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PUP Orange Walk Candidates Officially Nominated
Today was nomination day for General Elections across the jewel. It was the day that political nominees of every colour and affiliation formally register as candidates for the 31 available seats in the House of Representatives. The actual nomination of a candidate is a pretty straightforward process but the day on the other hand has taken on a life of its own. It is now more about a show of numbers - and an opportunity for the mass parties to flex their muscle and machinery. And that is just what happened today in Orange Walk. The first set of candidates to be registered this morning was those of the People’s United Party. And of course with the political momentum already on their side the P.U.P once again proved this morning that the wind of change is blowing in their direction.
Carmelita Perez-Reporting
Just as the heat of the scourging sun, supporters of the Peoples Untied Party were fired up this morning as they gathered in front of the offices of the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association.
The P.U.P brought out hundreds of supporters from Orange Walk East, North, South and Central. And among the wave of blue were the four P.U.P standard Bearers who would soon become the official candidates for the March 7th General Elections.
Honorable John Briceno- Orange Walk Central Area Representative
“I am very excited and pleased that the people are coming out to show their support once again for the People’s United Party, the PUP is poised for a big victory in the Orange Walk district and I am confident as I go walking more and more with people, meeting with people talking to them we are seeing that people want a change, they are tired of the victimization, they are tired of an economy that is collapsing, the high unemployment, the high cost of living, high crime and it is time for us to do a change of direction in the country, it is time for us to have a new government, a government of the People’s United Party.”
Carmelita Perez-Reporter
“Once again you will be officially nominated as the standard bearer for the Orange Walk Central what comes next for Johnny Briceno as it pertains form today up until march 7th?”
Honorable John Briceno- Orange Walk Central Area Representative
“Well, we continue to work hard every day, every single day I am out in the streets visiting the people I am going from house to house, I’ve done at least half of Orange Walk Central so far and I am also working in San Estevan in the mornings so from here to election day is just continue to campaign, yes I am require to be in other parts of the country so for instance in the afternoon I have to be in Cayo South and then by Sunday in Corozal, tomorrow in San Felipe so I am all over the place but I do this because it is something I want to do, it is important for us to have a new government, a government of the PUP.”
Jose Abelardo Mai- P.U.P Orange Walk South Standard Bearer
“Estoy bastante contento, la respuesta del pueblo es tremenda y me siento deberás privilegiado por ser el Candidato de Orange Walk Sur. Ahorita la amas de casa están cocinando los señores están trabajando los canales y el campo pero la gente salió y estamos contentos por lo que ellos están haciendo por nosotros.”
Carmelita Perez-Reporter
“Oficialmente serás nominado para el día de hoy que sigue para ti entonces?”
Jose Abelardo Mai- P.U.P Orange Walk South Standard Bearer
“Adelante, adelante nada mas it is always forward never backwards.”
George Briceno- P.U.P Orange Walk North Standard Bearer
“I am very grateful to them and thankful for all the support that they have given me so far and I am telling them to keep supporting me not just for an election but even as we are going to Belmopan, we are sure of it, we are going to work for the people and serve the people the way they deserve we have a plan for them and as I am talking to them as we go house to house. Even after the election I plan to walk each and every village on a weekend to take a day to go to different villages because there are a lot of necessities in our area, poverty is high, 40% unemployment and Mr. Vega has no plan. Those billboard, flyers and banners don’t vote it is the people that vote and I am taking my resources to help with medicine, doctors and all the needs of the people have out there, giving food to the children they criticizes me but even the strong UDP tell me thank you, they saw that I distributed to every child in the school and I did not select by party of religion. We will have six banners for each of the polling boots and on the villages but we are concentrating on helping.”
Doctor Marco Tulio Mendez- P.U.P Orange Walk East Standard Bearer
“Podemos ver la energía que se siente, aves uno se puede a ver dejar llevar por esa energía por esa entusiasmo de que viene toda la gente y realmente para mi es un gozo el día de hoy en la cuales vamos ir a ser nominados y formalmente vamos hacer los candidatos para las áreas respetivas para cada uno de los candidatos y con toda sinceridad queremos representar en la forma más adecuada a nuestra gente para traer más beneficios a todo nuestros ciudadanos de área.”
Carmelita Perez-Reporter
“Hoy será oficialmente nominado el candidato de Orange Walk Este para el Partido Unido Del Pueblo como va a continuar usted con su trabajo de aquí hasta el día de elección?”
Doctor Marco Tulio Mendez- P.U.P Orange Walk East Standard Bearer
“Pues ya la organización ya está bien formada claro que continuamos visitando todas las casas pero creo que con los anos que he estado presente en el área he estado repartiendo y escuchando a toda nuestra gente y no solamente yendo de casa en casa sino que atreves de servicios de salud o cuando la gente ha llegado a verme pues he tratado de alguna manera de resolver su problema entonces si he estado muy positivo en la campaña.”
While the crowd was not as massive as the one on Sunday due to the time that the nomination was held there was definitely energy on the ground.
As the blue machine marched towards the Immigration Department where Jose Abelardo Mai would be the first to be nominated, the mood was without a doubt a celebratory one. And in this occasion not even the iniquity of the United Democratic Party could bring down the energy of supporters. But of course we all know how desperate the U.D.P get when they know that the ball is no longer on their side of the winning field.
But going back to what is truly important, after being officially nominated as the P.U.P Standard Bearer for Orange Walk South, Jose Abelardo Mai proudly waved to the crowd of supporters.
With the same confidence John Briceno, accompanied by his six nominates walked into the Sub Treasury building while Doctor Marco Tulio Mendez walked towards the Sandy Hunter Library and George Briceno made his way to the Magistrates Court.
The first to complete the nomination process was Honorable John Briceno who for the fifth time was nominated as the P.U.P Standard Bearer for Orange Walk Central.
Honorable John Briceno- Orange Walk Central Area Representative
“It is always a wonderful feeling you can never get use to that adrenaline rush when you are putting on your signature making it official from now you are a candidate for the Orange Walk Central division and I want to thank all six that nominated me, I want to thank them from the bottom of my heart and to all those out here supporting us I want to thank each and every one of them.”
Next in line was Doctor Marco Tulio who was followed by George Briceno.
Doctor Marco Tulio Mendez- P.U.P Orange Walk East Standard Bearer
“It is a great joy to be here with you and all of these people that are definitely giving us their full support and the enthusiasm it is overwhelming an thank for everybody having come out here and of course it is official I am the candidate for the People’s United Party for the Orange Walk East and I will be working for you and I will be doing everything that is possible to bring development and all the different areas of the Orange Walk being uplifted thank you very much for that support.”
George Briceno- P.U.P Orange Walk North Standard Bearer
“Esta nominación es de la gente de Orange Walk North que va a traer el cambio ellos han elegido a alguien que va a pelear para ellos y representarles en todo negocio de gobierno para la gente de Orange Walk North y yo voy a estar haya con ellos peleando para todos los recursos y las familias del Norte.”
And with all four candidates officially nominated the crowd of supporters marched backed to the P.U.P Office located on Bakers Street where a short rally was held.
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