Elections are coming and the last chance for voters to get on the list for March is January 20th.
That deadline was recently extended by ten days to allow for the last rush of voters.
That means there is a flurry of activity at elections and boundaries offices, which are also expected to open on Saturday's to accommodate registrants.
And in that flurry of activity - there is invariably going to be fraud. It's the dirty little secret of Belize's electoral system that virtually every division has safe houses - where crafty politicians register people who do not live at that address - who, in fact, don't live in the division. Usually those safe house arrangements are done with the consent of the home-owner - a party supporter who doesn't mind their address being used as a political way station.
But tonight one Orange Walk politician appears to be "so busted" because voters that his camp is alleged to have registered - appeared at the address of a woman who says she is not playing that game at all. Evangelina Chan, who lives in the San Lorenzo area - asked to appear off camera - but told us that she was surprised when staff of the elections officer visited her house looking for phantom voters registered there.
Now, for full disclosure we should add that her home-cooked press conference was arranged by the John Briceno camp - so - while she doesn't call names - presumably she is accusing the other side - the Denny Grijalva camp of arranging the false registration of two voters at her residence - which she has also attested to in an affidavit:
Evangelina Chan
"Monday when they came and asked to speak to some certain people and, I really don't know, I can't even pronounce the name, to show that they are really not from here."
"Anyways, I told them that the people were not here so they came back again, and they asked to speak with them and I told them that they don't live here."
Jules Vasquez
"How does this make you feel knowing that your home is being used as a registration point for people you have no idea who they are?"
Evangelina Chan
"It makes me feel like I am dealing with human trafficking because I was shocked when they came and asked me for the persons, and I really don't who they rest of persons are."
"Well Jules of course I am upset because to begin with the first thing people will think is that I am doing this because of politics. I am not into politics. I want to make it clear that I don't collect anything for saying this. All I want to do is to do the right thing as a citizen."
Jules Vasquez
"You had no prior arrangements or conversations with any of the political people to say well yes you can use my address for XY consideration. You did not have any such conversations?"
Evangelina Chan
"No Sir, I am barely at home anyways. I am out looking for a boyfriend, so I am not at home to let anyone or talk to any politician."
We contacted Denny Grijalva - the UDP candidate for Orange Walk Central and he told us he knew nothing of Ms. Chan, her home or the voters.
These persons will now be challenged and presumably, be removed from the list.
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