2003 Belizean general election

none September 2022 Belize parliamentary 1998 Belizean general election 1998 2008 Belizean general election 2008 All 29 seats in the House of Representatives 15 5 March 2003 126,202 79.55% ( 10.58pp) Said Musa 2007.jpg Said Musa People's United Party Fort George 53,314 53.54% 6.13 pp 59.67%, 26 seats 22 4 Belizean Prime Minister, Dean Barrow in London, 27 June 2013 (cropped).jpg Dean Barrow United Democratic Party (Belize) Queen's Square 44,996 45.19% 5.78 pp 39.41%, 3 seats 7 4 Prime Minister Said Musa People's United Party Said Musa People's United Party Belize_general_election_2003_-_Results_by_Constituency.svg Popular vote by constituency. As Belize uses the FPTP electoral system, seat totals are not determined by popular vote, but instead via results by each constituency General elections were held in Belize on 5 March 2003. Belizeans elected 29 members to the House of Representatives for a term of five years. The result was a victory for the ruling People's United Party (PUP), which won 22 of the 29 seats. Background The PUP were seeking a second consecutive term in office after recording significant development in the economy from 1998 to 2003. Their opponents, the UDP, sought to replace them in office because of charges of corruption and mismanagement of public funds. Previous to this election, the parties had alternated their time in office since independence. As an aside, municipal elections had originally been called for this date, creating a situation of triple elections in one day, a first for the Caribbean region according to Myrtle Palacio of the EBD. As a postscript, Cayo South winner Agripino Cawich Sr. died of illness in August 2003. UDP candidate John Saldivar, who had lost to Cawich in March, won the subsequent by-election over son Joaquin Cawich in October. This general election was also the first in Belizean history in which former Prime Minister George Cadle Price was not a candidate. Price, who stood down from the Pickstock constituency, had contested every prior general election since 1954, winning each time except 1984.Elections Results https://web.archive.org/web/20141129041831/http://www.elections.gov.bz/modules/wfdownloads/viewcat.php?cid=2 2014-11-29 , Belize Elections and Boundaries Commission. (accessed 19 November 2014) After what Prime Minister Said Musa called a "drawn-out" campaign that he said affected the country's ability to function, Musa called a house meeting on January 24, 2003http://www.channel5belize.com/archive_detail_story.php?story_id%3D9842 Channel5Belize.COM 2007-06-15 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20070929125301/http://www.channel5belize.com/archive_detail_story.php?story_id=9842 2007-09-29 It's official and formally announced that he had asked Governor General Sir Colville Young to dissolve the National Assembly of Belize by February 4, decree nomination of candidates for elections on February 17, and call elections on March 5. Elections were called early; they had not been constitutionally due until at least November 2003. The Opposition UDP, led by attorney Dean Barrow and eager to recover from the disastrous 1998 campaign, declared themselves ready to battle. Governor General Young officially issued the proclamation dissolving the House on February 4,http://www.channel5belize.com/archive_detail_story.php?story_id%3D10005 Channel5Belize.COM 2007-06-15 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20070927010819/http://www.channel5belize.com/archive_detail_story.php?story_id=10005 2007-09-27 Governor General dissolves House as requested by Mr. Musa. Campaign The People's United Party had nominated candidates through much of 2001 and 2002. Among the more hotly contested races was Pickstock, where Attorney General and Senator Godfrey Smith defeated Bobby Usher of the PUP old guard. A number of other sitting members declared that they would not run again, including Jorge Espat in Freetown (relieved by Francis Fonseca) and Henry Canton in Stann Creek West (replaced by Rodwell Ferguson). The PUP prepared a visually oriented campaign, stressing their accomplishments in office as the governing party and citing weak links in the UDP armor. The United Democratic Party's selection process was rife with controversy. In May 2002, Pickstock standard bearer and musician Kenny Morgan was removedhttp://www.channel5belize.com/archive_detail_story.php?story_id%3D8882 Channel5Belize.COM 2007-06-15 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20070927010905/http://www.channel5belize.com/archive_detail_story.php?story_id=8882 2007-09-27 UDP replace Morgan in Pickstock (he would eventually be replaced by Diane Haylock). Attorney Wilfred Elrington contested Pickstock independently after running into party officials over Haylock's appointment; brother Hubert, who had already left the party, likewise contested independently in Lake Independence against the sitting Cordel Hyde. Another bone of contention was Albert, where the UDP selected Marilyn Williams over Sydney Fuller. Fuller ran independently but Williams was herself the subject of investigation over allegations that she was a U.S. citizen and therefore ineligible to participate in the elections. Representatives in Lake Independence and Belize Rural Central were also replaced.Channel5Belize.COM https://web.archive.org/web/20070929125140/http://www.channel5belize.com/archive_detail_story.php?story_id=8401 September 29, 2007 This was the first election for the We the People Reform Movement, which put up candidates in Corozal, Orange Walk and Belize District. Independents appeared in all six districts. The election was tagged as featuring the highest number of independent candidates ever, including former UDP candidate Wilfred Elrington in Pickstock. Elrington finished second to winner Godfrey Smith but doubled up UDP choice Diane Haylock. The 2003 general election can be considered one of the most glitzy and packaged. The PUP ran a mostly upbeat campaign, focusing on celebrating the works achieved in its five years in office. The campaign was highlighted by the release of a CD of political campaign songs written by prominent Belizeans, particularly "Welcome to the Party" by Supa G. "Party" saw three translations and numerous airings over the course of two months of campaigning, invariably accompanied by PUP officials smiling and making contact with their constituents.http://www.channel5belize.com/archive_news_cast.php?news_date%3D2003-02-17#a1 Channel5Belize.COM 2007-06-15 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20070929125323/http://www.channel5belize.com/archive_news_cast.php?news_date=2003-02-17 2007-09-29 PUP confident of victory The UDP chose substance over style in a realist campaign. Their commercials and statements attacked what they saw as latent corruption in the PUP's governing of the country. In February a broadside of scandals rocked the retiring administration, in sectors as varied as transport and education, and the UDP pushed every single one as an indication of the things the UDP would not tolerate if elected.http://www.channel5belize.com/archive_detail_story.php?story_id%3D9710 Channel5Belize.COM 2007-06-15 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20070929124913/http://www.channel5belize.com/archive_detail_story.php?story_id=9710 2007-09-29 UDP focused and ready We The People and other independent candidates stressed their belief that the system needed to change and that overall life needed to be improved for all Belizeans. The independents were not as heavily represented on the media but saw their opportunities as they came.http://www.channel5belize.com/archive_news_cast.php?news_date%3D2003-02-17#a3 Channel5Belize.COM 2007-06-15 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20070929125323/http://www.channel5belize.com/archive_news_cast.php?news_date=2003-02-17 2007-09-29 Independents have their say Conduct The elections were supervised by the Elections and Boundaries Department, headed by Chief Elections Officer Myrtle Palacio and her four person administrative staff. In preparation for the possibility of general elections and the certainty of municipal elections, the EBD had cleaned out their electoral rolls following the 1998 re-registration exercise, sought to boost voter confidence through the media, and trained fellow civil servants across the country to prepare for the rigorous test of conducting three separate elections in one day. The EBD commanded 1,432 election workers, 567 municipal, 865 general. The workers were divided according to post: returning officer (in charge of the station and vote), election clerks and assistants, presiding officers (at each polling area), poll clerks and assistants, and counting clerks. Statutory Instruments Nos. 14 and 43 of 2003 respectively guaranteed voters the right to register up to February 10, 2003 in lieu of nomination day and allowed for more counting agents assigned to the general elections. On election day itself, despite the usual early headaches, voting went smoothly. Palacio noted in her end of year report that no petitions for recounts were presented for any election. Nevertheless, The Guardian newspaper of March 16 saw an article written by then member of the Elections and Boundaries Commission and editor Herbert Panton, which criticized the electoral process. For more, see the Guardian article. A number of media houses joined forces to cover wire-to-wire the events of March 5. Great Belize Television (Channel 5) announced a partnership with RSV Media Center, headlined by LOVE FM, on January 13, 2003.http://www.channel5belize.com/archive_news_cast.php?news_date%3D2003-01-13#a10 Channel5Belize.COM 2007-06-27 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20070929125334/http://www.channel5belize.com/archive_news_cast.php?news_date=2003-01-13 2007-09-29 Channel 5, January 13: Five, Love join for full coverage Their coverage used the tagline "Decision 2003." Later on, Tropical Vision Limited Channel 7 teamed up with fledgling Krem Television and Radio. Their coverage was nicknamed "The Moment" and used "Lose Yourself" by Eminem as its theme song. Election day began at 5:00 am for workers and 7:00 AM for voters. Voters participated from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM; counting began at 8:00 PM. Palacio reported that Pickstock's result, a victory for Godfrey Smith, was the first official result to come in, at 10:00 PM. By 12:45 AM Thursday morning, the PUP had amassed the majority fifteen seats,http://www.channel5belize.com/archive_nc_results.php#a1 Channel5Belize.COM 2007-04-20 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20070427102712/http://www.channel5belize.com/archive_nc_results.php#a1 2007-04-27 Power to the PUP and by 1:10 AM could start celebrating as the CEO stamped the particulars. While the UDP had regained 6% of votes over the 1998 results, the PUP still beat them 53-45. Results File:Belize National Assembly 2003.svg People's United Party 53314 22 –4 United Democratic Party 44996 7 +4 Independents 1260 0 0 0 822 126202 Elections and Boundaries Department By constituency DivisionElectorateTurnout%CandidatePartyVotes%Albert2,2861,78978.1 Mark Espat People's United Party1,48282.8 Marilyn Williams United Democratic Party (Belize)25314.1 Sydney Fuller Independent543.0Rejected votes130.7Belize Rural Central4,5433,17369.8 Ralph Fonseca People's United Party2,11066.5 Colin Gillett United Democratic Party (Belize)1,06333.5Rejected votes00.0Belize Rural North3,3412,70781.0 Maxwell Samuels People's United Party1,44753.5 Felix Sutherland United Democratic Party (Belize)1,25146.2Rejected votes90.3Belize Rural South3,7122,99380.6 Manuel Heredia United Democratic Party (Belize)1,53951.4 Anna Patricia Arceo People's United Party1,43047.8Rejected votes240.8Caribbean Shores4,0233,02175.09 Jose Coye People's United Party1,59252.7 Oscar Ayuso United Democratic Party (Belize)1,42947.3Rejected votes240.8Cayo Central6,0224,84680.5 Mario Castellanos People's United Party2,43850.3 Rene Montero United Democratic Party (Belize)2,26046.6 Eduardo Juan Independent631.3 Ivan Roberts Independent260.5Rejected votes581.2Cayo North6,8425,67282.9 Ainslie Leslie People's United Party2,91751.4 Dean Williams United Democratic Party (Belize)2,70747.7Rejected votes490.9Cayo South8,3446,28775.4 Agripino Cawich People's United Party3,11149.5 John Saldivar United Democratic Party (Belize)3,08749.1Rejected votes801.3Cayo West4,6564,01886.3 Erwin Contreras United Democratic Party (Belize)2,18054.3 Kendall Mendez People's United Party1,80044.8Rejected votes30.9Collet2,848189266.4 Patrick Faber United Democratic Party (Belize)94850.1 Remijio Montejo People's United Party88947.0 Paul Jones Independent552.9Rejected votes00.0Corozal Bay5,2744,05876.9 Juan Vildo Marin People's United Party2,08951.5 Carlos Castillo United Democratic Party (Belize)1,82745.0 Roy Rodriguez Independent862.1Rejected votes561.4Corozal North5,2763,49166.2 Valdemar Castillo People's United Party1,71349.1 Nemencio Acosta United Democratic Party (Belize)1,70548.8 Felipe Tzul Independent561.6Rejected votes170.5Corozal South East4,7524,19488.3 Florencio Marin People's United Party2,15551.4 Servando Samos United Democratic Party (Belize)1,93046.0 Hipolito Bautista Independent621.5Rejected votes471.1Corozal South West3,8933,47389.2 Gabriel Martinez United Democratic Party (Belize)1,83552.8 Gregorio Garcia People's United Party1,59345.9 Lucilo Teck Independent200.6Rejected votes250.7Dangriga4,2542,91468.5 Sylvia Flores People's United Party1,52752.4 Russell Garcia United Democratic Party (Belize)129944.6 Ian Caliz Independent441.5Rejected votes441.5Fort George2,0671,54674.8 Said Musa People's United Party1,17376.6 Carlos Walker United Democratic Party (Belize)32020.9 Francis Gegg Independent382.5Rejected votes151.0Freetown2,5101,92576.7 Francis Fonseca People's United Party1,15460.0 Douglas Singh United Democratic Party (Belize)77140.0Rejected votes00.0Lake Independence6,1764,44772.0 Cordel Hyde People's United Party2,76462.2 Anthony Leslie United Democratic Party (Belize)1,49933.7 Patrick Rogers Independent962.5 Hubert Elrington Independent882.0Rejected votes611.4Mesopotamia2,1781,52269.9 Michael Finnegan United Democratic Party (Belize)1,02455.8 Phillip Brackett People's United Party95344.2Rejected votes80.5Orange Walk Central3,3962,78281.9 Johnny Briceno People's United Party1,71361.6 Miguel Urbina United Democratic Party (Belize)1,05037.7Rejected votes190.7Orange Walk East5,4864,59083.7 Dave Burgos People's United Party2,40052.3 Elodio Aragon United Democratic Party (Belize)2,14446.7Rejected votes461.0Orange Walk North5,0264,32486.0 Servulo Baeza People's United Party2,25652.2 Phillip De La Fuente United Democratic Party (Belize)2,04047.2Rejected votes280.6Orange Walk South5,2764,67588.6 Ismael Cal People's United Party2,65556.8 Julian Padron United Democratic Party (Belize)1,97142.2 Erwin Sanchez Independent370.8Rejected votes120.2Pickstock1,9871,61181.09 Godfrey Smith People's United Party89955.8 Wilfred Elrington Independent43927.3 Diane Haylock United Democratic Party (Belize)25215.6Rejected votes211.3Port Loyola5,7984,01469.2 Anthony Martinez United Democratic Party (Belize)2,38659.4 Dolores Balderamos-García People's United Party1,56538.9Rejected votes180.4Queen's Square2,6902,15680.2 Dean Barrow United Democratic Party (Belize)1,20355.8 Richard Bradley People's United Party95344.2Rejected votes170.8Stann Creek West5,7184,44577.7 Rodwell Ferguson People's United Party2,48655.9 Glenford Eiley United Democratic Party (Belize)1,89542.6 Michael Flores Independent300.7Rejected votes340.7Toledo East4,2693,32577.9 Michael Espat People's United Party1,75752.8 Eden Martinez United Democratic Party (Belize)1,56847.2Rejected votes391.1Toledo West4,9084,34988.6 Marcial Mes People's United Party2,36854.5 Dennis Usher United Democratic Party (Belize)1,94044.6 Leonardo Acal Independent210.5Rejected votes200.4 References Belize Belize General Category:General elections in Belize Belize