Dwayne Sampson Wins UDP Mayoral Nomination in Dangriga

The United Democratic Party has selected its mayoral candidates for Dangriga and Benque Viejo del Carmen as it prepares for the March 2027 municipal elections.  In Dangriga, Dwayne Sampson secured a decisive victory over Christalyn Castillo during yesterday’s convention at Holy Ghost Primary School. Sampson received six hundred and eighty-seven votes, while Castillo secured one hundred and ninety-five. Both mayoral candidates had presented full councillor slates.  Dayton Sabal topped the councillor poll with six hundred and twenty-five votes, followed by Jamal Swaso with six hundred and seventeen. Marsha Mejia received five hundred and eighty-eight votes; Elsworth Magdaleno secured five hundred and eighty-two; Albourne Marshall received five hundred and sixty-one; and Jessica Fajardo completed the successful slate with four hundred and eight votes.  Following the announcement of the results, UDP Chairlady Sheena Pitts and Party Leader Tracy Taegar Panton called on supporters from both camps to unite behind Sampson and the newly elected slate. The appeal continued the convention’s central message of “One UDP, One Team.” Panton spoke with our colleagues at DYFA Garifuna Radio about the results and the party’s path toward the municipal elections.

Tracy Panton, Leader of the Opposition: “The United Democratic Party is having a convention in Benque and a convention here in Dangriga. So I went to Benque first, and now I’m here. I’m very pleased to see the number of voters who have come out. It’s important for Belize’s democracy. It’s important for the party’s democracy. We need to allow people to determine who they believe can best represent them in municipal governance. I think the United Democratic Party is the big winner today. I think our democracy externally and internally is the big winner today. I think Dangriga is the big winner today because we have had so many boots on the ground, two campaign teams visiting with the people of Dangriga, listening more importantly to the people of Dangriga and those comments and those concerns will be taken into account.”

Reporter: Now what’s the way forward now after this election ? 

Tracy Panton, Leader of the Opposition: “Well, when a candidate is determined, we will certainly come together as a party to decide the strategy as we plan for the actual municipal elections.”

Meanwhile, in Benque Viejo del Carmen, five hundred and thirty-three people participated in the UDP’s mayoral convention. Yusef Guerra emerged victorious with four hundred and five votes, defeating Danette Lee Mendez, who received one hundred and nineteen.  Following the results, Senator Patrick Faber officiated the swearing-in of Guerra as the UDP’s mayoral candidate for Benque Viejo.  Sampson and Guerra will now lead their respective UDP municipal teams into the elections scheduled for March 2027.