And Today Is Election Day…In Belize

March 4, 2009 at 5:50 am
No, not our chance to remove the One Eyed Son Of The Manse.

164 candidates eyeing up 67 seats. Six independents and random politicians representing six different parties.

In the last elections, held March 1, 2006, the ruling United Democratic Party (UDP) won 64 of the 67 seats, whereas the Opposition PUP (People’s United Party) won only three seats – the Mayor’s job in Punta Gorda, and local seats in the municipalities of Punta Gorda and Benque. Members of the Opposition have been accused of outright corruption and fraud so it should be a catfight at the polls.

The local rag leads with the story and the name of every single candidate (probably needed by law over there) so pick your candidate of choice. Opt for the incumbent Mayor 0f Belize City, Zenaida Moya of the United Democratic Party (Belize City’s first female mayor, seeking re-election for a second term) who would make for a decent hand at Scrabble on a triple word score, or Dr. Cecil “Chubby” Reneau for the People’s United Party who has the decent nickname.

TheEye keenly awaits the progress of other odd nicknames – Marvin “Marvelous” Ottley, Anthony “Hammer” Gabriel and Raul “Splash” Alcoser are particular favourites although Deborah “Debbie” Spain Graniel really needs to try harder.

Elections and Boundaries Department say that there are nearly 90,000 electors registered to vote – a third of them in Belize City. The polls open at 7:00 a.m. and close 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday so just as with Obama’s phantom voters in the key swing States…vote early and vote often.