The final round of village council elections was held yesterday in seven villages. And as has been the case over the past four weeks of elections, both the PUP and UDP are declaring dominance. But because of the small number, we can confirm that of the contested villages, the PUP won three and the UDP won 3. The satellite city now known as Mahogany Heights Village was not contested. But of the 7 villages, Guinea Grass was the largest but it was San Felipe that everyone is talking about. Here's why.
Keith Swift Reporting,
Yesterday the school in Guinea Grass Village was a field of blue, red, and even some orange with the People's United Party, United Democratic Party, and National Reform Party fielding slates for the village's chairman and six councilors.
For the PUP, Northern Caucus boss Johnny Briceno held down the fort while for the UDP former Minister Reuben Campos was the ground commander. He got moral support from party leader Dean Barrow as well as former Prime Minister Manuel Esquivel. The NRP's leader Cornelius Dueck was leading the effort for his party.
And while the politicians were one thing - the supporters - many of whom were trucked in - were another.
[Supporters Shouting Back and Forth]
But for the most part calmer heads prevailed in Guinea Grass - where the UDP went on to win by a little over 160 votes. Further north in San Felipe, battle lines were drawn during nominations when this People's United Party campaign worker apparently took a swing at UDP first deputy leader Gaspar Vega. And just like he laughed it off yesterday - today at a party conference - Vega says it
was nothing and he wasn't assaulted.
Gaspar Vega, UDP 1st Deputy Leader
"I don't think really happened at San Felipe. Just some guy said a few words, I moved away, and the people got excited but that was it. It was just, I think they are trying to blow things out of proportion, nothing really happened. Just like in Trial Farm, nothing really happened. The PUP is losing and they are looking for any excuse. I was not hit. It was just a few words that were said to me and I think people thought that they were attacking me but I moved away and that was it."
And today UDP party leader Dean Barrow conceded that the tensions during all four rounds of village council elections is proof positive that the imminent general elections campaign will be fierce.
Hon. Dean Barrow, UDP Leader
"If anyone of us ever fooled ourselves into thinking that the PUP would roll over and play dead, it ain't going to happen."
The PUP won in San Felipe. Overall the PUP says they won 103 villages, the UDP 74, and 16 went independent; the UDP says it won 114, the PUP won 67, and 9 went independent.
