PM Says U.D.P. Nomination Drop-Outs Prove Democracy is Alive

On Nomination Day, the country watched in shock as four of the thirty U.D.P. candidates under the leadership of Moses “Shyne” Barrow failed to show up for their nominations. This means you won’t see the names of Dean Samuels for Pickstock, Melvin Hewlett for Fort George, Norman Usher for Dangriga, and Dennis Williams for Toledo East on the ballot come election day. They pulled out of the race at the last minute, and when asked about it that evening, Barrow seemed completely unaware. While some have suggested that the P.U.P. might have influenced the candidates’ withdrawal, Prime Minister John Briceño dismissed this as a desperate allegation. When asked about the impact of these withdrawals on democracy in Belize, the PM confidently stated that it proves democracy is alive and well.

 

Prime Minister John Briceño

“It’s not a failure of democracy. People vote for who they want. In this instance, they quite likely feel that Anthony Mahler has been doing a great job, so why would I want to go and challenge Anthony Mahler if he’s doing a good job? Why would I challenge him if I believe that the people are supporting him> I’d be wasting my time, my effort and the lee bit ah resources, it’s not a failure. It is a true testament to the democratic process of Belize.”

 

Reporter

“The Opposition Leader is suggesting that you guys paid off his candidates to not show up.”

 

Prime Minister John Briceño

“I guess desperate statements during desperate times and I guess trying to find an excuse. It is obvious that the person who was there felt he doesn’t have a chance to win and felt that Anthony, by any measurement, has been doing a tremendous job as the Area Representative in the Pickstock division, so why would you go with a person if you know you’re going to lose? If you look at it, what the Leader of the Opposition is trying to do, he’s thinking beyond this general election. He’s thinking about his election as leader of the party because after this general election it is well known that the U.D.P. is going to have a national convention and it is important for him to field candidates just to field candidates, knowing they’re not going to win but he needs to do that to control the delegates, so I don’t expect anything else from the Leader of the Opposition.”