Vote-Buying Claims Surface at PUP Corozal Convention

During Sunday’s convention, News Five received repeated claims that Team Rogers supporters were being paid for votes at a nearby property. When we checked the location, we saw some foot traffic, but nothing alarming, and we did not witness any money changing hands. Team Rogers members, meanwhile, accused Team Rigo of doing the same. Internal party conventions are not governed by the same rules as municipal or general elections, but vote-buying, if it happens, still undermines the democratic process. So, we asked leaders from both teams directly: did they pay for votes? We also asked Area Representative Thea Garcia-Ramirez how she spent convention day.

 

Rigoberto Vellos, Mayor, Corozal Town

“I do believe that certain leaders are giving out money. I have heard it. Some of us have seen it.”

 

Paul Lopez

“Are you giving out money?”

 

Rigoberto Vellos

“I don’t have money sir. I don’t have money. My money will be spent on me and who I can help and of course I will dedicate myself to my community. I don’t need to pay people to win a convention or an election.”

 

Shajarie Rogers, PUP Mayoral Aspirant, Corozal Town

“We are working with who comes to vote for us honestly. So I wouldn’t know.”

 

Paul Lopez

“That is to say there is no paying of voters.”

 

Shajarie Rogers

“Absolutely not. As far as Team Rogers is concerned, we are not paying anyone.”

 

Paul Lopez

“Have you spent the day campaigning for Team Rogers?”

 

Thea Garcia-Ramirez, Area Representative, Corozal Bay

“I have spent the day at home trying to reset for the next week. There is a lot of work that we do at the ministry. I am sure you know we have two campaigns moving forward. We have the Blue Teddy Bear Campaign and recently a campaign to end sexual violence against children and teenagers and young people.”

 

This morning, Prime Minister John Briceño took to X to congratulate Rigoberto Vellos and his team on their convention victory.

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

Watch the full newscast here: