The 2025 Village Council Elections are in full swing, and this year’s race is shaping up to be anything but ordinary. While these local elections are meant to be non-political, the rivalry between Belize’s two major parties, the P.U.P. and the U.D.P., often plays a big role. But this time around, things are changing. With the United Democratic Party still reeling from internal divisions, several villages have seen no U.D.P. candidates at all. That’s opened the door for independent candidates, who are stepping up to fill the gap and bring fresh energy to the race. According to the Elections and Boundaries Department, official results from the first rounds of voting—held on May eighteenth, May twenty-fifth, and June first—show a mix of contested and uncontested victories across the country. More elections are scheduled for June twenty-second and twenty-ninth, following the official dissolution of dozens of village councils earlier this month. News Five’s Britney Gordon has more on how the elections are unfolding.
Running as an independent in any election is tough, without the backing of a major party, candidates must rely entirely on their own resources and support. But while the odds are steep, success isn’t out of reach. Since May, village council elections have been underway, and while many villages have leaned toward party-backed “blue” councils, independents are gaining ground. One standout is Elise Vernon, who on June first led her team to victory in Biscayne Village, proving that determination and community support can go a long way.
Elise Vernon, Chair-elect, Biscayne Village
“We tend to think that independent means against the government, and I’ve heard it so many times, oh, that means you’re against the government. That means that you are fighting against them, that is not the case. I am independent because I, myself, Elise Vernon, I’m running for an office to help my community. I am not running. Under a different party. I am not running against a certain party. I am running because I, as a resident of Biscayne want to do good in my community.”
Village council elections are not intended to be overly politicized. However, as candidates lean on parties for support, their influence is felt during the campaign period. This year, several P.U.P. candidates have won in villages in an uncontested race. We asked Leader of the Opposition, Tracy Taegar-Panton if the ongoing internal dispute of the U.D.P. has affected the number of U.D.P. candidates stepping up to the plate.
“I dunno that the the internal, disquiet has affected those persons who want to run for the UDP in the village councils. Those people who have wanted to run, have formed slates. They’re on the ground doing the work. I have visited a few communities and I’m very careful with that. Because I really feel at the village council level it shouldn’t be politicized.”
Elise Vernon secured her position as chair in a close race, winning by seven votes. In Gales Point Village, independent candidate Nadine Moore came out on top. Securing forty-eight of sixty-five votes. Belize Rural Central Area Representative, Dolores Balderamos-Garcia welcomes the independents to the slate as she believes it makes for a healthy democracy.
Dolores Balderamos-Garcia, Area Rep., Belize Rural Central
“The Prime Minister has said it, the village Council shouldn’t really be politicized. But we live in a real world. Again, you have perception and you have reality. Life is reality. I repeat that. Although village councils should not really be partisan political, we know that the reality is that there is some level of that. I don’t have a problem if an independent slate goes in uncontested or a PUP slate goes in uncontested. Naturally, I will fight for my political party. And I don’t think it is bad that maybe you might have a slate that’s uncontested. But I will agree with you. It’s good for democracy when independent people offer themselves. Because then the people will have a choice and they will choose who they feel is the better.”
There are three hundred and sixteen registered voters in Biscayne village, with one hundred and seventy-one showing out to vote on June first. Vernon says that while some voters appeared hesitant to support a young independent candidate, ultimately, she had proven herself worthy of their vote.
“ I heard quite a few times that I was too young. I think at one point somebody even mentioned that, we don’t want this “lee gyal”. But at the end of the day, we keep saying that we want you to get involved. And yet the system is set in such a way that when you does want to get involved, it seems like if we don’t want that to happen and it’s contradicting. And so I decided I am one who loves to stand for change.”
Panton says she’s been careful about openly supporting U.D.P. candidates to avoid disrupting the democratic process.
“These are small communities, small villages that need to work together to improve their conditions of living. Where there has been well-defined UDP slates or I have visited at the request of the slates themselves, but I really think that, we should go back to what was the original status quo of village councils, where it was not politically painted or tainted. So that these villages can help to empower themselves.”
Despite the challenges, Vernon urges anyone who wants to make a positive impact in their community to rise to the occasion and run.
“So this kind of needs to change. Then that support will come along with it. Because now if you’re seeing an independent team Biscayne, as we call ourselves for the people and not against a certain entity, now you can see that that support can come true. Because if you and I have the same idea in mind, then why can’t we work for the people? And this is something that I am speaking out about. I want you to see us as nonpartisan. We are working with you. We want. You need to work with us because at the end of the day, if there isn’t support given, then it’s not team Biscayne who gets hurt. It’s the people.”
The rise of independent candidates offers hope for keeping village council elections free from political influence while protecting voters’ right to a fair and democratic process. Britney Gordon for News Five.
Belize’s village council elections will conclude on June twenty-ninth 2025.
