Speaking with the media after the election Brackett says he respects the work Sulph did but he has to re-prioritize:..

Geovanni Brackett, President - COLA
"Moses has done an exceptional job in taking a stand, so much that he was politically victimized and terminated from his job."

"You have to respect a man who continues to take a stand even in the midst of that crisis. But today we had a vote; I had offered myself for presidency. The people voted for me, and I don't take that as an insult to anybody, but it's a show of democracy, and I will continue to work alongside Moses as a friend."

"It's all about strategy, and I think we have to hit the ground and re-strategize and start to prioritize. We have done our best with the little resources that we have. We've sometimes spread ourselves thin, but that is a result of the mass array of issues that is out there. We want to see how much better we can address those issues."

New vice president for COLA is former secretary Karim Mawema. Bernard Adolphus is the new treasurer and Gilroy Usher Jr. the secretary.

No Referendum On March Seventh?

And while we've talked plenty about the double election on March seventh - you may be asking what about the referendum on offshore drilling? The Coalition to save Our Natural Heritage triggered the referendum mechanism to force the referendum to be called on that day, but it will not be - and the PM gave a highly technical explanation as to why at today's press conference:

Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
"An examination of the law tells me that it can't. As far as I know, these signatures were obtained a long time ago. It appears that the decision not to present them to the chief elections officer for verification was taken so that the timing might allow for this referendum to occur on the same day as the municipal elections."

"From what I have seen, they've got it wrong. The referendum petition - the list of signatures - was presented as I recalled on the 9th December. Two months from that for the completion of the exercise would be the 9th of February. But I suspect that because the law says after the verification with the Governor General has 30 days within which to issue the referendum writ. They thought somehow that would make it possible for the referendum writ to be issued for the 7th March."

"What the law says is that the Governor General issues the referendum writ within 30 days, and in that writ fixes the actual date of the referendum which can't be before 30 days after the issue of the writ."

Voters Not So Sure About Double Election

But is the public ready to face two ballots at the polls on March seventh? Today our intern Robin Schaffer took to the streets this afternoon to ask a few pedestrians if they knew and if they were ready.

She found a mixed bag of public opinion:..

Robin Schaffer
"Have you heard that both elections, the general and municipal, will be on the 7th March?"

Interviewee 1
"Yes I heard it."

Robin Schaffer
"What's your reaction to that? Do you think it's a good idea?"

Interviewee 1
"Anyone will do."

Robin Schaffer
"Is it encouraging you to vote? Do you think you will go out and vote on that day?"

Interviewee 1
"I don't know because all those years I voted, I haven't received any help. I am a poor person."

Robin Schaffer
"Have you heard that there will be both elections, general and municipal, on the same day?"

Interviewee 2
"I heard that today."

Robin Schaffer
"What are your reactions to it? Do you think it will be too hectic? Do you think it's a good idea?"

Interviewee 2
"I think it's going to be a bit too hectic."

Robin Schaffer
"Sir, will that deter you from voting that day?"

Interviewee 2
"No, for me it's alright. But for some people it will be trouble. More mistakes will be made - more than heaven and hell."

Robin Schaffer
"Are you aware that both general and municipal elections are called the same day?"

Interviewee 3
"Yes."

Robin Schaffer
"What are your reactions to it? Do you think it's a good idea? Do you think it will be hectic?"

Interviewee 3
"I am not so sure if it's a good idea but I know yes it will be hectic. What else to say? The government will do what they want to do, and I guess sometimes us as the citizens just have to go with what the government wants right."

Robin Schaffer
"Do you want to vote after hearing that?"

Interviewee 3
"I am still going to vote. That is the law."

Interviewee 4
"The Prime Minister says on TV that he doing it to save tax payers money. I don't know what he means by that."

Robin Schaffer
"What are your reactions to it? You feel that it is a good idea or...?"

Interviewee 4
"You want to know what my problem is. It's the immigrants that he brought in the other day that Elvin Penner brought down. That is my problem that I have right now. Immigrants are taking over this country, and a lot of people are not seeing that. The elections is not my problem, the immigrants is my problem. As a Belizean I don't like someone coming on my soil to claim nationality."

Robin Schaffer
"Will you vote on the day of general election?"

Interviewee 4
"Yes I will support the United Democratic Party; even though I am not eating bread with them, I still will support them because there are certain things that they have done which are good and certain things they have done which are bad like the immigrants that they gave nationality to. I am against that."

Robin Schaffer
"So it doesn't make any difference to you whether they have both elections on the same day or not?"

Interviewee 4
"Anyway you take it, the UDP will win to me. If they have it before or after, the UDP will win."

PM Says He Will Stay On If Elected To Second Term

And for those going to the polls - one legitimate concern is who they are voting for as Prime Minister. Indeed, in this country, we do not have direct election of the Prime Minister - but the Party Leader for the winning side - if he is elected ascends automatically to that post.

There has been some speculation that UDP Party Leader Dean Barrow might think about stepping down as PM sometime during a second term, if his party is elected.

It's not far-fetched considering the PM's chronic and acute back problems and now his wife's breast cancer.

So today we asked him if he plans to stay on as PM if his party were to win another term:..

Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
"Surely we can't think that far ahead. I will be happy if the good people of this country give a second term. I would consider it my obligation in fact to keep my end of the bargain with them. If they give you a second term it's because they mean for you to serve out the second term and do all that you can for them."