In August, the UDP sent out the call for candidates to submit their names for the 31 constituencies. The deadline to submit names was 5:00 pm today - and the party is reporting a bumper crop of candidates. And while we can't say the numbers include a majority of proven political talent, we can say that more than 60 persons have applied to contest 27 seats. 4 Elected area reps will be uncontested. The list includes former Mayor Zenaida Moya and former beauty queen Janeli Frazer in Freetown, and, yes, OJ Elrington's name is also there - although he told us he would not contest.
And Moya's former councillor, and former Lake I rep, Mark King wants to offer himself for Pickstock as does another former city councillor, Dean Samuels.
But, one of the biggest takeaways is that Denise "Sister B" Barrow, has not applied to contest Queen Square - she will stand down in the next election. In her place, her second in command Godwin Haylock has applied along with Shane Williams who works at the party secretariat.
And in Collet, Ian Jones has submitted his name - while Patrick Faber's was rejected - so, depending on what happens with Faber, Jones may have an endorsement convention in that UDP stronghold.
Also of note is that in Belize Rural North, Edmond Castro has offered himself, as have three other newcomers.
And, in Belmopan John Saldivar has offered himself as expected and so has former Mayor Khalid Belisle. And while those are not surprises, we were surprised to see former CEO George Lovell enter his name in that Belmopan race, along with Car Dealer, Emil Torres.
