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At a press conference at the party headquarters this evening, party leader Francis Fonseca said that the election was not free and fair:

Francis Fonseca - Party Leader, PUP
"I would have hoped to report to you regardless of the outcome that on March 7, Belize had free and fair elections. Regrettably, this has not been the case. Across the country, there have been credible, reliable, documented reports of abuse and illegality in the conduct of our election process. Our party has assembled a team of legal advisors, who are examining the documented evidence, and reviewing the legal options available. I can report to the nation that it is the intention of the People's United Party to file several election petitions in respect of the March 7 General Elections: certainly one in respect of the Cayo Northeast Division, another in respect of Cayo Central, and another in respect of the Lake Independence constituency in Belize City. And there may be others. The filing of these election petitions is not a matter we take lightly. Throughout the election campaign, I made it absolutely clear that the PUP would engage in a vigorous campaign, but would always respect the final decision of the Belizean people. That respect is premised on free and fair elections, and on our obligation and duty to ensure that the will of the Belizean people is not thwarted or denied. As I speak, I am yet to receive an official report on the election results from the Elections and Boundaries Department. Despite this, it is my understanding that the UDP Leader, Mr. Barrow is announcing plans to form a government. In an election where unofficial reports show a 30-vote separation between the 2 major political parties in determining which party forms the government, all of our statements, actions and decisions must be grounded in respect and humility. But we feel very strongly that the unofficial results that have been presented to the nation, that based on the documented evidence that we have, that requires us filing an election petition in the courts in respect of several of these divisions, and we expect based on the evidence that the results can be overturned on that basis. It's surprising that we can be having announcements by the UDP Leader that he is in the process of forming a government when the actual official results have not been presented to the people of Belize."

Those official results have since been released - and are available on the elections and boundaries website. We'll also discuss them later on in the news.

But looking past that, the party's director of communications Lisa Shoman told the media today about the specific irregularities they hope to challenge in court:

Lisa Shoman - Director of Communications, PUP
"In respect of the Lake Independence Division, as you all know, the electoral petition challenge there will be to the fact that Yolanda Schakron's name should have been on that ballot, and that her disqualification of her candidacy was not right, and it will be challenged by way of an election petition. In respect of Cayo Northeast, there are several issues, among them, the bribery and misconduct of Mr. Penner in the issue of naturalizations of Non - Belizeans, and paying for the fees associated with nationality certificates, and the facilitation of immediate registration of persons who should have to have first become citizens and then resided in Belize for 2 months before being put on electoral roles. We also have photographic evidence that was taken on Election Day of the candidate's agents of bribery and misconduct. And there is additionally - unfortunately - in terms of the Elections and Boundaries mechanism, an outright refusal, despite a formal request for a recount - an outright refusal to allow that recount in circumstances in which not only was the margin narrow, but there were several rejected ballots, and no good - or no reason was given at all for this refusal. And that will also ground a legal challenge. In respect of Cayo Central, serious irregularities were reported by election day workers and agents for the PUP candidate, as to the number of ballots that were in the ballot box, in particular one ballot box, and the subsequent refusal of Elections and Boundaries Officials to allow the right, that is a legal right, of agents to accompany the ballot box to the place where the boxes were taken. And therefore, there was a serious discrepancy in the ballots that we had reported, and that were actually counted. Additionally, there was the refusal of the Returning Officer, Mrs. Parks, to have a recount again with no reason at all given. She simply said it would not be done, and her decision was final. Also in respect of Cayo Central, there is evidence of both misconduct and bribery by the agents of the candidate."

Now the last piece of this puzzle is the OAS Observer Mission - they held a closing press conference today - and later on in the news, we'll look at that.

BUT FIRST, what does the Prime Minister have to say about the PUP's decision not to concede? He calls it a lack of good graces:

Jules Vasquez
"Are you are aware that there are any areas where a clear winner has not been declared or that there is any recount pending in any area, particularly Cayo Central and Northeast?"

Dean Barrow - Prime Minister Elect
"No sir, I am not so aware. In fact, as a far as I know, the elections are over. The official results have been declared. The verdict stands. I will tell you this, certainly, when I lost my first election as leader of the United Democratic Party in 2003 - was it - I had the good grace; I had the sense and duty enough to call the Prime Minister - the returning prime minister - to offer my congratulations. I have not heard from a single soul in the Opposition in that regard. My point is that when you lose, you lose. There were several points during the course of what was clearly a very long night last night that I thought it likely that the UDP would lose. I gathered myself, prepared to go forth and meet the media, to make as dignified a concession speech as I would have been able to muster. That is what democracy is all about, and we in the UDP are certainly democratic."

We'll have more from the PM's press conference later on in the newscast - and on the OAS's closing press conference...