Anthony Mahler in Pickstock and Henry Charles Usher in Fort George returned uncontested following Nomination Day; four UDP candidates miss nomination

Published by BBNTEAM at February 24, 2025

Posted: Monday, February 24, 2025. 4:48 pm CST.

By Aaron Humes: Pending an official announcement from the Elections and Boundaries Department, electoral nominations closed today at four o’clock, revealing that both the Pickstock and Fort George constituencies will see candidates from the People’s United Party (PUP) automatically returned to the House of Representatives.

Breaking Belize News has confirmed with senior members of the United Democratic Party (UDP) that neither Dean Samuels, a former councilor, nor Melvin Hewlett, the party’s long-time regional leader, appeared at the Belize Civic Center to be nominated, despite appearing at the party’s official candidate/manifesto launch on Saturday in Belize City. We additionally understand that at least two other candidates missed nomination elsewhere.

Rule 3 (4) of the Election Rules, Schedule III to the Representation of the People Act states, “If at four o’clock in the afternoon only one candidate has been nominated for the seat to be filled the returning officer shall forthwith declare such candidate to have been elected, and shall immediately thereafter certify by endorsement on the writ of election the return of that candidate according to Form 20 of Schedule V and shall return the writ so endorsed to the Commission for transmission to the Governor-General within the time for that purpose specified therein.”

It means that for the first time, there will be no elections in these constituencies on March 12, only for those where more candidates are nominated than seats, one, to be filled. Both elected candidates, Ministers Anthony Mahler and Henry Charles Usher, enter their second terms in office.

The UDP has nominated other candidates countrywide and will face off with the PUP on March 12, defending five seats.

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