Belizeans go to the polls on February 7 and a keen battle is expected between the incumbent People’s United Party (PUP) under the leadership of Prime Minister, Said Musa who will seek to return to office for the third consecutive time, and Dean Barrow’s United Democratic Party (UDP)
During the past 13 months general elections were held in several Caribbean countries and in most, the electorates have decided for a change.
It started in St. Lucia in December 2006 when the Kenny Anthony government was toppled by Sir John Compton’s party and the 81 year old became the Prime Minister for the third time. Unfortunately Sir John died a few months later.
On February 9, the voters in Turks and Caicos re-elected Michael Misick’s Pro-gressive National Party (PNM) to office with a much larger majority 13-2.
Three months later, in May, the Bahamas government changed when the Free National Movement (FNM) defeated the ruling Progressive Labour Party (PLP) led by Prime Minister Perry Christie, and as a result Hubert Ingraham was renamed Head of Govern-ment.
In the British Virgin Islands, the incumbent National Democratic Party (NDP) under the leadership of Dr. Orlando Smith suffered a humiliating defeat 13-2 by Ralph O’Neal’s Virgin Islands Party (VIP). The results of the BVI elections sent shock-waves not only in this British Overseas Territory, but throughout the region and further afield.
A change also took place in Jamaica when Portia Simpson’s People’s Nation-al Party was narrowly defeated by the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and Bruce Golding was sworn in as the new Prime Minister.
However, in Trinidad and Tobago, the incumbent People’s National Movement (PNM) whipped the opposition United National Congress under the leadership of the veteran politician/trade unionist/lawyer Basdeo Panday on November 5 and the newly formed Congress of the People (COP) and Patrick Manning was returned as Prime Minister.
On December, 18 Bermudians voted back the Progressive Labour Party (PLP) to office. The Opposition United Bermuda Party (UBP) secured only 14 seats with the incumbent winning 22.
Last week, January 15, Barbadians decided to change their government after 14 years when the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) defeated Owen Arthur’s Barbados Labour Party (BLP) 20-10.
