7 News Belize

PUP: We The North
posted (October 13, 2015)
There are eight seats in Northern Belize - and for the PUP to have any chance of winning the general election - conventional wisdom says they must hold unto the five seats they have in the north - and pick up at least one more - too offset the UDP's stronghold in the city. And so that's why the party put its all into a power to the people rally in Orange Walk on Sunday where the party showed muscularity and mass support - Daniel Ortiz was there:...

Daniel Ortiz reporting
On Sunday afternoon in Orange Walk Town, THOUSANDS of supporters - mostly from the north - shut down the town's main street of the town.

It was only a rally, but by the sheer numbers and the celebration type mood of its supporters, you might have thought that the PUP had become the next Government.

But, the party was only - as they put it - "energizing the base" there in the north. All around the Leader and the PUP 4 from Orange Walk, the crowd swarmed and followed them into Central Park. When it was time to take the rostrum, there was a lot of chest beating, and berating of the Incumbent UDP's 2 terms in Office.

Kevin Bernard - Mayor, Orange Walk Town
"I had prepared a speech, but I think I must talk from the heart because this is PUP love. We have run the UDP out of town, that they have gone to Punta Gorda. They are afraid of this blue wave."

Jose Mai - PUP Candidate, Orange Walk South
"A few days ago Dean Barrow and the UDP thought that the PUP was dead. Today he thinks different. He is scared. He is frightened and he is sorry he called an early elections. Dean Barrow has awaken the sleeping giant. The PUP never sleep. We rest. But today we are up."

Ramon "Monchi" Cervantes - PUP Candidate, Orange Walk North
"The People's United Party government will revitalized the economy with an expansion of the existing industries and the erection of new industries. We will brings jobs and employment - meaningful and gainful jobs and employment. We will bring respect. We will bring back confidence to our economy and to our justice system and to our institutions of government."

John Briceno - PUP Candidate, Orange Walk Central
"To all the millions of dollars that Dean Barrow and the UDP have, we will take their money and what are we going to do?"

Crowd chanting
"Vote them out!"

John Briceno - PUP Candidate, Orange Walk Central
"Thats correct. We are going to vote them out. Since 2008, we have had a UDP government and tell me is your life better today?"

Crowd chanting
"No!"

John Briceno - PUP Candidate, Orange Walk Central
"Did Dean Barrow represent you well?"

Crowd chanting
"No!"

John Briceno - PUP Candidate, Orange Walk Central
"Did the UDP worked for you?"

Crowd chanting
"No!"

John Briceno - PUP Candidate, Orange Walk Central
"We've had enough at the United Democratic Party."

Josue Carballo - PUP Candidate, Orange Walk East
"The PUP is ready with the people. The PUP shall win the next government."

So, with all that adrenaline, the high from being a political rockstar, performing for the people at this rally, the PUP Politicians are assured of their support in the north.

Francis Fonseca - PUP Leader, Freetown
"I think it's a sign of a rolling tide across the country. We believe that the people have awakened. The people understand that we cannot continue with this UDP government and I think you saw the power of the people today. That has been the theme from the very beginning. We believe the people have caught on to that theme. They understand what it means and so we are very pleased with the turn out. But it will roll across the country. This was mainly people from the north. Most of our standard bearers are on the ground campaigning and fighting. So we didn't even bring out the full force today."

Because of the size and dispersion the crowd was difficult to count but a rough estimate would but it was in the range of seven thousand plus. That's huge, certainly, but for historical context we know that the UDP pulled over ten thousand in Orange Walk two nights before the general election of 2012 and then went unto lose three of four seats in the town.

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