Tag: 2025-03-13

Belizeans across the country had their eyes glued to Queen Square and Port Loyola for different reasons. In Queen Square, the People’s United Party was aiming for a historic first-time win in the division. Meanwhile, Port Loyola was buzzing with excitement, boasting the highest number of candidates in any division, including three from the United Democratic Party. News Five’s Paul Lopez was on the ground in both areas and brings us this report.

Paul Lopez, Reporting

On election day, the Queen Square Division, with two thousand, eight hundred and twenty-four registered voters, saw a seventy-two percent turnout. The candidates were Godwin Haylock and Shane Williams for the United Democratic Party, Dr. Lorna McKay for the People’s United Party, and Gary Matus for the People’s Democratic Movement. We spoke with the candidates early in the day. By the end of the day, after counting all two thousand, twenty-six ballots, Godwin Haylock emerged victorious with one thousand, one hundred and ninety-two votes.

Godwin Haylock, Area Representative, Queen Square

“I must say they have been strong with me. The U.D.P voters in Queen Square are really strong like a rock. They have held this division together for more than forty-years now.”

In its forty-year history, Queen Square has never had a representative from the People’s United Party. Dr. Lorna McKay aimed to change that by promising to meet the needs of the residents if elected.

Dr. Lorna Mckay, P.U.P. Candidate, Queen Square

“Incrementally we have done our job, we have campaigned, we have spoken to residents, we have made sure they know what we are about. Residents are ready to make that change, they are willing to move on and leave the old Queen Square behind.”

But when the dust settled, Dr. McKay only managed to get six hundred and eighty-seven votes, just thirty-five percent of the total. Shane Williams got sixty-six votes, and Matus received only nine. The deep divide within the UDP was a hot topic in this election, almost as much as who would win. In his victory speech, Haylock mentioned that his win strengthens the effort to unite the party.

Godwin Haylock

“Really it is an attempt to bring unity not only in Queen Square, but unity in the entire country. I think the party is plagued by the infighting. I hope I will be meeting with the Honorable Tracy Panton, the party leader and we get everybody together and form one U.D.P.”

Election day in the Port Loyola division was marked by a fierce contest. The most intriguing part was the number of candidates, five in total, the highest in any constituency across the country. Three of them ran under the UDP banner. Port Loyola had fifty-three percent voter turnout from four thousand, eight hundred registered voters.

Gilroy Usher, Area Representative, Port Loyola

“I want to say sincere thanks to the people of Port Loyola for having that confidence in me for appreciating the work I have done in that division and to show it by voting for me in an overwhelming manner at the polls. Today I want to say again, that four and a half years after being elected, despite the challenges, I am even more committed, two hundred, I would say four hundred percent committed to betterment.”

In this five-way race, Doctor Nelma Mortis, Phillip Willoughby and former Port Loyola Area Rep. Anthony Martinez, all ran under the UDP umbrella.

Anthony “Boots” Martinez, U.D.P. Candidate, Port Loyola

“The thing here is that everything is up to the people and the people will make the decision and the determination. I don’t have a problem with it you know.”

Phillip Willoughby, U.D.P Candidate, Port Loyola

“Even if we don’t make it, or any candidate don’t make it, still congratulations to anybody who decided to put themselves on the ballot. To the victor, be prepared to be challenged by myself.”

Dr. Nelma Mortis, U.D.P Candidate, Port Loyola

“I have done my campaign and I am relying on the people to chose the best candidate for Port.”

Nelma Mortis got one hundred and fifty-one votes. Willoughby earned two hundred and sixty-one votes, while Martinez led the three with three hundred and fifty-two votes. Third-party candidate Wilmore Tablada received the fewest votes, totaling fifty-four.

Wilmore Tablada, P.D.M. Candidate, Port Loyola

“At the end of the day people done mek up their minds about what they need to do. I don’t end to burst my brain. I don’t have nothing to lose. This dah my first time in the general election and I might do better than them.”

Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez

Freetown and Caribbean Shores are sticking with their People’s United Party reps. Francis Fonseca clinched his sixth term as the area rep for Freetown, while Kareem Musa nailed his third term in Caribbean Shores. Their opponents didn’t stand a chance in these constituencies, according to the results. News Five’s Paul Lopez tells us more.

Paul Lopez, Reporting

For many, the Freetown electoral race seemed decided from the start. Five-time Area Representative Francis Fonseca went up against United Democratic Party newcomer Dr. Abraham Flowers.

Dr. Abraham Flowers, U.D.P. Candidate, Freetown

“So far, we don’t have a huge machinery when it comes to the P.U.P. and that is through financial constraints, but we use what we have and the collaboration and the unity of the team, we actually got the work done. I am so proud of my team today; they actually are here to support us. Although the impossible may look possible I give God thanks for my team and also bless them as well.”

Throughout the day, the crowd at Dr. Flowers’ tent was sparse, compared to the bustling activity at Fonseca’s tent. It seemed like a sign of the landslide defeat Dr. Flowers would face from Freetown voters.

Dr. Abraham Flowers

“I am going to be honest with you, I don’t think there will be a huge turnout on our part, because of the division between us. That will greatly affect and ripple throughout all the constituencies, not only mine.”

At the close of polls, a total of two thousand, four hundred and twenty-one ballots had been cast or sixty percent of the registered voters. An impressive ninety-one percent of the total votes went to the incumbent, Francis Fonseca.

Francis Fonseca, Area Representative, Freetown

“These are people who have stood with the People’s United Party and me through good times and bad times. So, even when the P.U.P. was in opposition you would come here and se these same people sitting under the tent, 2012 and 2015. They are here and they believe in this party and me as their area representative. So, I am very happy for that. It has been a strange election, because we use to and like a little fight and tussle and for the most part the U.D.P. has been absent.”

Dr. Flowers received just two hundred and sixteen votes. In Caribbean Shores, many expected the outcome to be predictable, and they were right. Two-time P.U.P. Area Representative Kareem Musa went up against two UDP candidates, Andrew Bradley and Tyrone Louriano. Bradley ran under the Tracy Panton UDP.

Andrew Bradley, U.D.P Candidate, Caribbean Shores

“Machinery the work hard today. We the up form like three in the morning to make sure we are prepared and everything is organized so that when the polls open up six o’clock all our machinery hit the ground running. I am still campaigning. I actually just left a lady house to convince her to vote. When I win I wont call it a victory, it is a win for Caribbean Shores because they will get an area representative that works for them.”

Louriano ran under the Moses “Shyne” Barrow U.D.P.

Tyrone Louriano, U.D.P Candidate, Caribbean Shores

“I believe what is happening here for this unique election is that it is going to allow our Belizean voters throughout the entire country to now be able to look at candidate as opposed to party color and affiliation. You want to be able to elect the best person for the job, whether they are wearing a blue, a red, a yellow, a green.”

Caribbean Shores had a fifty-seven percent voter turnout by the end of the day. Out of the two thousand, five hundred and five voters who cast their ballots, two thousand, twenty-five voted for the incumbent, Kareem Musa. Bradley received three hundred and twenty votes, and Lauriano got one hundred and nine. This marks Musa’s third consecutive victory in the constituency. We caught up with him early in the day.

Paul Lopez

“There is this narrative that here in Caribbean Shores it is a foregone conclusion.”

Kareem Musa, Area Representative, Caribbean Shores

“Never count your chickens, and by the way my name is David. I always go into each election very humbled. I treat each election, each opponent as they are the best opponent and we have to grind from six a.m. to six p.m. and at the end of the day we will do the counting.”

Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez

In Belize Rural North, a son is following in his father’s footsteps. P.U.P. candidate Marconi Leal Junior clinched a landslide victory in the 2025 General Elections, taking over the post from his father, Marconi Leal Senior. Facing off against two other candidates, Leal Junior emerged triumphant. Now, let’s hear more from News Five’s Britney Gordon.

Britney Gordon, Reporting

Following a landslide victory for the People’s United Party, Marconi Leal Jr. is now the area representative for Belize Rural North. This win is one of the twenty-six seats secured by the P.U.P. in the 2025 General Elections. Although Leal Jr. was new to the race, he assured voters at the start of the day that he was no stranger to them.

Marconi Leal Jr., Area Representative, Belize Rural North

“I’ve been working with my dad over the past four years and I’ve been the PUP chairman of the executive. So I’ve been working with him and definitely across the constituency. So I’m well known across the constituency.”

Sabreena Daly

“Talk to me about the work that was involved, not only as a standard bearer after nomination, but prior to that. Are the people familiar with who you are?”

Marconi Leal

“They’ve been familiar because I’ve been involved in all the project. I’ve supported all the village councils. I’ve been involved with all the sporting events, all the tournaments that we have, all the projects that we do, the land distribution that we’ve been doing. So, definitely well known.”

Belize Rural North covers twenty-five villages and has over five thousand registered voters. Delphin Henderson, a resident of Burrell Boom, shared that he came out to vote with the hope of finally seeing the changes the constituency has needed for years.

Delphin Henderson, Voter, Belize Rural Central

“People who have land, they need to cut their land so that Burrell Boom have a beautiful place to live in. Now, Burrell Boom is one of twenty-five villages that are a part of the Belize Rural North constituency. Based on the entire time that you have been living here in Burrell Boom, all your life as you mentioned, have some of these changes that you have hoped for come to fruition? Or, what’s the state of Burrell Boom? Has it been one of those villages that has been left out? Yes, it’s been left out. Because I noh see nothing the both parties doing so that kids need to have a beautiful park. I don’t see no one like that.”

Leal faced off against United Democratic Party candidate Eustace Shaw and Belize Justice Movement candidate Andrew Reynolds. Leal had the advantage of a strong support system, thanks to his father, former area representative Marconi Leal Sr. After stepping down from the race earlier this year, Leal Sr. has been fully backing his son’s campaign.

Marconi Leal Sr., Former Area Representative, Belize Rural North

“Today is one of the easiest election ever in Belize, rural north. It is so easy. I’m amazed and I believe it’s because of the work we have put in over the last four years plus months We are a family that work and my son was always the chairman of the executive and he was always pushing me and we together with my other boys and my wife, we have done a lot of work in Belize Rural North. I know you are from Burrell Boom and you’ve seen some of the work we have done on the community grounds we have paved some roads there in Burrell Boom also, cemented almost a mile. So we have done a lot of work in Belize Rural North.”

As expected in such a large constituency, the vote counting stretched late into the night. After tallying three thousand, two hundred and fifty-two ballots, Marconi Leal Jr. was declared the winner, securing a landslide victory over his opponents.

Returning Officer, Belize Rural North

“For the candidate Mr. Marconi, Jr. vote two thousand eight hundred and ninety-eight  for Mr. Reynolds, Andrew Truth, fifty-six,  for Mr. Shae Eustace, Big C,  two hundred and ninety-eight, a total number of votes, three thousand three hundred and fifty-two we have rejected ballots, sixty-three, objected zero.  I thereby declare that the duly elected candidate for Belize Rural North is no other than Mr. Leal Marconi  Devane Leal.”

Britney Gordon for News Five.

Belize Rural Central is still proudly blue after Dolores Balderamos-Garcia clinched the victory in the 2025 General Elections. On Wednesday, it was a showdown between five candidates vying to be the next area representative, but in the end, it was P.U.P.’s Dolores Balderamos-Garcia who emerged triumphant. Now, let’s hear from News Five’s Britney Gordon with the full recap.

Britney Gordon, Reporting

Wednesday saw five candidates battling it out at the polls in Belize Rural Central, all aiming to become the next area representative. Despite the different choices, the usual election day buzz was missing, with fewer voters showing up than expected. UDP candidate David Almendarez pointed to voter dissatisfaction from past years as the reason for the low turnout.

David Almendarez, U.D.P. Candidate, Belize Rural Central

“ We’re not going to buy a vote. We’re noh wa beg, we ask for honest change, good change. So if David, by some, miracle of the stars I win, that will be genuine, organic votes. We ask the voters to turn up early, voice your opinion. A lot of the voters in the Belize Rural Central are very disgruntled about the overall scenarios.”

Just as Almendarez predicted, the morning saw a low voter turnout. Beverly Williams, the U.D.P. candidate on Tracy Taegar-Panton’s team, was out and about, rallying her supporters throughout the day. Williams was determined to make a comeback after losing the seat to Dolores Balderamos-Garcia in the 2020 General Elections.

Beverly Williams, U.D.P. Candidate, Belize Rural Central

“We’re here because we think we belong here. I’m feeling good. The response on the ground, the campaign was good. And so we are very encouraged by what we heard on the ground. And as I said, a steady flow and hopefully people will be out.”

Williams was further motivated by the steady stream of support she received from members of the constituency.

Beverly Williams

“I’m getting thumbs up as they pass in their vehicles, so that’s the feedback I’m getting this morning. As they pass by, as they pass on the other side of the road, I’m getting the thumbs up. So those people that spoke to me, the vibes, they’re coming out to vote.”

Joining the race were Aaron Wilson from the Belize Justice Movement and Estevan Perera from the People’s Democratic Movement. Wilson shared why he was feeling calm and confident about the results.

Aaron Wilson, B.J.M. Candidate, Belize Rural Central

“From the start, I never really follow up the crowd or monitor the movement. I just want the results. That is the reason I joined. Because my people encourage me to do it. The people who I work with in the community. And I just want to show them that I’m brave enough to do what they want me to do. So, I just wait for the results and happy whatever the outcome.”

Although the turnout seemed sparse throughout the day, over half of the constituency’s seven thousand, eight hundred and thirty-two voters made it to the polls. Many of those votes went to PUP candidate Dolores Balderamos-Garcia, securing her victory.

Karen Jones, Returning Officer, Belize Rural Central

“Total number of votes counted for Dolores Garcia Balderamos is two thousand eight hundred and ninety-five. Total number of votes counted for Beverly “Ms. Bev” Williams is one thousand three hundred and seventy-seven votes. Total number of votes counted for David Almendarez is one hundred and forty-two votes. Total number of votes counted for Estevan Alejandro Pereira is forty-nine votes, and the total number of votes casted for Aaron Bonny T. Wilson is thirty-four  votes.  Total number of votes rejected, one hundred seventy-two, with one rejected, objected ballot.  I hereby declare that the duly elected candidate for the Belize Rural Central Division is Ms. Dolores Garcia-Balderamos.”

Before the official announcement, Balderamos-Garcia showed up to greet her supporters and express her gratitude for their votes. She emphasized that the hard work isn’t over yet—she and her team are committed to continuing their service to the people of Belize Rural Central for another five years.

Dolores, Balderamos-Garcia, Area Representative, Belize Rural Central

“I have to feel good. My people feel good.”

Reporter

”You came out after all, did you expect this today?”

Dolores Balderamos-Garcia

“We were working hard, but I am always cautiously optimistic. As I told you earlier today, and I apologize. I don’t give interviews on voting day, but now that the voting is over and the people have spoken, not me, we can celebrate.”

Britney Gordon for News Five.