Police Association Central Board: Many factors influenced low voter turnout for elections

Published by BBN Staff at January 9, 2021

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Posted: Saturday, January 9, 2021. 9:04 am CST.

By BBN Staff: The Belize Police Association held its elections for a new Central Board this week with a voter turnout notably smaller than the last election, but the newly elected board says that many factors were at play.

Wednesday’s elections saw a total of 838 officers casting votes, a far cry from the over 1,500 that voted in 2020.

Sergeant Jermaine Hyde, former Acting President of the previous Central Board and current board member, said that the turnout appeared to have more to do with circumstances at play rathern than a lack of interest.

“For instance, I know you guys know that we have some police officers who are in quarantine, who may not have been able to come out and vote. Then in the north as you know, there is a lockdown, a lot of these police officers live in villages and finding their way to vote at the different and yes there is voting station at every formation but to reach those stations maybe for some of them is an hour drive,” Hyde said in an interview with Channel 7 News.

Hyde also noted that another pressing issue for police officers are illnesses other than COVID-19.

The new Central Board will decide among itself who will serve as its president, however, the election results are currently being challenged by Corporal Eldon Arzu, following his loss at the polls.

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