And SI/SE Mayor Early Trapp was also at the head table today to discuss alleged electoral fraud in the Cayo District. As we have reported, he and Dr Omar Figueroa took the matter to court to attempt to stop hundreds of transfers before the election. Trapp explained that in his investigation, he found that in the period of one year, one of the polling stations in Cayo had an increase of over 60% of registered voters, much more than the other polling stations. Here's how he explained it:
Earl Trapp, Mayor, SISE
"After reviewing the 2024 Municipal Elections and the 2025 General Elections, I believe there are serious electoral irregularities within Polling Area 73, which is the largest polling area within the municipality; and, one that represents roughly half of San Ignacio and Santa Elena. This is not about political frustration. This is about Belizeans can continue to trust the integrity of elections. In the 2024 Municipal Elections, I defeated the PUP candidate in all three polling areas that make up the twin towns: 72, 73, and 76. One year later, during the 2025 General Elections, Polling Area 73 recorded an extraordinary increase of over 1,056 additional votes cast."
"Polling Area 72 increased by 15%. Polling Area 76 increased by 9%. Polling Area 73 increased by a little over 60, 65% which is more than 1,000 additional votes in just one year. Even more concerning is where those votes went. UDP support in Polling Area 73 remained almost exactly the same. Both Dr. Omar Figueroa and I received almost identical numbers. His tally decreased by only 12 votes. While this number was enough to secure a decisive victory of approximately 348 for me, the same number was not enough one year later. The PUP gained virtually the entire increase, approximately 1,056 additional votes. In other words, more than 99% of all new votes in Polling Area 73 went to one political party."
And Trapp also explained a case of one Cayo resident who was told that someone had already voted as his proxy, even though he never underwent that process.
Earl Trapp, Mayor, SISE
"Today, we have the case Mr. Kenrick Nunez with me. He's one of several Belizeans who reported going to vote in Polling Area 73 only to be informed that a vote had already been casted in his name via proxy. In his case, he was informed that his vote was already exercised by proxy despite maintaining that He never authorized anyone to vote on his behalf. We also have information that the individual who cast that proxy vote was connected to a PUP campaign team. This individual's action deprived Mr Nunez of his constitutional right to vote in the March 2025 general elections. What makes the matter even more troubling is that proxy voting requires prior approval before election day. Proxy arrangements are generally intended for circumstances involving public officers or persons officially assigned away from their voting constituency on election day. Mr Nunez maintains that he has never been a public officer. Additionally, Proxy forms require authorization and supporting signatures before approval can be granted. These circumstance raises serious questions about how such a proxy could have been processed and approved in the first place."
