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Courtney Weatherburne reporting There were no projectiles, no warning shots fired, and no brawls on the steps of the National Assembly today, just the usual spirited chants and speeches.

Protestor
"We are here today demanding that the senate take this thing seriously."

That is probably because there were about 30 officers standing ready to defuse any flare ups.

Even the GSU bus was parked in front of the house ….with a roaming surveillance camera hoisted above.

But according to PUP's Cayo South Area Representative Julius Espat, all this police presence really wasn't necessary because they weren't here to cause any trouble.

Hon. Julius Espat, Cayo South, Area Rep.
"We a asked all of our supporters that this be at peace, so we are not here for violence, we don't want to break up Belize."

But there were a few protesters who refused to keep the peace, this man was picked up and hauled off for having a weapon……a move not taken lightly by the other supports

There was not much anyone could do in this case as this other trouble maker was roughed up by police and taught a lesson. But despite these incidents, leader of the Opposition John Briceno said that no commotion will overshadow the purpose of their protest.

Hon. John Briceno, Leader of the Opposition
"Debating is to show support to our senators. Our senators are introducing 2 motions, one, a senate investigation into the criminal activities of the UDP ministers and their minions with the issue in the immigration department. Secondly, we are also putting in another motion where we are also demanding that the UDP government must sign the United Nations Convention of Corruption. if they are what they claim, that they are honest senators and that they want to do what is good for this country, and that they want to bring justice to all the criminal activity that has been initiated by this UDP government, they have no other choice but to vote for a senate investigation. Dean Barrow needs to live up to the commitment that he made to the Belizean people. He was the one in 2008 that said he's going to have a special machete that is going to be sharpened on both sides that he will use to chop off the head of corruption whenever it raises its ugly head. well we have no other than a report now that have shown that at least 13 of his ministers have been, somewhere or the other, involved and in many instances there have been criminal activities that have taken place perpetrated by this UDP government."

Hon. Cordel Hyde, Lake I Representative
"It's been a long time since we have demonstrated in any real numbers and I think some of us have forgotten how important that is. We're living in a democracy and often times you cannot depend on the government to do the right thing, you have to force them to do the right thing. We have a moral duty to be here today and next week if needs be. But we have to be out here until they do something."

And protesters stood their ground and made their message clear up until about 12 midday when it turned into a one woman show ….everyone else pretty much walked away. Briceno had admitted earlier that it wasn't a huge crowd but is still very much satisfied with the 500 who came out.

Hon. John Briceno, Leader of the Opposition
"I am quite pleased and quite excited when you see the hundreds of Belizeans that are here from across the country, not only from Belmopan and Cayo but from Corozal and from the Toledo District. It was not a massive mobilization, this is just a start to show to the government that we're serious, to show to the senators that they are not alone."

There were about 500 protesters. The PUP claims 1,300. They will protest again in Belize City next week and the party expects that event to be much bigger than today's one.