballot and say, I am the macala, just look for the macala and vote for me.”

 

When we talked to Sheena Pitts, the U.D.P. Chair under Tracy Panton, she mentioned that it’s still undecided whether either faction will use symbols.

 

Sheena Pitts, Chairperson, U.D.P

“We are UDP and the color for UDP is red and it is just that in my view. That is not a win. That is the rightful thing. We don’t know yet that there will be symbols. I don’t want you to proceed with the understanding that there will be symbols. All UDPs will be able to use red and what remains outstanding is whether or not anyone would opt to use an accompanying symbol. If it comes to that, whether or not that will be confusing, it remains the obligation of the party to do voters education.”
 

Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.