Belizean legislative election, 2008
Encyclopedia
A legislative election was held in the nation of Belize
Belize
Belize is a constitutional monarchy and the northernmost country in Central America. Belize has a diverse society, comprising many cultures and languages. Even though Kriol and Spanish are spoken among the population, Belize is the only country in Central America where English is the official...

 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 Democratic Party
United Democratic Party (Belize)
The United Democratic Party is one of the two major political parties in Belize, and currently the ruling party, having won the 2008 general elections. A centre-right conservative party, it is currently led by Dean Barrow.-Founding:...

 (UDP) won the election with 25 out of 31 seats; the ruling People's United Party
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 Francis Fonseca....

 won six.

A national referendum had also been called to determine the views of Belizeans on an elected Senate.

Early predictions

The Society for the Promotion of Education and Research (SPEAR) released the results of an opinion poll conducted in conjunction with SJC's Belizean Studies Centre in October 2005. In an election 49% of voters would consider voting for a third party; between the current parties 34.5% said they would vote for the PUP and the rest for the UDP
United Democratic Party (Belize)
The United Democratic Party is one of the two major political parties in Belize, and currently the ruling party, having won the 2008 general elections. A centre-right conservative party, it is currently led by Dean Barrow.-Founding:...

.

As a followup, SPEAR conducted a second poll released on October 31, 2006 . When asked who they would vote for, 32% said UDP, 11.8% PUP and 22% a third party. Smaller numbers either said they would not vote at all or declined to say who they would vote for. The nation's largest newspaper, the Amandala
Amandala
Amandala is a Belizean tabloid newspaper; published twice weekly, it is considered the "most widely circulated newspaper in Belize." It was established on August 13, 1969 as the chief spreadsheet for the United Black Association for Development...

, headlined that more than half of Belizeans had rejected the PUP and UDP by either supporting a third party or declining to vote; this notion was soundly rejected by the UDP in particular and resulted in back and forth editorial responses in the Amandala and the UDP's Guardian
The Guardian (Belize)
The Guardian is a Belizean newspaper and the official print organ of the United Democratic Party.It is published on Thursdays and sells for BZ$1.00.- UDP newspaper history before Guardian :...

 in November, with the UDP charging that publisher Evan X Hyde
Evan X Hyde
Evan Anthony Hyde is a writer and journalist. He publishes and writes for the nation's largest newspaper, the Amandala, as well as oversee its subsidiaries, KREM Radio and Krem Television...

 was playing into the PUP's hands by supporting third parties openly instead of the UDP, and Amandala reiterating that its policy was of Belizeans First and that neither party had thoroughly considered the welfare of "roots" Belizeans since Independence.
In March 2007, the University of Belize
University of Belize
The University of Belize ' is an English-speaking multi-locational institute for higher education, and the National University of the Central American country of Belize...

 and Saint John's College Junior College's Belizean Studies Centre
St. John's College, Belize
St. John's College has four divisions of outstanding reputation, and a number of acclaimed central academic centres and activities. Through its four divisions, SJC offers a wide variety of subjects covered in any secondary and two-year postsecondary curricula, delivering huge flexibility and choice...

 conducted a one-weekend poll of 430 randomly selected persons seeking opinions on the 2008 elections. The poll was supervised by UB Registrar Dr. Roy Young and BSC's Yasmine Andrews. On the question of approval of party leaders, the UDP's Dean Barrow
Dean Barrow
Dean Oliver Barrow is Prime Minister of Belize and leader of the United Democratic Party. An attorney by trade, he served as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1993 to 1998 and was then Leader of the Opposition until the UDP won the February 2008 election...

 led all contestants with 55.7% approval; sitting Prime Minister Said Musa
Said Musa
Said Wilbert Musa is a Belizean lawyer and politician. He was the Prime Minister of Belize from August 28, 1998 to February 8, 2008.-Early life and education:Said Musa was born in San Ignacio, Cayo District, Belize...

 scored 14.9%, while independent leaders rated below that. Results by party were similar, with the UDP scoring 55.5%, the PUP 16% and independents scores ranging from 2 to 9%.

2007 Village council elections

Beginning in March 2007 and continuing through April 22, Belize's 193 villages held council elections on Sundays of every weekend except for Easter
Easter
Easter is the central feast in the Christian liturgical year. According to the Canonical gospels, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. His resurrection is celebrated on Easter Day or Easter Sunday...

. While the Village Council elections are supposed to be non-partisan, the major parties and independents considered them a litmus test for the general elections. From the very beginning, back and forth charges of inaccurate statistics and party favoritism have stained the elections, with both the blue and the red claiming victory in the majority of contested seats. Press releases from both parties claim victory. The results are detailed below.

Results of Village Council elections 2007
UDP PUP Independent
114 (own estimate) 103 (own estimate) 16 (PUP estimate)
74 (PUP estimate) 67 (UDP estimate) 9 (UDP estimate)

Dissolving the House

Prime Minister Said Musa
Said Musa
Said Wilbert Musa is a Belizean lawyer and politician. He was the Prime Minister of Belize from August 28, 1998 to February 8, 2008.-Early life and education:Said Musa was born in San Ignacio, Cayo District, Belize...

 twice had chances to dissolve the House of Representatives in session, on November 16, 2007 and December 19, 2007; both times he passed. However, Musa committed to calling elections before March 2008, the date when they were last held. With the announcement on Monday, January 7, 2008, the House was dissolved from that date. 93 candidates from six parties were nominated Monday, January 21, 2008 and elections were held on Thursday, February 7, 2008. The date chosen was one day behind Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday, in the calendar of Western Christianity, is the first day of Lent and occurs 46 days before Easter. It is a moveable fast, falling on a different date each year because it is dependent on the date of Easter...

, February 6; according to local media three elections have been called on an Ash Wednesday during Musa's term, of which he has won two.

People's United Party

Campaigning kicked off in earnest from as early as summer 2007. The ruling PUP have rolled out a number of programs designed to woo the electorate, including the promise of free textbooks for primary school students, improved infrastructure on the deep southside of Belize City and a planned rollout of a health insurance scheme in early 2008. Prime Minister Said Musa
Said Musa
Said Wilbert Musa is a Belizean lawyer and politician. He was the Prime Minister of Belize from August 28, 1998 to February 8, 2008.-Early life and education:Said Musa was born in San Ignacio, Cayo District, Belize...

 spent much of the early summer touring the South and West and continued his tour of the country in September and October. The PUP held a press conference on January 7, 2008 and announced pay increases for soldiers, teachers and public officers to take place after the general election. They released their manifesto "Believe in Belize-The BLUEprint" on January 22.

United Democratic Party

The United Democratic Party, for its part,concentrated on shoring up support in the districts and fighting fires in the various municipal governments they have controlled since March 2006. Party Leader Dean Barrow
Dean Barrow
Dean Oliver Barrow is Prime Minister of Belize and leader of the United Democratic Party. An attorney by trade, he served as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1993 to 1998 and was then Leader of the Opposition until the UDP won the February 2008 election...

 has likewise toured much of the country since June. Both parties' journalism machinery have dug up various scandals on either side. The Elections and Boundaries Department
Elections and Boundaries Department
The Belize Elections and Boundaries Department is the hands-on administrator of Belizean electoral politics. It was established in 1989 as a subordinate to the Elections and Boundaries Commission.-Mission statement:...

 have noted an increase in the number of voter transfers between divisions, usually done in July and August.

The UDP released its manifesto, "Imagine the possibilities: 2008-13", to a cheering crowd of supporters at its party headquarters in Belize City on January 16, 2008.

Third party announcements

Several third parties participated. Among them are established parties Vision Inspired by the People out of Belmopan
Belmopan
Belmopan , estimated population 20,000 is the capital city of Belize.Belmopan is located at , at an altitude of 76 metres above sea level. Belmopan was constructed just to the east of Belize River, inland from the former capital, the port of Belize City, after that city's near destruction by...

 and We the People Reform Movement from the North, Cornelius Dueck's National Reform Party and Wil Maheia's People's National Party
People's National Party (Belize)
The People's National Party of Belize is a young political movement headquartered in Punta Gorda, Toledo District, Belize, which declared candidacy for the 2008 general elections. It held its first meeting on Sunday, February 19, 2007 in San Antonio Village, Toledo District.The Party Leader is Wil...



Attempts by third parties to unify have largely proven unsuccessful. The Amandala
Amandala
Amandala is a Belizean tabloid newspaper; published twice weekly, it is considered the "most widely circulated newspaper in Belize." It was established on August 13, 1969 as the chief spreadsheet for the United Black Association for Development...

 of March 18, 2007 indicated that the PNP and WTP had formed an alliance (later named the National Belizean Alliance
National Belizean Alliance
The National Belizean Alliance is a group of third parties contesting the 2008 general elections in Belize.- Formation :The NBA was formed in October 2007 in Belize City between the We the People Reform Movement , People's National Party , and a group from Cayo called Christians Pursuing Reform...

 (NBA)) and were expected to announce their combined slate soon. The parties wrote joint letters to the Amandala in pre-election issues.

Each party separately nominated candidates: VIP nominated 11 candidates, as did the NRP, and the NBA nominated four.

In the Amandala
Amandala
Amandala is a Belizean tabloid newspaper; published twice weekly, it is considered the "most widely circulated newspaper in Belize." It was established on August 13, 1969 as the chief spreadsheet for the United Black Association for Development...

 of Sunday, March 11, former party the National Reality Truth Creation Party returned to the political scene with a full page ad endorsing one Ebony Babb for Queen's Square; the ad also extolled the Christian virtues of the party, led by musician Jorge Ernesto Babb. The ad appealed to all "natural Creole born Belizeans" to support the NRTCP in 2008. Subsequent announcements by the NRTCP in the Amandala include Babb himself as a candidate in Freetown.
In November 2007, the major parties confronted each other over an inflammatory political sign in Belize City; a number of individuals were either arrested or threatened with arrest, including Mayor Zenaida Moya
Zenaida Moya
Zenaida Victoria Moya is a former government official and the mayor of Belize City, Belize elected in elections held in March 2006. She is a member of the United Democratic Party . She is Belize City's first female mayor.-Childhood and education:...

. The incident drew the ire of third parties such as the NBA and VIP and led to the signing of a "gentleman's agreement between all major political parties at the request of the Police Department. Despite the signing of this agreement, reports of continued vandalism of signs and inflammatory television commercials continue to circulate.

Issues in the 2008 elections

  • Municipal governance: The People's United Party
    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 Francis Fonseca....

    , who were defeated in the 2006 municipal elections by the United Democratic Party, point to their spotty performance in governing the towns, particularly Belize City
    Belize City
    Belize City is the largest city in the Central American nation of Belize. Unofficial estimates place the population of Belize City at 70,000 or more. It is located at the mouth of the Belize River on the coast of the Caribbean. The city is the country's principal port and its financial and...

    , Orange Walk
    Orange walk
    Orange walks are a series of parades held annually by members of the Orange Order during the summer in Northern Ireland, to a lesser extent in Scotland, and occasionally in England, the Republic of Ireland, and throughout the Commonwealth...

     and San Ignacio; the UDP claim the PUP has been strangling their resources and falsifying the situation.

  • Political reform
    Reform
    Reform means to put or change into an improved form or condition; to amend or improve by change of color or removal of faults or abuses, beneficial change, more specifically, reversion to a pure original state, to repair, restore or to correct....

     and corruption
    Political corruption
    Political corruption is the use of legislated powers by government officials for illegitimate private gain. Misuse of government power for other purposes, such as repression of political opponents and general police brutality, is not considered political corruption. Neither are illegal acts by...

    : The minor parties have all come forward with strategies designed to prevent the large-scale official corruption they say has taken place under the outgoing administration. These include electing the Senate and empowering it with greater oversight over the House, limiting the term of the Prime Minister and the House, electing the Prime Minister directly instead of by appointment, introducing powers of impeachment
    Impeachment
    Impeachment is a formal process in which an official is accused of unlawful activity, the outcome of which, depending on the country, may include the removal of that official from office as well as other punishment....

     and recall
    Recall election
    A recall election is a procedure by which voters can remove an elected official from office through a direct vote before his or her term has ended...

    , and strengthening established institutions and officials to keep them independent of the political hierarchy, among others. Both major parties have adopted bits and pieces of these strategies, but the UDP is not fully convinced of the necessity of an elected Senate.
    • Note: On December 19, 2007, the ruling party issued in its last House meeting for the year a bill for a referendum on the introduction of an elected Senate. Despite the Opposition's pleas for the date to be extended in order to consider as many forms of the elected Senate as possible the resolution passed both the Senate and the House.
  • Administration performance: The UDP remains convinced that the ruling PUP have largely abandoned the promises that got them elected in 1998 and 2003, while the PUP point to a number of natural disasters and other emergencies that they say have prevented them from doing a better job. The PUP's view seems borne out by the passage of two hurricanes, Dean which caused 200 m in damages and Felix.

Media coverage

Both major television stations and all radio stations and newspapers report increased coverage of political stories in the runup to the upcoming elections.

Orange Walk
Orange walk
Orange walks are a series of parades held annually by members of the Orange Order during the summer in Northern Ireland, to a lesser extent in Scotland, and occasionally in England, the Republic of Ireland, and throughout the Commonwealth...

's Centaur Cable Television's Jorge Aldana was reportedly assaulted by opponents and appeared on 7 News claiming political interference. Both major parties have gone after the self proclaimed "independent" media houses such as Kremandala Ltd. (owner of Amandala
Amandala
Amandala is a Belizean tabloid newspaper; published twice weekly, it is considered the "most widely circulated newspaper in Belize." It was established on August 13, 1969 as the chief spreadsheet for the United Black Association for Development...

, Krem Radio and Krem Television
Krem Television
Krem Television is a Belizean television station established in 2004 and serving Belize City.Its manager is KREM Radio alumnus Evan "Mose" Hyde and it is part of KREMANDALA Ltd.- Establishment :...

), The Reporter
The Reporter
The Reporter is the local newspaper based in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin and owned by Gannett. It serves primarily Fond du Lac and northern Dodge County in East Central Wisconsin....

 and the defunct Independent
The Independent (Belize)
The Independent was a Belizean newspaper published weekly on Tuesdays and selling for $1.00.- Premise :According to News 5, the first issue of the Independent hit newsstands on November 28, 2006...

.

Channel 5 and LOVE FM have united for "Decision 2008" beginning at 6 AM Thursday, while Channel 7 and KREM FM have named their umbrella coverage "'08 NOW!"

Final list of candidates by party and constituency

This list represents the nominations received by the Elections and Boundaries Department on Nomination Day, January 21.Bold indicates incumbent.
Constituency PUP
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 Francis Fonseca....

UDP
United Democratic Party (Belize)
The United Democratic Party is one of the two major political parties in Belize, and currently the ruling party, having won the 2008 general elections. A centre-right conservative party, it is currently led by Dean Barrow.-Founding:...

VIP NRP NBA
National Belizean Alliance
The National Belizean Alliance is a group of third parties contesting the 2008 general elections in Belize.- Formation :The NBA was formed in October 2007 in Belize City between the We the People Reform Movement , People's National Party , and a group from Cayo called Christians Pursuing Reform...

Albert Mark Espat Tom Morrison
Belize Rural Central Ralph Fonseca
Ralph Fonseca
Ralph Henry Fonseca is a Belizean politician and a member of the People's United Party.- Political history :In 1984, he became a candidate for the House of Representatives in Queen's Square, running against attorney and city councillor Dean Barrow...

Michael Hutchinson Harrisford Myers
Belize Rural North Earl Perez Edmond Castro
Belize Rural South Merlene Spain Manuel Heredia Jr. Ernesto Caliz
Belmopan
Belmopan
Belmopan , estimated population 20,000 is the capital city of Belize.Belmopan is located at , at an altitude of 76 metres above sea level. Belmopan was constructed just to the east of Belize River, inland from the former capital, the port of Belize City, after that city's near destruction by...

Rolando Zetina John Saldivar Paul Morgan
Caribbean Shores Jose Coye
Jose Coye
Jose Coye is a Belizean politician and a member of the People's United Party . He trained as a Chartered Accountant and worked as a customs officer before going into politics....

Carlos Perdomo
Cayo Central Mario Castellaños Rene Montero Gilroy Requeña George Boiton Jr.
Cayo North Otto Coleman Salvador Fernandez Alden McDougal
Cayo Northeast Orlando Habet Elvin Penner Cornelius Dueck
Cayo South Charles Galvez Ramon Witz Hubert Enriquez Richard Smith
Cayo West Kendall Mendez Erwin Contreras Martha Hendricks
Collet Carolyn Trench-Sandiford Patrick Faber Patrick Rogers
Corozal Bay Juan Vildo Marin Pablo Marin
Corozal North Valdemar Castillo Nemencio Acosta
Corozal Southeast Florencio Marin Jr. Servando Samos
Corozal Southwest Gregorio Garcia Gabriel Martinez
Dangriga Cassian Nunez Arturo Roches Quentin Mejia Denton Castillo
Fort George Said Musa
Said Musa
Said Wilbert Musa is a Belizean lawyer and politician. He was the Prime Minister of Belize from August 28, 1998 to February 8, 2008.-Early life and education:Said Musa was born in San Ignacio, Cayo District, Belize...

Dr. George Gough
Freetown Francis Fonseca Michael Peyrefitte
Lake Independence Cordel Hyde Vanley Jenkins "Seagull" Joseph Martinez Gary Lambey
Mesopotamia Austin Waight Michael Finnegan
Orange Walk Central John Briceño
John Briceño
Juan Antonio Briceño, commonly known as "John" or "Johnny" , is a Belizean politician who has been the leader of the People's United Party , as well as the Leader of the Opposition, since 2008. Previously, he was Deputy Prime Minister from 1998 to 2007.-Political career of Briceno:Briceño was born...

Rosendo Urbina Alvaro Espejo
Orange Walk East Marco Tulio Mendez Marcel Cardona Pabel Torres
Orange Walk North Servulo Baeza Gaspar Vega Hilberto Nah
Orange Walk South Jose Mai Mark Pech Edwardo Melendez Salustiano Lizama
Pickstock Godfrey Smith Wilfred Elrington
Port Loyola Oscar Rosado Anthony Martinez Erwin X (Jones)
Queen's Square Anthony Sylvester Dean Barrow
Dean Barrow
Dean Oliver Barrow is Prime Minister of Belize and leader of the United Democratic Party. An attorney by trade, he served as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1993 to 1998 and was then Leader of the Opposition until the UDP won the February 2008 election...

Stann Creek West Rodwell Ferguson Melvin Hulse Mateo Polanco
Toledo East Mike Espat Eden Martinez Wil Maheia
Toledo West Marcial Mes Juan Coy Max Cho Fermin Choc Dionisio Chuc


Others:
  • National Reality Truth Creation Party:
    • Jorge E. Babb, Freetown
    • Ebony Babb, Queen's Square
  • Independents
    • Herman Lewis, Toledo East
    • Queen Miller, Belize Rural Central
    • Nazim Juan, Cayo Central

Max Samuels in Belize Rural North, Florencio Marin Senior in Corozal South East, Dave Burgos in Orange Walk East, Ismael Cal in Orange Walk South, Ainslie Leslie in Cayo North and Sylvia Flores in Dangriga are not seeking reelection. All represented the People's United Party in their constituencies.
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