And while those kids were coming back to school, on Saturday Cordel Hyde came back to the PUP. We first told you about it 4 months ago. It was news because he'd had had a less than amicable departure from the PUP in March of 2012.
Viewers may remember that in February, 2012 - right before the general election, Hyde announced to his party and the public that after 3 consecutive terms as Area Rep, he was resigning because his son's battle with cancer had worsened, and that he needed to focus on his family.
That happened days before his political colleague, Mark Espat's, decision not to run for the Albert Division in the 2012 Elections. You may recall that in last few years of both of these men's political careers in the PUP, they became infamous for their attacks on their own party, the so-called Old Guard of the PUP, which had departed from the Party's social justice roots.
And because of their history, party insiders blamed them both of them for putting 2 sure seats into play, and handing the election to the UDP. After the elections, the PUP decided that the pair had resigned their seats, and that they could no longer hold any position for the party, or run for elected office as PUP's. That ought to have been the end of Hyde's days a PUP, but politics, they say, is the art of the possible.
After months of build-up, Hydes endorsement for Lake Independence took place on Saturday evening, and of course, 7News was front and centre. Daniel Ortiz reports:
Daniel Ortiz reporting
The Saint Martin De Porres Field was taken over, transformed into a stage to look the part for the return of the three term area rep, as he began the reset of his political career.
The crowd, at its initial stages was respectable, but unremarkable. By the time Cordel Hyde was ready to give the main speech some 2 hours later, however, the crowd had increased by at least double or triple the initial amount.
One by one, the PUP A-Listers moved to their seats at the head of the meeting, Drs Francis Smith and Marco Tulio Mendez, Said Musa, Ramon "Monchie" Cervantes, Dolores Balderamos Garcia, Dan Silva, John Briceno, Florencio Marin Jr., and of course, Opposition Leader, Francis Fonseca.
After everyone had taken their places, the man of the hour strode onto the field, immediately, he was swarmed by his enthusiastic voters from Lake Independence. It took him 10 to 15 minutes to navigate past the constant stream of bodies who were there to greet him.
When he finally made it to the head table, he warmly greeted his colleagues, who were there to oversee his swearing in. He greeted his party leader warmly with a hug, and then the meeting was called to order shortly after that.
It had been a while since Hyde had been seen publicly with other politicians from the PUP, not since his departure in 2012. Yet, he had the appearance of the right fit, seated to the left of Francis Fonseca, the man who he had told that he would not run for politics - and later presided over an a party that said Hyde had quote, "resigned from the People's United Party and can no longer hold any position in the Party nor run for any seat on a PUP ticket."
But, in politics, nothing is written in stone, and two years after the PUP privately blamed him for giving up a sure seat, and handing the UDP a slim government majority, Hyde was officially back.
Rt. Hon. Said Musa - PUP Area Rep, Fort George
"Everywhere I go people is asking me, is it true that Cordel Hyde is back? Well you saw the ad for this meeting today right; the Return of Cordel Hyde. Today we are witnessing the great return of Cordel Hyde. Cordel didn't really return to the PUP, Cordel said he has never left the PUP."
But he did resign from Musa's cabinet...still the rest of his colleagues left all that in the past - or at least pretended to, and started looking to the future.
Henry Charles Usher - Party Chairman, PUP
"Forward as the former Prime Minister said forward with the People's United Party. Forward with our new standard bearer here in Lake Independence Cordel Hyde and forward to victory at the next elections.... PUP."
Crowd Chanting
"All the way."
Hon. Dolores Balderamos Garcia - PUP Area Rep, Belize Rural Central
"The first thing I want to say this afternoon ladies and gentlemen and to Cordel Hyde our beloved Cordel Hyde is welcome back to the party. Welcome back to the party Cordel."
Dan Silva - Standard Bearer, Cayo Central
"Cordel is like a rock star coming in today and that love is very important and I agree with our chairman, that Lake I will go PUP. So today Cordel, after you win we have a big job. Today is a hard day for mothers, tomorrow is a school day."
Hon. John Briceno - PUP Area Rep., Orange Walk Central
"I'm here to support Cordel Hyde because Cordel Hyde is a warrior for the people of Lake Independence. And Cordel and I, we have been in many battles and whenever Cordel and I fight, we fight to win for the people of Belize ladies and gentlemen."
Hon. Florencio Marin Jr. - PUP Area Rep, Corozal Southeast
"I always use to hear about Cordel and met him as like colleagues in 2008 and I really like his style. I like his down to earth-ness and I myself try to learn from him as how he deals with people because he has a natural gift as a politician, you got to admit that right; as he came  in you see the crowd, you see the love, and you could feel the energy from this gentleman. So I am proud to be here with him, to stand next to him and welcome him back amongst our ranks and for sure as someone said earlier, for sure when elections get declared you know that Lake I is in, Cordel is coming."
Ramon Monchie Cervantes - OW Standard Bearer
"I have come here to support Cordel Hyde because I know that Cordel Hyde stands for certain principles that we need to reaffirm so that Belize gets on the right track."
After all those generous endorsements from the Party Reps, the returning Standard Bearer took the rostrum, ready to swear in, it was with the theme of his return, "Coming Home".
Cordel Hyde
"I Cordel Hyde do solemnly swear that I pledge to work for the achievement of the aims and objectives of the peaceful constructive Belizean revolution, to work for the principles, policies and programs of the People's United Party."
Cordel Hyde
"You see why I couldn't stay away too long? Its official, I'm coming home, home to stay. It has been a while since I've seen so many people in one place, so you to excuse me if I get a little bit carried away and I if I talk a little bit too long because I have lots of things to say - I haven't gotten a mic in a while. The people of Lake Independence is what makes this day possible. You have to tell the world and the country that I am you all man and you all would never cheat on your man. You see why I have to love Lake Independence."
After riding the wave of heightened emotions from his supporters, he got serious for some real talk.
Cordel Hyde
"Two years ago a very few people could have predicted this day. They say we in the People's United Party were too divided, we could never reach beyond the issues of the past. Well, let it be said that on this blessed Saturday August 30th, 2014 - we came together in support of a greater cause and while we may not be singing kumbaya around an open fire, let it be said that the cause of the people is greater than any issue. The cause of the people is greater than anything that divides us. We thank you for believing deeply that together we can once again be better - that together we can make people's lives better and that ultimately we can be true to Mr. Price's PUP - the social justice; the social justice creed, that we are going to take care of the people who needs our help the most and we are going to be there for the majority of the people all the time. That is what made the People's United Party win general elections for almost 30 years."
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