Caribbean360: Belize elections underway

Belize elections underway
================================================================================
Chris Hoyos on 07/03/2012 09:21:00
 
BELMOPAN, Belize, Wednesday March 7, 2012 – A tight race is expected between
the incumbent United Democratic Party (UDP) and the People’s United Party
(PUP) in elections today (March 7) across Belize.
When polls opened this morning 178,054 voters were eligible to vote in general
elections for 74 PUP, UDP, VIP, Belize Unity Alliance and Independent candidates
in 31 constituencies at 320 polling stations; while for the municipal elections,
97,979 of those voters are eligible to vote for 170 candidates at 168 of those
polling stations.
The vote will occur in a so-called “double election” format, meaning voters
will first cast ballots in the general election and then in municipal elections
to choose their parliamentary representatives, then mayors and town and city
councilors.
These elections are the first in the country since 2008 when the Dean Barrow-led
UDP rested power from the PUP, which had governed the country from 1998 to 2008.
Now the Francis-Fonseca-led PUP is hoping for an upset and return to power but
polls are not leaning that way.
The major issues this election is the economy, which was projected to have grown
2.5 percent in 2011 by the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America.
Also on voters’ minds is the question of debt service on Belize’s US$546.8
million bond locally called the “superbond.” Statements made by Barrow in
February indicated that the country might be consider defaulting on the loan led
US rating agency Standard & Poor’s to downgrade the country’s credit.
Indications were that voters were still undecided in a majority of divisions as
to whom to send to the House of Representatives, but the UDP were narrowly
favoured following a poll conducted by businessman Derek Aikman.
This second poll by Aikman held on March 2 showed a clear lead for the UDP,
although more voters were willing to declare support for the opposition PUP in
this new poll.
A total of 8,847 voters, or 4.97% of the voting population, participated. From a
15-point gap in the first poll, the UDP’s percentage lead is down to just four
points, 30% to 26%, with 1% going to candidates of the Belize Unity Alliance
(BUA) in Belize Rural South and Belmopan. However, 43% of the electorate, in a
similar percentage to the previous poll, still say they have not decided for
whom to vote.
In the first poll released on February 17, Nomination Day, the UDP theoretically
held a majority of 16 seats, with the PUP holding just two and the thirteen
others in a statistical dead heat.
After Friday, the PUP hold nine seats: Orange Walk Central, which they had won
in the last poll; Fort George, Pickstock, Belize Rural South, Corozal Southeast,
Corozal Bay, Cayo North, Cayo West, and Orange Walk North.
The UDP are ahead in Queen’s Square, Port Loyola, Caribbean Shores,
Mesopotamia, Collet, Lake Independence, Corozal North, Belmopan, Cayo Northeast,
Cayo Central, and Orange Walk South.
The remaining 11 seats that hold the balance of power are Albert, Freetown,
Belize Rural North and Central, Dangriga and Stann Creek West, Toledo East and
West, Corozal Southwest, Cayo South and Orange Walk East.
The vote will be monitored by an Organization of American States team headed by
former US Ambassador to Honduras Frank Almaguer. The Organization of American
States Electoral Observation Mission (OAS/EOM) will maintain presence in all six
departments of Belize from the opening of the polls through the counting
process.
The OAS/EOM in Belize is represented by observers from Antigua and Barbuda,
Argentina, Barbados, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Guyana, Martinique, Mexico, the
United States and Venezuela.
Since its arrival in Belize on March 1, the OAS/EOM has conducted extensive
interviews with electoral authorities, government officials, political party
representatives, members of civil society and the media.  Click here to receive
free news bulletins via email from Caribbean360. (View sample)