BELIZE CITY, Mon. Mar. 2, 2015–A hundred and fifty-six (156) candidates from 4 political parties as well as 7 non-aligned independent candidates, will battle for 67 seats in the nation’s 9 municipalities this Wednesday; and some of the competing candidates we spoke with say that they will be ready when polls open at 7:00 a.m. to cast their votes in what they know will be a vigorously contested race.

Speaking with Amandala today, Opposition Leader Francis Fonseca was spirited and optimistic. He told us that the PUP is fighting vigorously, in all municipalities they are maintaining a strong presence and putting up a valiant fight in all 9 of them.

“I think we have three municipalities governed by the PUP at this time and my sense is that the UDP is spending and making every effort to try and win those municipalities, so those are very strong fighting grounds. Those will be hotly contested: Orange Walk, Punta Gorda and Dangriga,” Fonseca told us.

He also expects the race in Belmopan to be “very hotly contested.”

Meanwhile, Fonseca pointed to Belize City as “the political center of the country” – a municipality where 4 in 10 people eligible to vote are registered.

However, as Fonseca notes, Belize City is the location that has the presence of the leaders of both the major political parties, as well as many senior ministers of UDP government and so it is “always a hotly contested seat.”

The Opposition Leader expressed confidence about the performance of the PUP’s candidates in Orange Walk and Corozal. He also said that the PUP has “a very, very good opportunity of winning Belmopan,” but he concedes that the fight will be tough in Benque and San Ignacio.

While the political pendulum has swung between the two mass parties over the last four elections (2003, 2006, 2009, and 2012) in most of the municipalities, voters in these two particular municipalities have stuck with the UDP. However, the Opposition is not deterred by that fact and Fonseca told us that although those will be difficult fights, the PUP has been working very hard in those municipalities as well.

Fonseca said that the people of Benque are ready for a change and he has been hearing a lot from people that they are very concerned about the actions of the national government, about corruption, arrogance, and vindictiveness.

“Change begins now! It begins on March 4 and we will complete it with the general elections,” said Fonseca.

However, UDP Chairman, Alberto August, told us this electoral race is also for the UDP.

“There is a high possibility that the UDP can win all 67 seats in all 9 municipalities,” August said, adding that voters are satisfied with development countrywide and the kind of government led by the UDP, which he said is “properly organized…”

As for the issues that will decide the election’s outcome, August said that the key issue will be the UDP’s record for national development: “That will be a positive for the UDP,” he stated.

He also said that if no early elections are called, the municipalities will serve 2/3 of their term under a UDP central government and if the UDP win a third term in the general elections, it would mean that they would serve the entire term under the UDP.

We asked August, “Why should it matter?” He charged that in the municipalities controlled by the PUP, those administrations “are refusing to work with central government…,” because they believe that the praise will go to central government.

August agreed with Fonseca that Belize City will be a major center of attention. He disagrees that a disproportionate amount of funds have been channeled from central government into Belize City. He said that the government channeled $20 mil into Belize City for works projects that cover 10 electoral divisions, while it is spending $24 mil for paving Orange Walk Town to Blue Creek, which is in one division – Orange Walk South.

“Government is just spending money where they need it, like any responsible administration would do,” August said.

He told us that his party expects a better performance in Wednesday’s elections. He noted that in 2006, they won 64 of 67 seats, amid major allegations of corruption against the then administration of the PUP; and after the UDP came to office in 2008, they won 64 seats again in 2009.

Hubert Enriquez, chairman of Vision Inspired by the People (VIP), confirmed that the VIP will be contesting with full slates in two municipalities: San Pedro and Belmopan.

“I think the race on Wednesday will be very interesting. I think we have an edge, because people do want change: that’s my sincere assessment of what I hear on the ground,” Enriquez said.

He said that while voters sometimes tell you what you want to hear, the comments of support are coming this time around without them even asking.

Enriquez welcomes the variety of candidates in Belmopan, which will see the biggest mayoral race, with as many as five persons making their bid for the seat which will be vacated by the UDP’s Simeon Lopez.

Enriquez said that the VIP has been there in Belmopan, where the party was formed, for the past 15 years and they’ve gathered some solid supporters. He anticipates that their consistent effort will garner them more votes this year.

“People are fed up; people really want change,” said Enriquez, who also expects a good race for the VIP in San Pedro, where VIP leader Bobby Lopez is leading a VIP slate into the Wednesday election.

Down south in Punta Gorda, Wil Maheia, leader of the People’s National Party (PNP), is enthusiastic after Saturday’s rally, which, he said, was emceed by a current councilor for the PUP in PG, Sheldon Ramirez, who he said is fed up with his party.

“I think we might win,” Maheia told Amandala. He said that he is surrounded by 40 volunteers, more than prior election campaigns. He also said that Saturday’s PNP rally had a bigger crowd than the rallies for the mass parties.

Maheia also told us that his slate is the most experienced in job creation and entrepreneurship, and the most ethnically diverse, with persons spanning the traditional ethnic groups of the district. He also believes that Wednesday’s vote will also reflect the discontent of voters with the way the town has been kept, with garbage not being picked up for up to two weeks in some parts of town and a rise in public drinking.

Forty UDP and PUP candidates are seeking reelection in Wednesday’s bid.