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In Belize City, Nomination Day started with Yolanda Galvez-Shakron and her attorney Lisa Shoman learning officially that her nomination as the PUP standard bearer for the Lake Independence Division was objected to by the UDP and that the Returning Officer Mrs. Noreen Fairweather could not enter her name as a candidate.

By the end of Nomination Day however, another Galvez emerged as the PUP Candidate for Lake I, Shakron’s brother Martin Galvez. Yolanda Shakron, Belizean activist and PUP supporter, offered herself as a candidate for the PUP Lake Independence division after long time PUP representative Cordel Hyde resigned as the Party’s Standard Bearer. Shakron, whose candidacy was announced at a PUP Press Conference on Monday February 6^TH, immediately started her campaign in the Lake Independence Division.

Many Party insiders felt that Shakron was a strong candidate and with the support of the Lake I executive committee would win the division.  But shortly after Shakron started her work in Lake I it was revealed that in addition to being a Belizean, she also was a US Citizen.

Now section 58 of the constitution states (No person shall be qualified to be elected as a member of the House of Representatives who is, by virtue of his own act, under any acknowledgement of allegiance, obedience or adherence to a foreign power of State.

Upon this revelation Shakron started the process of renunciation of her US Citizenship; however she was unable to complete the process in time for nomination.

It was on the basis of Section 58 of the constitution that an objection was made to her candidature.

Shakron’s Attorney and PUP Communications Director Lisa Shoman, in addressing the matter, stated that Section 58 of the Constitution did not make any reference to a person being nominated as a candidate and as such Mrs. Shakron’s name should be entered into nomination.  She applied to the Court for Judicial Review however; her attempt to get Mrs. Shakron’s nomination accepted was unsuccessful.

A very disappointed Yolanda Shakron, in an emotional statement, said that even if she could not run that she will continue to work for her Party, the People’s United Party.

Yolanda Schakron - Lake I Candidacy Rejected 

"I want you to know that I'm not giving up. I see the suffering and the pain in Lake Independence. Dean Barrow, you are a cold man. I will tell you that to your face. You go to the States when you get married. I got married in Belize. I came back home. I am a Belizean. I love my country. It's not over yet. I will continue the fight because I see the pain and the suffering that you have put the Belizean people through for these 4 years. Dean Barrow, it's not over. You and the UDP will not conquer me. I want you know that the women of Belize are listening. It's not over Dean Barrow. I will continue the fight, even if I am not allowed to run for Lake I, I will continue the fight for the people of this country. And I will continue until you, Dean Barrow, and the United Democratic Party are out of power. I will continue to be a member of the People's United Party, and will work hard to put out of power. We have had enough. I know that God is on my side, and God is my strength, and Dean Barrow, you are cannot fight the power of Jesus Christ. So, March 7, the People's United Party will be returned to power. Our people will be free."

With the court decision final, the PUP and the Lake I committee moved quickly and by 3:00p.m a group of Lake I supporters accompanied Mr. Martin Galvez to the Complex Building on Mahogany Street where they successfully entered his name into nomination as the PUP Candidate for the Lake Independence Division.

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