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Tonight, we have a full recap of the union's election day, right up to the moment when Elena Smith was declared the winner. Daniel Ortiz has that story:

Daniel Ortiz reporting
Hundreds of teachers showed up for the second day of their 47th annual convention to vote for their new National President. Their choices: Mario Mesh from the Host Branch of Corozal, Troy Coleman from Stann Creek, and the most well-known candidate of the 3, Senator Elena Smith.

But the teachers, who had come from all over the country, were forced to sit around for more than a few hours, due to an emergency meeting of the Union's Council of Management.

For the most part, the teachers were patient, if only a little put off by the lengthy delay. But, behind closed doors, the leadership of the union was in heated discussions about allegations of political interference. Supposedly, one out of two candidates were being backed by the ruling party, and political agents were allegedly campaigning on their behalf.

That emergency meeting appeared to have gone far too long for veteran George Frazer, and, in a fit of impatience, he took the mic, to tell his fellow union members that the day's business needed to proceed, and each candidate should be given his or her democratic right to contest for the leadership.

George Frazer - Member, BNTU
"We see some political operatives...we shall not be moved. We want to have our convention proceed and go on according to the agenda. So, please, I will go over there and see what's happening. We need to get going."

Shortly after that, he went to the meeting room, and less than 20 minutes later, the leaders came out, with the outgoing president taking the podium to explain the delay.

Luke Palacio - Outgoing President, BNTU
"You heard the dirty remarks about sister Elena who is contesting for president. You heard the dirty remarks they have made about brother Mario Mesh and you heard the accusation being made also against brother Troy Coleman. All of these individuals are leaders of BNTU. Our concern is and has to be that if, and I use the word "if" they have been brought into a scene that none of them created. If they believe, whoever believe that they can muscle whoever becomes our president, they have a second guess coming, because you will not tolerate it. The members will not tolerate it."

"You need to take a vote. You determine by your votes after this whether or not the elections should proceed."

So, it was up to the membership to decide whether or not they would continue with the elections today, or if they would put it off to a later date. After an hour or so, the votes were in, and convention's decision was that the election should happen.

As with each election cycle, all candidates for the different executive posts were given an opportunity to make a pitch to the convention. In the downtime before the campaigning started, we spoke with Troy Coleman. There was much talk among the teachers that he was the favorite of the PUP for the next BNTU leader. We pointedly asked him that.

Daniel Ortiz
"They are suggesting that you have some sort of connection to the PUP. Can you share with us, do you have any sort of political affiliations or alliances?"

Troy Coleman - Candidate, BNTU National President
"My brother, I have served my teachers. I will continue to serve my teachers. The only endorsement that is important to me in this endeavor is the endorsement from the members that I wish to serve after today. Everything else is not important to me at this time."

We also tried to talk to the UDP's supposed favourite, Mario Mesh for a one-on-one interview, but he declined saying that he needed to be ready to speak to the teachers. He was referring the campaigning session for which he was due on the mic, and like Coleman, the only opinions he cared about were the teachers who would decide his fate.

David Acosta - Endorsed Mario Mesh
"We have been talking about political interference and I must admit just like you that we have fallen into that category, if not this election would have been over long time."

Mario Mesh - Candidate, BNTU National President
"We must now choose a new leader, a leader who shall fulfil all our memberships' expectations. A leader who can uphold the title of teacher and most importantly, the interest of BNTU as a union wholeheartedly."

The other two candidates were also trying to sway their union colleagues to support them instead.

Elena Smith - Candidate, BNTU National President
"You have known me for many years. I have been on my executive for 20 consecutive years serving on the Belize branch. I have been tried and I have been tested."

Troy Coleman - Candidate, BNTU National President
"I am the kind of leader that will stand here and tell you that I will be nothing without you the soldiers of this mighty BNTU."

So, after the campaigning was over, it was time for the teachers to do what they waited hours for: to select their new leader. They lined up according to the ballot boxes for their branches, and after an hour and half of voting, the election committee went off to a separate room to tally the numbers.

There was the initial count, then 2 separate recountings, which took almost 3 hours to complete. At the start of news yesterday, the head of committee made an announcement of the final numbers.

Kathleen E.B. Flowers - Head of Elections Committee
"Mrs. Elena Smith earned 349 of the votes. Mr. Troy Coleman earned 197 of the votes and Mr. Mario Mesh earned 140 of the votes."

So, with such a landslide victory over the two candidates combined, Smith becomes the new President of the BNTU. She's now the face of the most robust union in the country, but she also becomes the lightning rod for criticism from all within the general public. She must be prepared to receive affection and political attacks upon her character, and the union she represents.

Daniel Ortiz, 7News
"When Mr. Luke spoke for the union, whether or not the persons in the public liked or hated him, whatever feelings they had against, the nation took notice of what he had to say, because he represented the strongest union. Do you foresee you have that ability to fill his shoes, to speak for the union whenever they take any positions whether or not it is adversarial to the government?"

Elena Smith, President - BNTU
"I have no problems with that. As long as my membership give us the mandate. I will go by that. It doesn't matter who like it or doesn't like it - if the members say so, that's what I am going by. I am not afraid to speak and not afraid to stand up."