Last week we took you to two key general election battlegrounds in the north - Orange Walk North and Orange Walk Central. In the city a key battleground is the Collet division. Three candidates are running for one seat. Most political pundits agree and history concurs that right now it is anybody's race. We cite history because the Collet division has been flip flopping since 1989. But what will it be in 2008? Here's a preview of what's at stake.

Keith Swift Reporting,
The battle for Collet is between the incumbent - UDP's Patrick Faber.

Patrick Faber, Area Representative - Collet
"There is nothing but love out in this division for Patrick Faber and the United Democratic Party at this time. So the energy is high out here."

And the insurgent - urban planner turned politician - Carolyn Trench-Sandiford for the PUP.

Carolyn Trench-Sandiford, PUP Standard Bearer - Collet
"We need to move forward, we need to take Collet to the next step. We need to work together, we need people who are going to come into the constituency and work, not people who are going to hide. We need people with courage, with conviction, we need people with the qualifications and the experience and the willingness to do the job."

The battle for Collet is fierce and interesting because no one party can stake claim to this division. In 1993 the UDP won and in 1998, in 2003 the UDP won again and those have all been by fairly thin margins.

Patrick Faber,
"This is the first time since our independence that this division is going to go back to back for the red and for Patrick Faber. No doubt about that."

Carolyn Trench-Sandiford,
"I think what happens with Collet Keith, the people in Collet are humble people. They are people who know exactly what they want for representation and when they don't get it, they vote you out and that's what's going to happen on February 7th, they are not happy with the representation of the Hon. Patrick Faber."

But while voters might not be happy with Patrick Faber - those same people probably aren't happy with the present government - under whose banner Trench-Sandiford is running. Her answer is simple: it comes down to one woman versus two men.

Carolyn Trench-Sandiford,
"Keith I welcome the challenge because I explain to them why I am a standard bearer for the PUP, why I chose Collet as a constituency, because it is a constituency which I was born in, a constituency which nurtured and supported me and raised me and I am who I am because of Collet. At the end of the day it is candidate versus candidate. Yes there are certain issues and concerns that the people raise regarding the PUP and I think I have been able to respond to those queries and concerns."

But though she may be winning the war of signs - there are larger than life photos of her across the division - Patrick Faber says he will win the old fashion way - campaigning house to house - reaching out and touching voters.

Patrick Faber,
"Most of the day what I find myself doing is I am going house to house. You remember on nomination day when you guys interviewed me I said that is exactly what we intend to do and you can find me out here every single day in homes because that is how I believe elections are won."

Keith Swift,
What are you telling voters, what are you tell your constituents?

Patrick Faber,
"We are telling them first of all to vote for the UDP because of course the UDP has a track record to deliver this country every time we are in the mess and certainly we are in a mess financially and so we are asking for that support for the UDP as we go house to house."

Keith Swift,
How do you view your opponent Carolyn Trench-Sandiford and her chances against you?

Patrick Faber,
"Well I don't have anything negative to say about her. I've heard quite a few negative things she has said about me. I think people of this division understands very well the issues. They understand we had a very spiteful and vindictive government, one that did not give us the community funds to do much for people for people. The people out there know the goodness of Patrick Faber and that is why I can honestly say to you that Carolyn Trench-Sandiford does not stand a chiney man ghost of a chance, as my colleague Finnegan says in the Collet constituency. No doubt about it."

There is also no doubt that his opponent is well financed.

Keith Swift,
There is a belief that the PUP is pumping a lot of money into this division because they believe that it is a one that they can win.

Carolyn Trench-Sandiford,
"The PUP has been putting funding in this division like many other divisions but I think when you compare Collet to many other divisions, I don't think that is so. Collet has really been abandoned for some time but it is because you have an area representative. It is the role of that area representative to go to the government, to go to the private sector, to go to the business community, to go to the people and say these are the things we want to do and that is what we are going to do today.

We're saying this is the vision we have set for Collet. If you know where you are going Keith you won't get lost. The problem we've had with the pass representative is that they don't know where he was going and now four and a half to five years later he comes back and say this is what he is going to do. But he had five years to do it and he didn't. The people of Collet are looking for somebody whose going to do things.

And at the end of the day, its like I said to somebody who said they saw me giving out land, I can't give out land. Only the Minister of Natural Resources can give out land. But if I could be the Minister of Natural Resources and give everybody in Collet a land I will do it because that is what the people want."

Keith Swift,
The PUP is pumping a lot of money into that division and they believe it is a seat they can win.

Patrick Faber,
"Well I will tell you this, as you go house to house there are many people who still can't tell you who Carolyn Trench-Sandiford is. There are many people as well who are telling you no matter what she has given them, we will take their money, will take their lot, and we will vote them out."

But if the other Patrick - Patrick Rogers gets his way - Collet won't go red or blue - it'll go yellow for the VIP.

Patrick Rogers, VIP Candidate for Collet
"I believe that these people know I am their brother. I am not from Mars, I am right here in Collet and they know what I stand for. I speak with a certain amount of consistency. They believe if they want change they can only get it with VIP. To me the choice is clear Belize - there is only two options. You either vote for the same system or you vote for change. It is simple - if you want change you vote yellow."

But the main event will be the blue versus the red - and in one week we'll know if the celebration Saturday on Lakeview Street was premature.

We spoke to Carolyn Trench Sandiford this evening at the launch of her manifesto - the Vision 2008 for Collet. Patrick Faber will host his rally in the division tomorrow. We note that Collet is one of the divisions radically affected by the re-districting.