All across Belize today, the ground shook as the major mass parties rolled out for nomination day. In Belize City, they rolled hardest because 10 divisions are concentrated in the city - and it's also the best place for a show since the media is concentrated here.
On any other day, that would have been the headline - but tonight, Yolanda Schakron is the one dominating the headlines.
Yesterday, a voter objected to her candidacy for Lake Independence on the grounds that she is a dual national - and today the decision on whether she could stand for election had to be made by the returning officer for Lake Independence, Noreen Fairweather.
Fairweather determined that due to section 58 of the constitution, Schakron was not qualified to hold a seat in the House of Representatives.
At around 11:30 - that sent Schakron walking out of the Elections and Boundaries office - where she had gone to be nominated - in tears.
7news was there and here's how it unfolded:
Jules Vasquez Reporting:
Yolanda Schakron came out of the nomination office in tears - her nomination had been rejected by the returning officer for Lake Independence.
She has a public reputation as a strong woman, but today the tears and the disappointment were real as she took counsel form her attorney Magali Marin and borrowed a pair of sunglasses to cover her eyes - she started by showing me her valid Belizean passport - and then launched into a bilious invective against Dean Barrow:
Yolanda Schakron - Lake I Candidacy Rejected
"I want you to know that I'm not giving up. I see the suffering and the pain in Lake Independence. Dean Barrow, you are a cold man. I will tell you that to your face. You go to the States when you get married. I got married in Belize. I came back home. I am a Belizean. I love my country. It's not over yet. I will continue the fight because I see the pain and the suffering that you have put the Belizean people through for these 4 years. Dean Barrow, it's not over. You and the UDP will not conquer me. I want you know that the women of Belize are listening. It's not over, Dean Barrow. I will continue the fight; even if I am not allowed to run for Lake I, I will continue the fight for the people of this country. And I will continue until you, Dean Barrow, and the United Democratic Party are out of power. I will continue to be a member of the People's United Party, and will work hard to put you out of power. We have had enough. I know that God is on my side, and God is my strength, and Dean Barrow, you cannot fight the power of Jesus Christ. So, March 7, the People's United Party will be returned to power. Our people will be free."
And that's all she said as she was taken away in tears clutched by former leader Said Musa and Party Chairman Henry Usher. She had to rush off to court
But not before addressing her animated supporters:
Yolanda Schakron
"It's not over. We will continue the fight. We will not allow a dictator like Dean Barrow to be returned to power."
The noise was enormous as she was whisked away - off to the court:
Francis Fonseca - Leader, PUP
"As I understand it, Jules - I've been obviously in the parade - but as I understand it, the matter is before the courts. It may very well be before the courts as we are speaking now. So we have to - I don't want to say anything to prejudice what is taking place before the courts, but we will obviously wait to see what has been decided at the court, and make our decisions based on this."
Jules Vasquez
"But I'm receiving a text from court right now that the Returning Officer has refused the nomination of Mrs. Schakron. I know that we only have 5 hours at this time - 4 1/2 hours. What will happen? Do you have a contingency in place? I see a Carlos Dias poster up at the corner right there."
Francis Fonseca
"Well, we're going to take this one step at a time. Yes, you are right, we have a deadline. We're going to take it one step at a time. We want to exhaust the remedies available to us through the courts, and let's see what the court decides. And once the court has made a decision then, we will have to make our decisions based on that."
Jules Vasquez
"But the voters need to know that you will have a candidate in Lake Independence."
Francis Fonseca
"We will have a candidate in Lake Independence."
Jules Vasquez
"Do you accept any of the blame as the Head of the PUP for the fact that you all tried to nominate a candidate who has dual nationality?"
Francis Fonseca
"Well, everything that happens in the PUP I have to accept responsibility for. So, yes, obviously, it would have been great for us to have known everything before - hand, but the fact is that as soon as we found out, we made it absolutely clear to Mrs Schakron that she had to renounce her citizenship."
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