And the PUP also got more bad news in the Magistrate's Court today when their objections to supposed "phantom voters" in Caribbean Shores and Belize Rural North failed.
You'll remember that earlier this week, PUP operators in those two constituencies lodged a complaint in the Magistrates Court. They claimed that they could prove that voters who don't live in these constituencies were allowed to transfer to these divisions by tricking the system, allegedly with the help of the UDP standard-bearers.
First up was Paul Ferguson, who's better known around Belize City as "Chicken Dread". He objected to 7 such voters in Caribbean Shores, but the biggest name among the new transfers that he took issue with is Edward Broaster, the Deputy Police Commissioner. You may be aware that Ferguson claims that Broaster's name appears on the Caribbean Shores voter's list as a resident at #1 Kelly Street, the address of Chon Saan Restaurant, which is owned by the family of Lee Mark Chang, the UDP Standard Bearer for that division.
But, to get a voter removed from the voter's list is no easy task because the law makes certain that citizens cannot be arbitrarily disenfranchised due to a frivolous complaint. So, the burden of proof that Ferguson had to satisfy was very high.
He took the stand and told the court under oath that he is Broaster's relative, and he knows for a fact that Broaster lives on La Croix Boulevard. He described that on multiple occasions he went to his sister, Paula Ferguson's house, on that same street, and he has seen Broaster there on multiple occasions. He was trying to explain to the court what else has him convinced that this La Croix Boulevard home is Broaster's. But every time he made this assertion, Aldo Salazar, one of the attorneys who was representing Broaster in this objection, pointed out to the court that Ferguson is submitting hearsay evidence without any black and white proof.
So, after Ferguson was thoroughly cross-examined, Chief Magistrate Sharon Frazer made a ruling that he had not adequately satisfied the burden of proof to get Broaster removed from the Caribbean Shores voter's list. In his testimony, Ferguson also conceded that his own sister, has lived in Lake Independence for almost 20 years, but she is also registered in Caribbean Shores.
Here's what OJ Elrington, who also represented Broaster in this case, had to say about Ferguson's revelations under oath:
Orson "OJ" Elrington - Attorney for Edward Broaster
"They challenged the registration - or the transfer - of Mr. Broaster into Caribbean Shores, and the self-proclaimed ground commander of the PUP, Mr. Paul Ferguson, who, under oath, said he's the ground commander of the PUP, they submit that Mr. Broaster does not reside in Caribbean Shores. However, a peculiar turn of circumstances took place in which, under oath, Mr. Paul Ferguson admitted that his sister, Paula Ferguson - he was basing his evidence on the fact that he goes to visit his sister, Paula Ferguson, every day, and he sees Mr. Broaster. But, he admitted under oath that his sister, Paula Ferguson, has resided in Lake I for the past 20 years, uninterrupted. But guess what, Paula Ferguson is registered at his very same address in Caribbean Shores. Under oath, he said that Paula Ferguson can be registered there because it is their mother's address. And it is because it is their mother's address that she can register there, not because she resides there."
Reporter
"So, you're saying that he doesn't have the moral authority to make this objection."
Orson "OJ" Elrington
"Well, he does not have moral authority. He does not have the veracity. He does not have anything at all to make these objections. But more so, I think it was interesting that he actually got caught with his foot in his mouth."
"At the end of the matter, the Chief Magistrate, Sharon Frazer was able to tell him that not only did he not dispense with his burden of proof, but also it was a peculiar situation."
When the court resumed for the afternoon session, "Chicken Dread" went back before Chief Magistrate Frazer to formally withdraw his objections to the 6 other voters who he was claiming should not be on the Caribbean Shores voter's list. Outside of court, we challenged him on what was essentially a failed attempt. Here's how that testy back and forth went:
Paul "Chicken Dread" Ferguson - Objector
"They want to register Edward Broaster at #1 Kelly Street. We know he doesn't live there. We know that he's no part of-"
Reporter
"You could say that you know sir, but you didn't provide the court with black and white proof to support what you say you know."
Paul Ferguson
"We know the process. We know what's the process. It's difficult to prove to the court that someone [doesn't] live there when their landlord said that he lives there. But that's not the point. The point is this. This is the Deputy ComPol of this country. And if he claims that he lives at #1 Kelly Street, that's a shame. And the people of Caribbean Shores know that he doesn't live at #1 Kelly Street."
Reporter
"The opponents, who challenged your objection, are making a big issue of the fact that your sister is practicing basically what you're complaining of Broaster doing."
Paul Ferguson
"That's not so. That's farfetched. Let me tell you something. My sister has never registered anywhere else before. My sister has always registered at #5 Tenth Street, Kings Park."
Reporter
"But she lives in Lake Independence, and shouldn't you be voting where you-"
Paul Ferguson
"As I said, my sister has always registered at #5 Tenth Street, Kings Park. That's my mother's house. My sister has always been there."
Reporter
"Do you dispute that your sister lives in Lake I?"
Paul Ferguson
"I dispute that my sister can register at #5 Tenth Street Kings Park because my mom lives there, and she has always been registered there. But, let's look at it. Let's look at Edward Broaster. You all are missing the point."
During the afternoon session, Chief Magistrate Frazer was prepared to take on the objections from PUP's Marconi Leal Sr. He's the Opposition's standard-bearer for Belize Rural North, and he was objecting to a number of voters who he says should not be on that constituency's voter's list. Well, it appears that he saw the high threshold needed to meet to get these voters off the list. And, court reports are that he abandoned over 50 of these objections. He has chosen to move forward with only 6, and he believes he has a stronger case that he can make in these instances. Those objections will be tested in the Magistrate's Court on October 15th.
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