Belizean general election, 1993

General elections were held in Belize on 30 June 1993.^[1] Althouth the People's United Party received the most votes, the United Democratic Party-National Alliance for Belizean Rights alliance won more seats. Voter turnout was 72.1%.^[1]

Background

British forces, kept in Belize by agreement of its government since independence in 1981, were scheduled to leave in 1993 or 1994. There was widespread belief that Belize would fall prey to Guatemalan incursions if the British left. The ruling People's United Party won a by-election for a Belize City constituency in late January and subsequent City Council elections in March, their second straight. Possibly buoyed by these successes, and the appearance of disunity within the UDP (the NABR consisted mostly of former UDP politicians who had broken with leaders Manuel Esquivel and Dean Barrow over the Guatemalan claim), Prime Minister George Price called elections nearly a year-and-a-half early (they were not constitutionally due until at least December 1994). With Price's move the UDP and NABR promptly sought coalition to achieve victory at the polls.

Results

This was an extremely close election in several constituencies:

• Caribbean Shores, in the Belize City area, and Stann Creek West, had margins of only 40 and 34 votes, respectively, with the UDP-NABR winner less than two percent over the PUP runner-up in two-way races. Voter turnout was 67% and 77%, respectively.
• Belize Rural North, with a turnout of 70.6%, chose its PUP winner with 943 votes, to 939 for the UDP-NABR runner-up. There were 23 rejected ballots, more than enough to sway the result if their invalidity was challenged.
• Collet (Belize City area), with a turnout of only 59.8%, chose its UDP-NABR winner with 951 votes, to 950 for the PUP runner-up and 10 votes for an independent candidate. There were three rejected ballots.
• Cayo North, with a turnout of 76.5%, chose its UDP-NABR winner with 1,890 votes, to 1,872 for the PUP runner-up. There were 35 rejected ballots, more than enough to sway the result.
• Corozal Southwest, with a turnout of 80.6%, chose its PUP winner with 1,464 votes, to 1,461 for the UDP-NABR runner-up. There were 13 rejected ballots, more than enough to sway the result.
• Orange Walk North, with a turnout of 85.0%, chose its UDP-NABR winner with 1,426 votes, to 1,421 for the PUP runner-up. There were 12 rejected ballots, more than enough to sway the result.
• Toledo East, with a turnout of 75.2%, chose its UDP-NABR winner with 1,552 votes, to 1,548 for the PUP runner-up. There were 11 rejected ballots, more than enough to sway the result.

References