Belizean legislative election, 2003

Belizean legislative election, 2003

A legislative election was held in Belize on 5 March 2003. Belizeans elected 29 members to the House of Representatives for a term of five years.

The ruling People's United Party (PUP) won the largest share (22) of seats in the election.

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.

Dissolving the House

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, 2003 [http://www.channel5belize.com/archive_detail_story.php?story_id=9842 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=10005 Governor General dissolves House] , as requested by Mr. Musa.

PUP preparations

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.

UDP preparations

The United Democratic Party's selection process was rife with controversy. In May 2002, Pickstock standard bearer and musician Kenny Morgan was removed [http://www.channel5belize.com/archive_detail_story.php?story_id=8882 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. [ [http://www.channel5belize.com/archive_detail_story.php?story_id=8401 Channel5Belize.COM ] ]

Independent/third party preparations

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.

Election supervision

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.

Media coverage

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=2003-01-13#a10 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.

Campaigning

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=2003-02-17#a1 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=9710 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=2003-02-17#a3 Independents have their say]

Election day and aftermath

Election day began at 5:00 AM in the morning 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 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.

Election results

Detailed General election results by constituency

References


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Belizean legislative election, 2008 — A legislative election was held in the nation of Belize on February 7, 2008. Beginning with this election, Belizeans elected to the House of Representatives 31 members instead of 29. In what was considered an upset, the opposition United… …   Wikipedia

  • Belizean municipal elections, 2003 — Belize municipal elections, 2003 were a series of municipal elections held on March 5, 2003 to elect City and Town Councils in the Cities of Belize and Belmopan and the towns of Corozal, Orange Walk, San Pedro, San Ignacio/Santa Elena, Dangriga… …   Wikipedia

  • List of Belize-related topics — * Coat of arms of Belize * Demographics of Belize * Flag of Belize * Foreign relations of Belize * Great Blue Hole * Sarstoon River * The Scout Association of BelizeBuildings and structuresArchaeological sitesMaya sites* Maya ruins of Belize *… …   Wikipedia

  • United Democratic Party (Belize) — The United Democratic Party is one of Belize s two major political parties, and the current governing party. After ten years in opposition, the UDP won the February 2008 election with 25 out of 31 seats. [… …   Wikipedia

  • Antigua and Barbuda — Antigua and Barbuda …   Wikipedia

  • Belize — Belizean /beuh lee zee euhn/, adj., n. /beuh leez /, n. 1. Formerly, British Honduras. a parliamentary democracy in N Central America: a former British crown colony; gained independence 1981. 224,663; 8867 sq. mi. (22,966 sq. km). Cap.: Belmopan …   Universalium

  • History of Belize — The history of Belize dates back thousands of years. The Maya civilization spread into the area of Belize between 1500 BC and AD 300 and flourished until about AD 1200. Several major archeological sites notably Caracol, Lamanai, Lubaantun, Altun… …   Wikipedia

  • People's United Party — The People s United Party is one of two major political parties in Belize, and currently the main opposition party. It is a Christian Democratic party; the current Party Leader is John Briceño.The PUP governed Belize from independence in 1981 to… …   Wikipedia

  • Guatemala — Guatemalan, adj., n. /gwah teuh mah leuh/; Sp. /gwah te mah lah/, n. 1. a republic in N Central America. 11,558,407; 42,042 sq. mi. (108,889 sq. km). 2. Also called Guatemala City. a city in and the capital of this republic. 917,322. * * *… …   Universalium

  • Monarchy of Belize — This article is about the monarchy of Belize. For information on the other countries which share the same monarchy, see Commonwealth realm. Queen of Belize Monarchy …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”