Do Belizeans Care About the US Presidential Elections?

The big day is here! Americans are heading to the polls to choose their next leader. This election isn’t just about the U.S.—its outcome will ripple across smaller developing countries and those with diplomatic ties. To see how Belizeans think the results will affect Belize, News Five’s Britney Gordon hit the streets of Belize City. Here’s what she found out.

 

Britney Gordon, Reporting

For many Belizeans, today might feel like just another Tuesday in November. But for Americans everywhere, it’s a pivotal day that will shape their country’s future for the next four years and beyond. It’s the final chance for Americans to vote and decide who will be the next president of the United States. This year’s contenders are Kamala Harris from the Democratic Party and Donald Trump from the Republican Party. Earlier today, we chatted with some Belizeans to see if they’re following the election. Some were very keen on the outcome, while others weren’t as concerned.

 

Tony Anthony, Belizean

“Yes, I’m keeping up with it and what really happened, I ride from Lemonal village, where I live, with my son-in-law. And all that we was talking about is the US election. But he say, man, if you tell me that Trump is in the lead, you go piss me off. I go crash this vehicle. I don’t want Trump in the lead.  He want Kamala Harris win.”

 

Britney Gordon

“So what do you think is the best way to stay informed right now?”

 

Tony Anthony

“The best way to stay informed, if you have a phone, you click onto YouTube and hit the news about election.”

 

MIK, Belizean

“We right here, we keeping up to the elections.”

 

Britney Gordon

“How are you staying informed?”

 

MIK

“Well, I’m on the news logging in every day. I’m watching all the election go pass and everything that’s moving. So you know that right now we just want somebody strong coming to power. And get back we Belizeans ney home.  Ney one weh need fi come home.”

 

Leah Myers, Belizean

“To be completely honest, I’m not. That’s not really much of my business, but I do have family across there. I’m not sure if they’re keeping up to date with it either because we haven’t discussed or spoke about it. But I’ve seen, a couple of videos and people voting and I’ve seen that people are voting for the female to come in. But I’m not sure, I’m not really looking into it like that.”

 

While the political climate in the U.S. might not be a top concern for some Belizeans, it’s a different story for the estimated one hundred thousand Belizeans living there. Many are anxious about the wellbeing of their family and friends who now call America home.

 

Tony Anthony

“I’m concerned about it because some people say that Trump is a nonsense man and Kamala Harris has got a little black blood, Haitian blood, going up against a white man. The last time Trump been in, he mi di deal with a lot of immigrants. And you can’t stop immigrants. People got to live. You know a lot of Belizeans weh deh ova soh and a lot of other countries we deh dah America. They take America as their savior country, U.S. dollars, yeah.”

 

Britney Gordon

“So do you have family in the states that you’re worried about?”

 

Tony Anthony

“I got a lot of family. A lot of family I got. Sisters, nephews, aunts.”

 

Mark Peyrefitte, Belizean

“The candidates, when they speak, certain things come out of their mouths. The first thing they will do when they come to office, Trump say what, what he will be the biggest. deportation of migrants and Belizean people, so Belizean people or whoever over America, they need to take this serious. Because if they choose that guy again, they’re going backwards. And to make it better, worse for them, they’re going home.”

 

The election also sets the stage for diplomatic relations between Belize and the United States. During Trump’s presidency, he didn’t appoint a U.S. ambassador to Belize. It wasn’t until the Biden administration that Michelle Kwan took on the role as the current ambassador to Belize. Belize and the U.S. collaborations have also increased through the Central America Regional Security Initiative Economic Support Fund (CARSI-ESF). CARSI annually supports civil society and good governance initiatives in Belize with funding from the United States government.

 

Gary Matus, Belizean

“The election is be the same thing. I all want the world. Everybody have to suffer. If Trump come inna power, everybody have to cry. You know, they are legalize everybody, deport everybody back da ney country. Everybody have to work for for surviving. Can’t survive. We can’t even eat. I have to pray for God and everything to give the strength of Jesus Christ and everybody have to start to believe in Jesus.”

 

Britney Gordon for News Five.