BELIZE: parliamentary elections (House of Representatives, 2003)

BELIZE
Parliamentary Chamber: House of Representatives

ELECTIONS HELD IN 2003

<<< Return to the Historical Archive page of parliamentary election results for BELIZE <<<

Chamber:

House of Representatives

Dates of elections / renewal (from/to):

5 March 2003

Purpose of elections:

Elections were held for all the seats in the House of Representatives on the normal expiry of the members' term of office.

Background and outcome of elections:

Voters went to the polls on 5 March 2003. Elections were to be held by August 2003, but Prime Minister called them earlier.
Key issues in the election campaign included the country's deteriorating school system, unemployment, housing shortages, and a murder rate that had doubled largely due to increased drug smuggling. Parties invested heavily in billboards, political rallies, television and radio commercials, and music videos featuring local pop artists and dancers to woo voters. Outgoing Prime Minister Said Musa campaigned on a platform of stability, pointing to the country's 6.7 per cent average economic growth over the last years and a reduction in unemployment levels to 9 per cent from 14 per cent. The opposition party, the United Democratic Party (UDP), campaigned against alleged mismanagement and corruption in the ruling People's United Party (PUP).
Polling day was mainly calm and only one incident of violence was reported during the voting, when supporters of the two main political parties, the PUP of Prime Minister Said Musa and the UDP, attacked each other's campaign booths in the northern town of Corozal. Voter turnout was high, reported at nearly 80 per cent of the voters.
The ruling People's United Party (PUP) secured a comfortable victory with 22 of the 29 seats in the House of Representatives. This made the PUP the first party ever to win a second successive term in office since the country became independent from the United Kingdom in 1981. However, it suffered a net loss of four seats in comparison with the 1998 landslide, when it took 26 seats. The opposition United Democratic Party (UDP) obtained seven seats, while seventeen independent candidates failed to secure a seat in the elections.
The 13 members of the new Cabinet were sworn in on 7 March 2003.

STATISTICS

Round no 1 (5 March 2003): Elections results

Number of registered electors 126 261

Voters 99 560 (79 %)

Round no 1: Distribution of votes

Political Group Votes %

People's United Party (PUP) 52 934 53.20

United Democratic Party (UDP) 45 415 45.60

Round no 1: Distribution of seats

Political Group Total

People's United Party (PUP) 22

United Democratic Party (UDP) 7

Comments:

The distribution of seats according to political group relates only to elective seats

Distribution of seats according to sex:

Men: 28

Women: 2

Percent of women: 6.67

<<< Return to the Historical Archive page of parliamentary election results for BELIZE <<<

Chamber:
	House of Representatives
Dates of elections / renewal (from/to):
	5 March 2003
Purpose of elections:
	Elections were held for all the seats in the House of Representatives on the normal expiry of the members' term of office.
Background and outcome of elections:
	Voters went to the polls on 5 March 2003. Elections were to be held by August 2003, but Prime Minister called them earlier. Key issues in the election campaign included the country's deteriorating school system, unemployment, housing shortages, and a murder rate that had doubled largely due to increased drug smuggling. Parties invested heavily in billboards, political rallies, television and radio commercials, and music videos featuring local pop artists and dancers to woo voters. Outgoing Prime Minister Said Musa campaigned on a platform of stability, pointing to the country's 6.7 per cent average economic growth over the last years and a reduction in unemployment levels to 9 per cent from 14 per cent. The opposition party, the United Democratic Party (UDP), campaigned against alleged mismanagement and corruption in the ruling People's United Party (PUP). Polling day was mainly calm and only one incident of violence was reported during the voting, when supporters of the two main political parties, the PUP of Prime Minister Said Musa and the UDP, attacked each other's campaign booths in the northern town of Corozal. Voter turnout was high, reported at nearly 80 per cent of the voters. The ruling People's United Party (PUP) secured a comfortable victory with 22 of the 29 seats in the House of Representatives. This made the PUP the first party ever to win a second successive term in office since the country became independent from the United Kingdom in 1981. However, it suffered a net loss of four seats in comparison with the 1998 landslide, when it took 26 seats. The opposition United Democratic Party (UDP) obtained seven seats, while seventeen independent candidates failed to secure a seat in the elections. The 13 members of the new Cabinet were sworn in on 7 March 2003.

Round no 1 (5 March 2003): Elections results
Number of registered electors	126 261
Voters	99 560 (79 %)

Round no 1: Distribution of votes
Political Group	Votes	%
People's United Party (PUP)	52 934	53.20
United Democratic Party (UDP)	45 415	45.60

Round no 1: Distribution of seats
Political Group	Total
People's United Party (PUP)	22
United Democratic Party (UDP)	7

Comments:
	The distribution of seats according to political group relates only to elective seats

Distribution of seats according to sex:
Men:	28
Women:	2
Percent of women:	6.67