So as we showed you earlier - the UDP's crowd was 4 times larger than the PUP's in the city, but how did it go in Cayo and Belmopan? Well, both the UDP and PUP had spirited groups as well, but still - the crowds weren't all that impressive. We traveled first to the twin towns of San Ignacio and Santa Elena and spoke to all 3 PUP candidates. Here is what they had to say about their supporters and their level of confidence going into the general election:
Courtney Weatherburne
"Being officially nominated, you were carried out of the center by your supporters. Is this group that you have here indicative of your support? Or is it just pretty much as people would criticize, just a group of people who are getting a day pay."
Dan Silva, PUP Candidate, Cayo Central
"No. we don't have the luxury of paying people to come out and vote like our opponents. People would be here more today. But for example, to come out of San Antonio right now is impossible. We have a minister of works, but yet to come out of San Antonio, Cristo Rey is almost impossible right now. Two days of rain and the road is flood. We had a meeting last night in San Antonio and people were excited by the hundreds came out blowing horns, motorcycles revving up - people are excited."
Courtney Weatherburne
"The number that we gathered, the camera man and I is about 300. Do you agree or do you have more over 300?"
Dan Silva, PUP Candidate, Cayo Central
"That is always a point of discussion and you could argue that for 100 years. But it's a crowd that is excited."
Courtney Weatherburne
"How do you ensure that you mobilize this amount of group or even more for November 4th?"
Dan Silva, PUP Candidate, Cayo Central
"Today is a working day and we cannot be paying like our opponents. All their workers will need work today and they are being paid to come show their faces. So were not competing in numbers, but in spirit, in heart, we have it."
Courtney Weatherburne
"Are you intimidated, you and your crowd? Are you intimated in any way to maybe anticipate the crowd this afternoon of your opponents?"
Dan Silva, PUP Candidate, Cayo Central
"No. If you drive through Santa Elena, you are going to see a lot of signs. Our opponents have us 10-1. Signs don't vote. What will count on Election Day is where the people put their X. We are very excited about Cayo Central."
Orlando Habet, PUP Candidate, Cayo Northeast
"There is exhilarations all about. Our people are so happy. This is not the first time that I have been nominated, our people have been waiting for so long. They have been denied in the last election. Enough is enough."
Courtney Weatherburne
"Are you satisfied with the crowd that came out today for your nomination?"
Orlando Habet, PUP Candidate, Cayo Northeast
"Certainly. Remember today is a working day. The people are here to support us."
Michel Chebat, PUP Candidate, Cayo North
"We've been working hard. My supporters have been on the ground since January getting out to the homes, getting out our message of hope and change and so we are excited. We are looking towards the 4th November. We are confident and we are going to fight this fight."
Courtney Weatherburne
"Most of the day we've been hearing your name chanted. Is that indicative of the support that will be brought out for Election Day?"
Michel Chebat, PUP Candidate, Cayo North
"Like I said, I'll tell you the people have been excellent to me. Their response have been incredible and this is the result. It speaks for itself."
Courtney Weatherburne
"While we can see the excitement, we have to look at the statistics in terms of the election. You opponent Omar Figueroa won by 1,300 votes. That's a margin you would have to make up. Is it possible?"
Michel Chebat, PUP Candidate, Cayo North
"It is possible. Very possible and we know it's possible because we have been house to house and we know what the people are saying to us. We are going by what they say and so it is possible and we will deliver Cayo North."
While all 3 candidates seemed pretty confident, we asked about the recent issues and tensions in the party. They say a house divided cannot stand, so will that division affect the party's performance in the election? Here's what Chebat had to say about that.
Courtney Weatherburne
"Can you give us your perspective in terms of the issues in the PUP, recently in terms of the G11 and all the other issues? Do you think that will impact the results of the election?"
Michel Chebat, PUP Candidate, Cayo North
"That is in the past. We are looking forward. These guys have found a way for all of us to work together. We are on the same page, we are in the same boat. We are moving forward. That is the past. We are looking straight towards November 4th. There is no looking back for us."
In terms of numbers, the PUP brought out a bit over 300 supporters while based on this footage that we received from a colleague the UDP had three times that.
UDP Candidate Omar Figueroa - whose facing his second election in ten months told the media that he expects a landslide.
Omar Figueroa, UDP Candidate - Cayo North
"As I have walked the streets of Cayo North, I can tell you that the vibes this time around are a little bit better than during the bi-election. I am feeling more confident than I felt in the bi-election. I think Cayo North we will have one of those historic landslide victories."
Figueroa won by 1,300 votes in a January bye-election.
Email
Print