Will the Prime Minister Call Elections in Early 2025?

Often referred to as the forgotten district, the needs of residents in the Toledo District are many. There have been cries for improved road infrastructure, greater access to healthcare facilities and educational institutions, job creation and more. Doctor Osmond Martinez must hit the ground running, especially given the fact that he only has a short time before his name is once again on the ballot. It can be as early as the first quarter of 2025. News Five’s Paul Lopez tells us more.

 

Paul Lopez, Reporting

At the opening of the polls on Wednesday morning, Doctor Osmond Martinez marched through the streets of Bella Vista Village with a crowd of his supporters all wearing blue. He made an early statement to his opponents. Now that he has been victorious in the by-election, Martinez has his work cut out in Toledo East.

 

Serwin Pou, Toledo East Resident 

“We have been abandoned for so long and I think Dr. Osmond Is the right person we should give the opportunity to prove that there Is still people with good heart who want to take us out of poverty.”

 

 

 

 

 

Xavier Cruz, Toledo East Resident 

“The problem we have in Bella Vista is land. We need our leaders, whether P.U.P. or U.D.P. to help us get tittle to our land. I have worked for fifteen years with U.D.P. and I did not get a lease or title. I did not receive a single land document.”

 

 

 

 

Toledo East Resident

“The main problem here in Bella Vista is land issue. We need an auditorium here in Bella Vista Village. We need a school because the school is too small.  We need a football field, the field to get fixed.”

 

High on Doctor Osmond Martinez’s list of priorities for Toledo East is job creation.

 

 

 

Dr. Osmond Martinez, Newly-Elected Area Rep.

“First and foremost we need to generate jobs. Our P.M. has said it over and over, that the best social protection program is to create jobs and as an economist I believe that the most sustainable way to sustain an economy that can grow in a healthy way is by creating jobs. Therefore, we are working with a call center already that has started a pilot with ten agents. It is our hope that by December or late January of next year we will be hiring one thousand workers. Along with the Prime Minister when we were in South Korea we were working to get the financing to get the Punta Gorda Hospital. That is also in the pipeline. Nonetheless we have to prioritize. We won’t be able to solve all the problems at once, but more important we won’t stop. We will work until we get the job done.”

 

Reporter

“You replaced Mr. Espat, a Minister of State. Have you been promised a position like that?”

 

Dr. Osmond Martinez 

“The only promise I have is to represent the people.”

 

 

 

As former C.E.O. in the Ministry of Economic Development, Martinez is no stranger to governance and administration at an executive level. But it is a question perhaps better suited for the prime minister who appoints government ministers. He gave this response when asked if Martinez will be receiving a seat in Cabinet.

 

Prime Minister John Briceño 

“I think first we have to get him to the National Assembly, get him. It is something we have to look at. I have not thought about it as yet but we certainly need the talent of Osmond Martinez. He has been working as the CEO for the Ministry of Economic Development. It shows the depth of the party, that we have a lot of people with talent and experience and ability and Osmond Martinez represents that.”

 

 

 

 

Another question looming on the minds of everyone is whether Prime Minister John Briceño will call an early election. Martinez has at least a year before he is once again on the ballot requesting the support of  Toledo East voters. He may have until March 2025 to prepare.

 

Reporter

“It would be a third time you are running, do you have that drive?”

 

Dr. Osmond Martinez

“I will go in the Guiness Book.”

 

Prime Minister John Briceño 

“We will not have elections in 2024.”

 

Paul Lopez

“Are we looking at March 2025?”

 

 

 

Prime Minister John Briceño 

“2025 we have from January to November? We actually have until 2026. I can tell you there won’t be a general election in 2024. If we wanted to be just cold and calculated about just getting reelected, we could call an election right now and Mr. Barrow has hardly any support in the party. The influentials are not supporting him. The leadership of his party is not supporting him. So, there is no reason why we should not. But the most important thing is that we were elected to serve the people.”

 

Reporting for News Five I am Paul Lopez.