PM announces election date

BELMOPAN (CMC):

Prime Minister Dean Barrow on Tuesday announced March 7 as the date for general elections, almost a year ahead of the constitutional deadline.

He said that the National Assembly will be dissolved tomorrow and nomination day will be February 17.

"We will thus have both the municipal and general election on the same day. Now elections in this country are always hard-fought, costly, and by their very nature divisive. Having the two in one will thus save the taxpayer money, and mean a single, quick-healing process.

"Whoever wins can then get on straightaway with the business of binding up wounds and uniting our country, of governing in the best interest of all Belizeans, of continuing to meet the challenges of the unfavourable international climate," Prime Minister Barrow said.

In the February 2008 general election, Barrow's United Democratic Party (UDP) won 25 of the 31 seats with the remaining six going to the People's United Party.

In his national broadcast, Barrow said he had been "proud and grateful" to lead the UDP government since February 2008.

"And we have accomplished much in this first term. Acting always for the people and with the support of the people, our overall record is a stellar one," Barrow said as he announced the early poll.