On Friday's news, we showed you what Deputy Prime Minister Patrick Faber had to say about his colleague, Lee Mark Chang, who has been put on blast for allegations of facilitating voter registration fraud.
As we told you, the practice known, as "phantom voters", happens when voters register in an electoral division where they don't really live. Voters get added to that division's voter's list by registering in mass numbers at what is known as safe houses. Once they get on that list, getting them removed is darn near impossible. That's because the Representation of the People's Act is very strict about disenfranchising an elector.
It's a practice that politicians on both sides of the political spectrum have perfected over the years. But in this instance, Lee Mark Chang, the UDP Standard Bearer for Caribbean Shores, is being called out because his friend, Deputy Police Commissioner Edward Broaster, is allegedly registered at one of Chang's properties.
The PUP has initiated a Magistrate's Court challenge voters in Caribbean Shores and in Belize Rural North to remove persons who it feels are "phantom voters" from the voter's list in these two electoral divisions. It went to court today before Senior Magistrate Aretha Ford, but because the required time for proper notice was not given to the voters being challenged, the case was adjourned to Friday morning.
We attempted to speak with Lee Mark Chang after the adjournment, but he declined. We did get a comment from Marconi Leal Sr., the PUP Standard Bearer from Belize Rural North, and he explained why he's challenging 71 voters who registered in that division:
Marconi Leal Sr. - PUP Standard Bearer, Belize Rural North
"It's not only registered. It's also illegal transfers that took place last month in Belize Rural North, and that is what we're challenging in court."
Reporter
"Why do you feel that these persons should not be on the voter's list for Rural North?"
Marconi Leal Sr.
"Well, they shouldn't be on the list. They are not living in Rural North."
Reporter
"How many people are you saying?"
Marconi Leal Sr.
"We're challenging 71 names."
Reporter
"And you know for a fact that they are not living there?"
Marconi Leal Sr.
"Yes, I know for a fact that they are not living there."
Reporter
"And you were saying it's all over..."
Marconi Leal Sr.
"It's all over Rural North, different villages like Rhaburn Ridge, Maskall Sand Hill. They're all over. They're padding - the list is being padded all over again. We just recently did a re-registration last year, and now, we see - I'm the standard-bearer for PUP in the area, and now, we're seeing that my opposition in Rural North is padding the list. We're having Mennonites from Shipyard getting registered in Boston, a village that is right beside Sand Hill. I used to be the chairman of Sand Hill. Now, I'm the standard-bearer, and I know these people. So, I'm sure. We will challenge them in court."
Reporter
"What kind of verification process did you and your colleagues employ if indeed these individuals reside where they say they are?"
Marconi Leal Sr.
"Well, obviously, I don't know everybody who lives in Rural North. It's 24 villages. But, I sat with people who live in a village, and I made sure before we put the names on the list that we will challenge. They are not living there."
This evening, we contacted Castro for comment, and he casually dismissed Leal's allegation. As a matter of fact, he wasn't even interested in what Leal actually said, referring to it as "hearsay".
Castro said, quote, "Let him continue to do what he has to, and say what he wants." End quote.
From Castro's perspective, he will win the next general elections against whoever runs against him.
When the PUP challenge goes back to court on Friday, we'll tell you what happened.
And, we'll have more form this story late Ron in the news - when you'll hear form Julius Espat who tries to explain how a building he owns because a safe house for the UDP in the Albert division.
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