Luke Espat, he's one of the most colourful characters in Belizean business and politics. But when he threw his hat into the ring as a a political candidate in Cayo Central, even his own cousin Julius Espat told him, "stand down, primo." But the man called Lucas Magnus didn't listen; he felt this was his time - and that the door had been opened in Cayo central where he expected to have an endorsement as the PUP standard Bearer. He declared his candidacy early, in August for a convention that was months away. Things were going well until former three term Cayo Central Rep, and the PUP Sherriff of Cayo Dan Silva declared his candidacy. Smart money says Luke should have pulled out right there. But, ever the fighter, he hung in - going against conventional political wisdom - all the way to a showdown yesterday in Cayo. It was the convention for Cayo Central and 7News was there for all the hype:..
Jules Vasquez reporting
After 5:00 pm -t he line still going strong In terms of signage, shirts and slogans, Luke Espat had out Dan Silva by far. But like the slogan says Dan is still the man, and as unimaginative as that may have seemed it had appeal to the voters who gathered outside Santa Elena RC School.
For them it was a head to toe kind of affair and they stayed in line until well after 5:00 pm. We picked up a distinctly pro-Silva vibe in the public and from the political personalities on the scene. In total, 1993 Cayo Central voters came out.
And when the locks went on the gate signaling the end of polling, that's when the count started.
One hour into that, when the whispers started coming out of the counting room it was clear that Silva was up by early by consistently big numbers - and the celebration started outside.
That continued literally for hours - filled by the winning spirit - and alcohol - even on a Sunday night and at around 9:30 - the chairman and party officials came toward the gate to make official what the wild crowd already knew well - Dan Silva had wiped out Luke Espat.
But to make it official Silva had to be there - and Espat had to not be there - but getting them in and out in the midst of a madding crowd, proved complicated.
They met in the middle - and kind of got stuck there for a minute - trapped by the crush of the crowd. Then Silva pushed through, and Espat after him - he turned back because someone threw water on him.
Henry Charles Usher, PUP Party Chairman
"We had a total of 1,932 votes cast today and the winner and the new standard central receiving 1,426 votes Mr. Daniel Silva."
After that Silva took the oath - an oath the former three term representative for Cayo central has taken before.
Jules Vasquez
"How does it feel to have a return like this? You blew out your opponent."
Dan Silva, PUP Cayo Central Std. Bearer
"My opponent put up a good fight. It's nice to be back."
But he took that same oath and walked away from the party twice before:
Jules Vasquez
"You have walked away from 2 incarnations of the PUP, Mr. Musa's PUP stepped aside and Mr. Briceno's PUP you stepped aside. To be honest Mr. Fonseca is the only leader in the past 18 years that you haven't resigned from yet because you haven't served under him."
Dan Silva, PUP Cayo Central Std. Bearer
"That's not true. I have never resigned yet. I did not contest the election."
Jules Vasquez
"But you walked away from the executive post under John Briceno."
Dan Silva, PUP Cayo Central Std. Bearer
"I did not resign, I decide to retire."
From retiring, to being swept away on the shoulders of spirited Cayo supporters. Meaning that now the one that will have to retire is Luke Espat - after an intensive 9 month campaign and hundreds of thousands of dollars spent, he only came up with LESS THAN 500 votes. It was the ignominious end to a campaign, which was misconceived from the outset.
Looking much the worse for losing he was humble in defeat:
Luke Espat, Losing candidate
"My thoughts are the 487 people that had the faith in a plan. Going forward I think was very important. We did our best, we tried, we lost, but it's not the end. It shows that 1900 plus people came out."
Jules Vasquez
"Should for all practical purposes Mr. Espat just had stepped aside because obviously he was going to get beaten. He is not from here."
Dan Silva, PUP Cayo Central Std. Bearer
"I guess he thought that he could win the election. I don't know why, but he gave us a good race. I think he made us stronger, he made us really work. I think it has strengthened the party, so it was not all lost."
And now after the revelry of this easy victory subsides, the PUP will have to try to sustain this momentum to win this bellwether division.
Silva led a motorcade through the town last night.
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