Email

Print

We stopped by today, and spoke with the Belize District candidates:

Shawn Saldano, PR Officer - Dept. of Youth
"Today is the bi-election for both Belize City and Corozal. Belize City, the bi-election is for the president position between Micah Goodin and Stafin Duncan. When we had the district elections on February 29th, they both tied. So today is the election process to try to see which one of them will fit the position of the president for the Belize District Youth Council. Between 9am-10am this morning, we had 24 turnout and between 10:50am we had 7 turnout and this is a total of 31 out of 75 delegates. Bear in mind that Belize City has 92 delegates. In San Pedro, that is where the 17 and the 17 plus the 75 here in Belize gives us a total of 92."

Stafin Duncan, Youth Council Aspirant
"It's one on one. At first we were running with a few teammates. We had support from other people running for different positions. Now it's just me and him. At this point what I've been doing is just basically doing something similar to what we did in the first instance. We went ahead and contacted the delegates, spoke to them, gave them my message, try to tell them exactly what I've always been saying, that we are coming here to work for the youth as a council, it's not about me, it's not about him. At the end of the day what they choose, the council will still have to do the work whoever is leading that council. Four members have been elected. At this point it's just basically trying to say "you know what, I am the right guy to lead these set of people - this council.""

Micah Goodin, Youth Council Aspirant
"I must commend all the young persons who have participated as delegates and those that have given themselves as candidates as well. We must commend them and congratulate them even though we were not as successful as we'd hope. We are in a very good position, a very comfortable position, we've already crunch the numbers and we are ahead. We have the cayes; San Pedro, Caye Caulker. We have Ladyville Tech. We've had St. John Junior College. We have some of the schools on south side Belize City and so we are looking very good. We have some of our very own people; those from Youth Voices and BFLA who put us in a better position than our opponent. So in terms of today, yes they have all the politicians and the political associates flexing with them, but we have a one on one communication with the delegates, a one on one relationship and I think that is what will determine the winner at the end of the day."

But, politics gets into everything, and just so in the race between Micah Goodin and Stafin Duncan. Goodin is a vocal and visible PUP supporter, and Duncan is the same for the UDP. And today, UDP operatives were out in numbers, assisting him in greeting the delegates.

Here's what both candidates had to say about the supposed muddying of the waters by good old "PUDP" tactics:

Micah Goodin, Youth Council Aspirant
"On the ground, on the battlefield, I am very disappointed that it has somewhat been reduced to a political event you know. We've seen on the other side former UDP senator Juliet Thimbriel. We've seen current senator Francine Burns. We've seen the entire staff at Guardian, the entire staff at Wave TV and it's very disappointing, it's very disheartening and there has been a lot of negative campaigning coming from their side. Since day one they have attacked me and it has been very discouraging in a sense, but I remain cautiously optimistic that the young people will do the right thing and they will vote according to the person is able to represent their interest."

Stafin Duncan, Youth Council Aspirant
"A lot of people have expressed support and yes a lot of people who are seasoned in this kind of thing has decided help and that's as much as they decided to do and I know who they are and what they can do. But they've approach me and say you know I want to help. That's fine with me. As far as I am concerned I am not a politician. I've never ran for them, I've never put my name up for them. But we are in agreement that this is good. It's a good thing. They see promise in me and I am not to turn down help."

Daniel Ortiz
"So it can't hurt. That's what you are saying?"

Micah Goodin, Youth Council Aspirant
"We've tried our best to disconnect this from politics, because we think that partisan politics has absolutely no place for youth work."

Daniel Ortiz
"Sir, but you are threading on dangerous territory to call them out. The same way you associate the Guardian Newspaper staff, I know Mr. Alberto Vellos who is the editor of Belize Times, he somewhat endorsed you on Facebook."

Micah Goodin, Youth Council Aspirant
"But this is the different Daniel, Alberto works with the Belize Youth Movement. None of these guys at Guardian work with their youth arm. So that is the difference. Alberto is not just showing out here to be political, he actually gets the work done."

Daniel Ortiz
"Are you just going to be another UDP yes-man if you are voted in?"

Stafin Duncan, Youth Council Aspirant
"Okay, I can clearly say no. I am very much an independent thinker. I got this far with my own merit in the sense that me as a person, I've developed who I am and I use that to guide me. That is my north star. As far as I am concern I got into this for the youth. I continue to tell them that no matter what happens, I am getting in there to work as a president of the Youth Council. Which means we have to talk to any government and represent the interest of the youth whether it is for or against policies that exists today."

Micah Goodin, Youth Council Aspirant
"Stafin for me and for many like me, he represents the 1% in our country that owns everything. He represents the 1% that own the land, own the business - owns everything. While I represent the 99% who are struggling. So I think I am able to better connect with those in the struggle and I am better able to provide solutions and alternatives to get up out of the struggle."

And Late word to 7News tonight are that the results are in. Stafin Duncan defeated Micah Goodin, getting 46 votes to Goodin's 38. Duncan is now the president.

In the by-election in the Corozal Town, Phillip Wade Jr was chosen as Secretary. He defeated Herman Sanchez by 13 votes.