Belizeans are going out to vote in General Elections on 4 November 2015 as the government of Prime Minister Dean Barrow seeks an unprecedented third consecutive term. Facing a divided opposition Peoples United Party headed by Francis Fonseca, the U.D.P. appears poised for another victory. General consensus is that the U.D.P. will win the Generals handily. Some 200,000 Belizean electors are expected to go to the polls to vote for their choice of 31 electoral electoral seats. The first past the post system means than the party that gains 16 seats, will form the new government for the next 5 years.
The Economist Intelligence Unit recently published its prediction saying that P.M. Barrow will, barring any major pre-election scandal, emerge victorious.
Both parties have been spending big bucks as per the norm in Belize politics, but the apparent absence of Lord Michael Ashcroft from the local scene after suffering a life threatening illness last month, may play a part in the demise of the Peoples United Party this time around.
Our report on social media today:
WE ARE COMING DOWN LIKE THE DOGS OF WAR ON WEDNESDAY - Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow at tonight's pre-victory election rally in Belize City.
I was there in 2008 and I can say that tonight the vibes are even stronger than that year. Image is of Dr. Carla Barnett at the rally. A couple of nuggets from the P.M.'s address at the pre-election rally tonight for your consideration esteemed readers:
"We will drop the bomb - Dr. Carla Barnett is right up there to take top honors, have no doubt, do not question what will take place in Freetown. Francis Fonseca, the leader of the PUP, is a dead duck.
"That might be the sweetest triumph of all, except for Corozal South East. When Carla puts this licking on Fonseca, as fantastic an achievement as that will be, remember that a previous leader of the PUP was beaten by the U.D.P.'s Derek Aikman in the same division. Carla will be repeating something that some people say could happen only once in a lifetime.
"Corozal South East has never been won by the U.D.P. Florencio used to control it. Then he got old and handed it over to his son. I am telling you Evan Cowo will defeat Florencio Marin Jr.
"We have turned the lip professors on their heads. Foiled the hired social media pundits with their wild predictions, over and over again and we will do it once again on Wednesday."