The UDP held their Corozal Bay Convention over a week ago - and the incumbent won handily - by over 900 votes. But the party has not moved on, and the aftershocks of voter fraud allegations are still being felt.
The campaign manager for Mayor and losing candidate Hilberto Campos made some very bold allegations of irregularities. Here's what he told Jules Vasquez:
Jules vasquez
"Do you think voter fraud would play a consequential role, when I spoke to Hilberto Campos he felt that because of the national support that Mr. Marin has, not divisional, that it has lent itself to people - interlopers coming in."
David Akierman, Campos Campaign Manager
"Definitely Jules, we had an incident Friday night where I personally went to the electoral registration office and people were being registered 7:30 in the night. We had to get Mr. Zuniga, the Deputy Chief Electoral Officer to intervene and we have the photographs of some Lebanese nationals that were in there."
Jules Vasquez
"But how does that implicate the supporters of Mr. Marin?"
David Akierman, Campos Campaign Manager
"We have reliable source that they had faxed in lists."
Jules Vasquez
"Lists of people who are not from Corozal Bay?"
David Akierman, Campos Campaign Manager
"Lists has been faxed in because...."
Jules Vasquez
"Your own party is doing this Mr. Akierman?"
David Akierman, Campos Campaign Manager
"The party is allowing receipts."
Jules Vasquez
"But Campos agreed to that as well."
David Akierman, Campos Campaign Manager
"Well he was hoping genuinely that it would have been people that actually voted in the area and we have sources telling us that lists were faxed in to the office."
Jules Vasquez
"Are we running a risk that this convention will be decided by interlopers - people who are not from this division?" David Akierman, Campos Campaign Manager?"Certainly."
Jules Vasquez
"How does that make you feel?"
David Akierman, Campos Campaign Manager
"Not good, I think it doesn't present the true picture of what's the United Democratic Party when it comes to democracy."
We thought that would just lie there and die there - but not so. The UDP appointed Chairman of the elections and boundaries commission Alberto August has written to the Chief Elections Officer raising his concerns about the allegations, saying it is, quote "rightfully cause for much concern". He says the allegation only just came to his attention as he was catching up with the news online. He expresses disappointment that the matter was not immediately brought to the attention of the Commission - presumably by the Chief Election Officer.
He has asked for a report to be submitted to the commission by next week Wednesday, January 26th. And right on time, the PUP sent a release today saying that "The Electoral Lists…must be conducted with much transparency and accountability….and adds that, quote: "an electoral office must be above any suspicion of wrong doing and/or biased accommodations."
And regarding fuel prices which went up again on Friday morning, the oppositions has called upon the Prime Minister to immediately remove the $1.00gas tax and additionally lower its overall tax take on fuel to provide some relief at the pump.
