Today March 7th, thousands of Belizeans are going to the polls to choose a new Municipal and Central government. Since 6AM this morning, the polls were open to allow for voting to start at 7AM. In San Pedro the election process started as planned.
Political Organs were in high gear even before 6AM. Banners, tents, flyers and billboards from the different political parties and candidates were installed to encourage electorates to give the various camps their support. Once the polls were opened at polling station 37 at the San Pedro High School, a large number of electorates were allowed to enter to start the electoral process. By the time voting started, a long line had already formed that extended outside of the school’s compound.
In the case of Polling Station 37, there are 6,289 registered voters who can cast their votes in both Municipal and General elections. Candidates for incumbent United Democratic Party (UDP) are as follows: Daniel “Danny” Guerrero – Mayoral Candidate; councillor candidates – Carlos Enrique Barrientos, Kenrick William Brackett, Severo Guerrero Jr., Gabriel “Gabby” Nunez, Yolanda Parham and Guillermo “Mito” Paz. For the People’s United Party (PUP) is Conchita Flota – Mayoral Candidate; councillor candidates are David Aguilar, Marina Graniel Kay, Gualberto “Wally” Nunez, Raymond “Mundo” Nunez, Viana “Vianie” Perez and Maribel “Mar” Vasquez. Independent candidates are Melanie “Mel” Paz as Mayoral candidate and councillor candidates that are not affiliated with Paz are Francisco Bernabe Badillo and Hilberto Graviel Sanchez.
Belize Rural South (BRS) is making history as it is the only constituency that has four candidates contesting the BRS constituency elections. The candidates are as follows Anna Patricia Arceo (PUP), William “Mike” Campbell (Independent), Jose “Manuel” Heredia Jr. (UDP) and Robert “Bobby” Lopez (VIP). There is a total of 7,100 registered voters in BRS which is divided into three polling area. Polling Area 37 is San Pedro High school for voters registered on Ambergris Caye, Polling station 34 for voters registered on Caye Caulker and polling area 38 for voters in other cayes in the Belize District. Electors for polling station 34 and 38, which total 811, vote at the Caye Caulker Roman Catholic School.
Voters are encouraged to bring along their voter’s identification card (ID) or any other form of picture identification to make the voting process easier.