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Polling stations for today’s by-election closed at 6pm this evening. As of 5am, the Elections and Boundaries Department had registered 4,227 voters, equivalent to 54.72% of the total number of registered voters. Since polling stations opened at 7am this morning, all indications are that voters have been arriving throughout the day, with no long queues or waits. According to the Elections and Boundaries Department, the peak time for voting was between 3pm and 4pm this afternoon. However, the political parties are not worried. In fact, UDP chairman Michael Peyrefitte said this is normal in any election.
Punta Gorda Mayor Carlos “Obie” Galvez: “I must say, it’s a slow start. But, we are well organised, our machinery is working well and we will definitely win the premiership for PUP. Today is the Prime Minister’s birthday so I want to wish him a happy birthday, Prime Minister, we will deliver results for you and make sure Dr Osmon wins this election today.”
Dr. Osmond Martinez, the Toledo East PUP flag bearer: “There are some challenges because some people have to work and they come from other areas. But our machines are on and we will work till the last minute of the election, which is 6pm today.”
Michael Peyrefitte, UDP President: “Well, I mean, you have a plan for all elections. You target your turnout, you target your voters, you try to get your voters to vote, and I think that’s what we did. I don’t know all the numbers. It’s like this… coming from Belize City to a constituency like this, even though we’ve been here for a few months, it’s an adjustment that needs to be made. I mean from Barranco all the way to Monchi River. So as far as numbers go, we don’t know yet, but we target our numbers, and from what I’ve heard, our numbers are coming out, and let’s just hope that those numbers reflect the votes for the UDP.”
Exit poll results are somewhat difficult to obtain because many residents, while not shy about representing their chosen political stance, are reluctant to speak to the media.
Resident David Palma: “I’m here, trying to encourage everybody to come out and vote, you know. Because today is like a new beginning for our region, you know. We’ve been suffering for many years, and I’m not here to tell you which party you should vote for, but to come out and exercise your right. Everybody has the right to come out and exercise their right to choose the leader they want, you know.”
Toledo correspondent Paul Maghung: Now we come to the PG Methodist School polling station and your observation is this. How is the polling station? Empty?
Resident David Palma: “Well, it seems like people don’t want to come out. It’s empty. They should come out and exercise their rights. We have the right to build here because today, like I said, this is like a new beginning for our area. We’ve been with the same team for the last 20 years. It’s like, let’s try to make a change, make things different, you know? Revitalize our area. We need new ideas. We need people with vision.”
Resident George Grant: “I need to forget about my vote because the people that I chose, the people that I chose, I think that I believe will be good for Punta Gorda no matter what.”
There are 7,725 registered voters in Toledo’s East District.
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