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We went to OCEANA's office to hear the results today of an unofficial referendum - with really only one side of the issue campaigning and coordinating - but all that aside, the numbers are too big to ignore:

Jules Vasquez Reporting

Today - whatever fatigue accumulated over a night of counting ballots - was overtaken by the rush of success that far surpassed expectations:

Audrey Matura - Shepherd - Vice President, Oceana
"We want people to know that we are proud to announce that the total amount of voters who came out was 29,235. Give them a round of applause."

There was no shortage of self-congratulation, but with good reason - the results validate all the Coalition has been saying.

Of the 29,235 who voted countrywide - 28,208 - a resounding 96% - voted no to offshore drilling:

Audrey Matura - Shepherd
"For the Corozal District, we had a total of 3,501 voters who came out, yay, Corozal. And that's only in Corozal the District itself, because a lot of them did vote in San Pedro and Belize, where they live now or work. And so there, we have 98% of the people of Corozal who all said no to offshore drilling, and 1.5% said yes. That 0.5% may have accounted for spoilt or missing ballots. In the Stann Creek District we had a total of 3,721 voters who went out to cast their vote. 95% of them said no to offshore drilling; 4% said yes. In Caye Caulker, we had had 478 registered voters who went out to cast their votes. Of those, 97.2% said no to offshore drilling, and 1.8% said yes. In San Pedro, 2,725 persons came out to cast their votes. Of those, 98% said no to offshore drilling. 1.5% said yes to offshore drilling. In Cayo - mein those people in Cayo love their politics. Listen to this number: 4,984 people went out to cast their votes, yay Cayo, 'Big up Cayo'. And of t hose, 95% said no to offshore drilling, and 2.7% said yes. In the Belize District, we had the largest amount, of course. We had 9,463 voters who went out to cast their votes. And listen to this number: 97% of them said no offshore drilling. In Orange Walk - again, another place that just loves their politics - listen to this number. 3.356 people went out to cast their votes, and they only had 3 polls in Orange Walk, and those 97% of them said no to offshore drilling, and 1.9% said yes to offshore drilling. Listen to how many people came out to vote in the Toledo District: 1007. 94% of them said absolutely no offshore drilling, and 5.6% said yes to offshore drilling. So those are the figures: alarming, resounding no to offshore drilling."

And if there seemed to be more than a bit of triumphalism or gloating, that's because it's - for them - validation of a long process which has met sustained institutional resistance.

Audrey Matura - Shepherd
"We've been working on this for 2 years almost now, you know. We've been pushed to this level of demonstration - we would say - which is a peaceful way to demonstrate - because our leaders are not listening. And come March 7, after the results are read out on the 8th of March, it does not matter who becomes the next government, I hope that the political parties are heeding the warning, that this is just the start."

And the man who started it all two years ago is Geovanni Brackett:

Geovanni Brackett - President, COLA
"I think that the results of close to 30,000 have shown an indicated what the people of Belize feel about this issue. Considering the fact that we didn't pay for any votes; we didn't have any big machinery - no big vans to bring out people. One of my friends said that we'd probably get 1,500. To have close to 30,000 is a huge accomplishment. And to have any Government underestimate the close to 30,000 people - of voters - I want to say that if you underestimate those people, and you are going up against the will of the people, to me, I think that's political suicide. And I think that any government who dares to embark on offshore drilling is embarking on political suicide."

And now the ruling party is in a delicate position since Leader Dean Barrow has said he won't negotiate with Matura-Shepherd - but with 29 thousand voters in her sack, she's got one heck of a bargaining chip - and boy, does she know it:

Audrey Matura - Shepherd
"We will stay together as the Coalition to Save Our Natural Heritage. We keep on working, and we will not disenfranchise the people of this country. And, definitely, we will not alienate any of our leaders for the sake of the whims or fancies of anyone who does not like working with us."

That's what you might call a hot potato with a dagger in it - but while OCEANA takes the credit, and adopts the swagger - the remarkable response is really thanks to a passionate citizenry:

Yasmin Andrews - Statistical Analyst
"Again, the general conclusion is that Belizeans do not want offshore drilling. Now we really can't get any clearer than that because you had the poll; you had the referendum; you had the signing of the sheets. Now you have people actually going to vote, walking from point A to B, and going to vote so."

Jim Scott - President, BTIA
"We have a very empowered and responsible citizenry that felt compelled to come out and vote. It was very rewarding to see people taking such great concern and responsibility to what really is just a mock referendum. It was a voice from the people."

And so now that those people have spoken?

Audrey Matura - Shepherd
"It's not what's next. This is just the start of the momentum."

That momentum would need to be a little more though for a successful referendum - that would require 60% of the electorate to vote, or 106,800 people - and they'd have to get half of that, 53,506 to vote no to offshore drilling - that's almost twice what they got in this vote - still their confidence - with reason - is unbroken:

Audrey Matura - Shepherd
"But had this gone on the referendum on Election Day, clearly we would have the more than 60% turnout. And I can assure you, based on our poll, and based on our own referendum; we have had at least 90% of the population vote no to offshore drilling."

The ballots were tabulated at district counting stations in each district with a Justice Of the Peace as witness.

And while detractors can surely criticize the less than optimal conditions under which the entire process was conducted - in terms of lack of independent scrutiny and uniform oversight - Matura-Shepherd says the will bring in the ballots to cross tabulate the results. During that process they will also strike out those persons who voted more than once.