The recent talk of recall elections, has gotten most everyone in a political mood - but there's no recall, not yet, at least and to fill our political fix, we at least have conventions. The PUP started its convention cycle on Sunday in Belmopan and 7News was there. Daniel Ortiz reports:...
Daniel Ortiz reporting
For the entire day yesterday, the People's United Party held an open convention for the Belmopan Constituency.
Almost 2,000 voters came out to choose who their next PUP standard bearer would be, a big statement for the 4 aspirants, Ruth Meighan, Patrick Andrews, Oscar Mira, and Dr. Amin Hegar, who had all been campaigning for months:
Hon. Julius Espat - Deputy Leader, PUP
"A great moment for the People's United Party, up to 2pm our numbers are showing at least 1,200 voters - that's an incredible amount of people coming out in Belmopan for the People's United Party. It has never been seen like that for a long time. Whichever candidate emerges as the winner the People's United Party is showing that the people are ready for a change."
Those supporters and ground commanders mobilizing Belmopan were activated for over 10 hours, trying get their aspirant chosen.
All 4 candidates felt confident of their chances:
Oscar Mira - PUP Aspirant, Belmopan
"We know that we are going to win. We know that Oscar Mira will be the next PUP standard bearer and we are very much energized."
Ruth Meighan - PUP Aspirant, Belmopan
"We have a list, we are going down our list and we are taking out the people area by area from Riviera, Salvapan, San Martin, Las
Flores and central - they are all calling us and saying please send us a vehicle to pick them up. That's what we are doing; we have our people that are picking up and our people on the ground. When they reach here they see the vibrant crowd and we show them the ballots."
Dr. Amin Hegar - PUP Aspirant, Belmopan
"The people know me, I am an experience man, I've been here before and I am here. The people knows that I am a person with experience, have knowledge and the only one that presented plans for Belmopan."
Patrick Andrews - PUP Aspirant, Belmopan
"I think we must understand that the people of Belmopan have long understood that we lack true representation, so from the onset when I had declared my candidacy we had the caliber pf people that came together - have been people with tremendous experience. We had an excellent machinery; we have people of competent and we've been working the ground for the last 3 months meeting with people doing community meetings."
While observing the convention, there were persistent reports that UDP operators may have been working to get the weakest candidate elected - so that incumbent John Saldivar would have it easier in the next general elections.
Patrick Andrews - PUP Aspirant, Belmopan
"It's not only an idea and concern. We actually had UDP people in red shirts on the ground particularly in Las Flores that could be verified walking asking the UDP to go out and vote for the weakest candidate. That's no rumors, there are people that could tell you and
people have come and told us that that is the case. Yes, that was a concern, but at the same time we also hope that there would have been a greater turned out from people, but we will see how it plays out, but yes it was a valid concern."
Oscar Mira - PUP Aspirant, Belmopan
"I am not worrying about that. I am getting out my people, my people will come out and vote for Oscar Mira and at the end of the day they will make sure that Oscar Mira gets a win."
Ruth Meighan - PUP Aspirant, Belmopan
"I am a member of the People's United Party from 1997 and I have my ID. I can show you that if you like on another day. I am a full PUP and like what I've said the people are disgusted with what is going on with this government - nothing is going on in Belmopan and I am telling them welcome to the PUP."
Hon. Julius Espat - Deputy Leader, PUP
"We can't be closed door and even though the UDP might be trying that we have to be open door. If we are to form government we have to embrace everybody and so yes we hear it but we will deal with it."
3 hours after the polls were closed, the Party Chairman emerged to announce the results that Patrick Andrews won:
Henry Usher - Party Chairman, PUP
"Miss. Ruth Supal - 245 votes, Mr. Oscar Mira - 292 votes, Dr. Amin Hegar - 652 votes and the new candidate for Belmopan Patrick Jason Andrews - 788 votes."
Patrick Andrews - PUP Aspirant, Belmopan
"The people of this country have labored and deserves better."
In the last PUP convention in that division in 2011, 1825 persons voted and Amin Hegar won by close to 266 votes -and then went on to lose to the UDP's John Saldivar in the 2012 general election by 217 votes.
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