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7News stopped in yesterday at the convention and spoke to both aspirants. Here's what they had to say:

Josue Carballo - PUP, Aspirant, Orange Walk East
"Since we started you can sense that movement, that energy, that enthusiasm, that our camp has brought to this convention. You see the people from all ages coming and definitely support this change that my camp that Josue Carballo brings to Orange Walk East and so we see that energy, that momentum just growing as the hours go by. We expect a big turnout, we expect this shows that the PUP is alive and it's working and it's keeping close to its people here in Orange Walk East. That's what we expect, a big turnout and a victory at the end of the day."

Daniel Ortiz
"Sir, you are going up against a former area rep of this area. Does that intimidate you at all?"

Josue Carballo - PUP, Aspirant, Orange Walk East
"Definitely not. The area rep was probably 12 years ago and now I have been here working in Orange Walk East."

Dave Burgos - PUP, Aspirant, Orange Walk East
"This is all about ground work. I have done my ground work from house to house. My opponent, they believe in facebook, they believe in their campaigners doing their stuff. I went house to house, I gave my vision and the people said Dave, we were telling you many years to come back and run and that we don't forget all the things you have done, so Dave, we are with you. I am really happy with the turnout that we are getting here today. I think you all are seeing it - this is for me. I was the campaign manager in those times that I was not running. All the campaign was done at my house. I had everything organized at my house and every election Dave Burgos is fighting right at this gate. Tulio Mendez, who was the candidate was never here. My opponent Mr. Josue Carballo was behind those, they never use to be out here and today I know one thing for sure, he does not know the people. I know them by name."

Daniel Ortiz
"I am told you may have support from Mr. Hon. John Briceno. He is providing whatever resources he can to your assistance. Is that in deed accurate and has that helped?"

Josue Carballo - PUP, Aspirant, Orange Walk East
"I have support from many people all over this country. All over Belize that are clamoring for youth leadership, for the younger generation to step and take the reign and make those changes that are necessary in the country."

Dave Burgos - PUP, Aspirant, Orange Walk East
"UDPs are campaigning for the, the PUPs are campaigning for me, the town is campaigning for me. Yes the money is out here, I am not frightened, I am certain we have this one, even with the money. I see the money come and gone. People came back and already made their decision."

At the end Carballo emerged victorious, if only by a hair. He won by 14 votes with 1,069, while Burgos only managed to get 1,055. It was a large convention where 2151 persons voted - about 150 less than the UDP's convention there last year. There were 27 spoilt ballots, and we are told that Party Chairman Henry Charles Usher and his team double checked the figures, including the spoilt votes.