BELMOPAN, Belize (CMC) – The ruling United Democratic Party (UDP) was heading towards its third consecutive victory in general elections here, according to preliminary figures released here.

The UDP, which faced a challenge from the main opposition People’s United Party (PUP) and the Belize Progressive Party (BPP) for control of the 31 seats in the Parliament, was leading in as many as 19 constituencies.

The PUP was ahead in eight constituencies, while the BPP, an amalgam of minor opposition parties that was formed a few weeks before the general election, has not won any seat.

Manuel Heredia Jr won the Belize Rural South seat for the UDP for the third consecutive time, polling 3, 499 votes as against 2,388 for the PUP’s Elito Arceo and 134 for the BPP’s Robert Lopez.

“I will continue to work hard and diligently with my people from San Pedro and Caye Caulker; I love them a lot,” Heredia Jr told supporters.

“They in turn have shown today that they continue to love me and that no matter what so long that I am here they will give me that support,” he added.

According to the preliminary results, in the Corozal District, the UDP’s Pablo Saul Marin has won Corozal Bay, while his colleagues Hugo Patt and Dr Angel Campus won the Corozal North and Corozal Southwest seats respectively.

The PUP’s Florencio Marin Jr has won Corozal Southeast.

The Elections and Boundaries Department said that 140,105 people cast ballots in Wednesday’s general election, a 71 per cent voter turnout. It had earlier said 196, 587 persons were eligible to vote.

Prime Minister Dean Barrow called the elections nearly two years ahead of the constitutional deadline. In the 2012 general election, the UDP won 17 of the 31 seats.