Tracy Panton Unveils Slate of 15 Candidates for March 12 General Elections

Fifteen standard bearers were officially presented this morning as part of the Tracy Panton slate that will be running in the March 12 general elections.  The slate saw some known faces in politics and was complemented by several newcomers.  The candidates are Beverly Williams for Belize Rural Central, Patrick Faber for Collet; Lee Mark Chang for Mesopotamia, Godwin Haylock for Queen Square, Manuel Heredia Junior for Belize Rural South, Denny Grijalva for Orange Walk South, Dr. June Young for Cayo South; Tracy Panton for Albert; Marlow Perera for Orange Walk East; Ivan Williams for Stann Creek West; Cecil Jenkins for Lake Independence; Phillip Willoughby for Port Loyola; Andrew Bradley for Caribbean Shores; John Saldivar for Belmopan and Hernan Riveroll for Corozal Bay.  According to Panton, her slate is dynamic despite the criticisms.

Tracy Panton, UDP Candidate, Albert Division: “We have work to do and we need all hands on deck. We need all boots on the ground. We need all the love that our party stakeholders and shareholders and supporters are able to give. I don’t care, ladies and gentlemen, how much incentives may be provided by our opponents. We are not for sale. We are not selling our souls because we all know that Belize is better with the United Democratic Party. And the people of this country, had to be reminded of that. And so we sat out one term. We’re not sitting out another. We will get the job done. And I want to thank all of you for spreading the word to your households, to your neighborhoods, to your communities, to your friends and family, to the people who pass by on the street. There’s a reason we are voting for the United Democratic Party. We stand up and we fight for the things we believe in. And last and most importantly, we lead with a heart of love.”

With only 15 candidates presented this morning, one question posed to Panton is why not 16 since that would have at least given a shot at the majority in the elections.  Interestingly, Panton responded by saying they have a full slate of 31 candidates, alluding to the other candidates running under the Moses Barrow faction. 

Tracy Panton, UDP Candidate, Albert Division: “There are 15 candidates that are present here. We have a, the UDP has a candidate in Cayo West. The UDP has a candidate in Cayo North. The UDP has a candidate in Cayo Northeast. The UDP has a candidate in Cayo Central. The UDP has a candidate in Toledo East. The UDP has a candidate in Toledo West. The UDP has a candidate in Dangriga. The UDP has a candidate in Corozal SouthEast. The UDP has a candidate in Corozal SouthWest. The UDP has a candidate in Orange Walk North. The UDP has a candidate in Orange Walk South. The UDP has a candidate in Fort George. The UDP has a candidate in Pickstock. The UDP has a candidate in Freetown. The UDP has 31 candidates running in the next election.”

Notably, Hernan Riveroll’s photo was not on Panton’s flyer because he reportedly joined the slate only this morning.