Today was nomination day in 31 electoral divisions all across the country - the day when the close to one hundred candidates who are offering themselves in the November 11th general elections must take the formal step of getting signed endorsements of six nominees and pay two hundred dollars. The morning was set aside for the PUP to nominate, the independents during the lunch break and the UDP in the afternoon
And for the first time in modern history - the nomination was done very differently - with each constituency's nomination held at different public buildings. This was A COVID precautionary measure to minimise social gatherings.
So, the watchful public was looking for responsible behaviour, and, when politicians showed up with big crowds today for nominations, despite the Police Commissioner's plea for them to respect quarantine laws, it did raise some eyebrows.
We start with the nomination of PUP Leader John Briceno in Orange Walk Central. Our News Team was in that northern town and Daniel Ortiz has that story:
This morning, PUP Leader John Briceno, his family members, and his nominators left from his childhood home on Bakers Street in Orange Walk Town. It was a short walk to La Immaculada RC School, where he would be nominated as a candidate for the Orange Walk Central.
Even though this is his 7th nomination for elections in Orange Walk Central, the PUP Leader says it has never become dull or routine. In fact, he says that nomination day is always a time of pride and joy for his family and his political supporters.
Hon. John Briceno - Leader, People's United Party "It's very exciting as always. You never get used to doing these nominations. But, this one is a kinda bittersweet one. My father died 3 years ago, and my then, my uncle died last year. And they've always been looking forward to this day, when I could get nominated, especially as the leader of the People's United Party."
Briceno and his team are aiming for him to become the next prime minister. But, he must first be re-elected in Orange Walk Central, and so, several of the voters made it possible for him to be placed on the ballot for the November 11th General Election in that division.
Hon. John Briceno "It's a simple process. There's the form, where you get nominated. And then, we have our 6 - the 6 persons that nominated me. They present their ID, and they check that they are registered voters of Orange Walk Central. And then, they sign the nomination form. And then, I also sign it along with them. It's a simple straight forward process."
In previous years, this entourage of supporters on Nomination Day would have been expected as part of the flexing that mass parties normally do, to show their political might. But, in these COVID times, groups bigger than 10 are illegal.
Briceno ended being escorted to the nomination center by a group of supporters who were certainly bigger than that number, and so, we asked him about what looks like disobedience for the COVID safety protocols.
Hon. John Briceno "These are people that, despite the fact that we called off the parade, some people still showed up. And when we were walking over here, they still wanted to follow us. What can I do? What we did is we asked them to please make sure that they keep the social distancing. And I'm sure that the people who are complaining on Facebook are not supporters of the PUP."
Reporter "If the police should attempt to pursue you for any sort of criminal charges, in the event that you had that entourage - more than 10 people accompanying you to the entrance there, is there any concern of yours that this could happen?"
Hon. John Briceno "Well, first of all, I did not bring them. They are not a part of my group, but they are supporters, and they decided that they are going to follow me. So, if the police feel that they have to charge me. Well, so be it. But, more importantly, my group was the group that came in here. It's an exciting time. For the first time, there's the possibility that we're going to have a prime minister outside of Belize City, and for the first time, obviously Orange Walk Central, should I be elected and our party gets elected, God first, it's going to be a historic time, and so, I think everybody wants to be a part of this history. So, as much as we ask them to kinda hold back, they still come. I can't stop them."
But, even though that also puts him at a higher risk of infection, Briceno also says that he has a circle of very observant people who are regularly reminding him to limit his exposure to COVID-19.
Hon. John Briceno "You try to do your very best to be able to do the social distancing. But, from time to time, you know, people get excited, and they come with you. And then, you just can't help but want to hug. And on a few occasions - there are a few special people like Miss Amelia Esquiliano, who's husband, Mr. Pancho, was a life-long supporter of the PUP, from the time of my father. And I felt I had to give them that special hug, and of course my aunt, and my uncle, and so forth. But, we always have people around us constantly, they make sure that I'm cleaning my hands and of course, you know, my wife, you know. Be careful, be careful."
