Yesterday, thanks to a ghost in the machine, we were unable to bring you the story of UDP's nomination day event. We know many were looking forward to comparing both from our vantage point but it wasn't to be. Still, here it is tonight what the UDP took to street in yesterday's motorcade which became a parade.
Michael Finnegan, UDP Candidate - Mesopotamia
"The handwriting is on the wall, the city gaan red Jules. The city is red red red."
That was the air of unassailable confidence that the UDP carried into the streets today. Their event was a motorcade - 70 vehicles total - with a parade element added in. And in the streets, it was a carnival atmosphere. And according to the party - this was no rent a crowd.
Anthony 'Boots' Martinez, UDP Candidate Port Loyola
"Well impressive showing. I watched the PUP parade this morning and it could never, as though they were paying. I think the mood of the people, the energy of the people is one such that the ordinary man is ready to take out this government and put in a new government in the UDP."
Jules Vasquez,
You know a lot of times a big crowd can fool you into a false sense of security.
Anthony 'Boots' Martinez,
"A big false crowd not a big real crowd."
Jules Vasquez,
How do I know this is not a false crowd?
Anthony 'Boots' Martinez,
"How you mean, we are not paying. This is with love."
Michael Finnegan,
"Jules this dah noh money, this is sincere people. This is love. You
see Mesopotamia, you see behind me and behind the box there. Remember the last time I told you I would beat Brackett like a drum, well bwoy you wah see the assing which this one wah tek."
Strong talk and the UDP was confident and full of swagger as it muscled through Mahogany Street.
Jules Vasquez,
Might this cause a false sense of security?
Dean Barrow, UDP Leader
"No I don't think so. In fact what it has done is to energize the one or two candidates who weren't doing all that they ought to have been doing in terms of the underground campaiging. The momentum, well a rising tide floats all boats and the momentum has certainly caused them to be eager to get out into the streets now because of the welcome they are receiving. So I think if
anything, it will have the opposite effect."
Jules Vasquez,
How many seats do you expect the UDP will win?
Dean Barrow,
"Not less than 24 and it could clearly as high as 31 but not less than 24."
Mike Peyrefitte, UDP Candidate - Freetown
"The people in this city, the people in Freetown division, the people in this country are done with the PUP. On February 7th, based on this nomination here today, it will be UDP all the way. I have no doubt about that."
Jules Vasquez,
So you're not concerned about Francis Fonseca who had one of the largest crowd of the PUP candidates?
Mike Peyrefitte,
"Next question Jules."
George Gough, UDP Candidate - Fort George
"I think the present Prime Minister is just like any other candidate. Obviously he has been there for two terms and obviously the people of Fort George know him as well as the people of Fort George know me. I have been campaigning now close to four years, a quiet campaign, if I must say, and I have met a lot of the residents and I know a lot of their needs a lot of their problems and I would want to think that I have a very fair chance. And when I say a fair chance because the people of Fort George have seen what kind of government the present Prime Minister as given the last ten years."
Vandley Jenkins, UDP Candidate - Lake I
"This is a tremendous crowd out here. I am excited about what I am seeing. The people are raising up. They are expressing their dissatisfaction at a government that has gone corrupt, at a government that has betrayed their trust and it's only a matter of time. They are waiting for that day to do the final licking on the PUP government."
Patrick Faber, UDP Candidate - Collet
"They're out here in high spirits and they are doing it for the love of their country and for the love of their party in this case. Certainly we did not have to pay a lot of people. W e did not have to give them money to come out here. We didn't have to do what the PUPs did to get their crowd this morning and by the way, my estimation is that the crowd out here this afternoon is a lot larger than the crowd this morning."
Jules Vasquez,
Mark Espat is a formidable candidate, do you really think you can beat him?
Tom Morrisson, UDP Candidate - Albert
"Not only a formidable candidate, he is a multimillionaire. He has the people's money okay and I am going up against him. Yes I will beat him. On election day the numbers will be out and I will be ahead Jules."
Jules Vasquez,
Any predictions?
Tom Morrisson,
"Numbers, for now....Jules we've already done that interview."
Jules Vasquez,
We didn't do it on camera, we had a conversation. You told me that you will beat him by 400 to 600 but I thought you were joking.
Tom Morrisson,
"No that is the number and it stands. It can only increase, it will not go down Jules. 400 to 600 is the number by the defeat. Mark Espat will be defeated by 400 to 600 votes and that's a fact."
Jules Vasquez,
You're the only one who came blowing his own horn.
Wilfred Elrington, UDP Candidate - Pickstock
"Well that is characteristic, I am a rebel by nature. This time for the very first time I really wanted to time, this time, and I did everything to ensure that I will win."
And with crowd response like this - one can see why the UDP's confidence is running high. Will it be enough to put Elrington and the UDP over the top on election day? Ultimately that's a question that those revelers in the parade will not answer - it's the onlookers, those precious swing voters who will decide that - and they may choose to do so after judging which of today's parties had that real, unmistakable winners' swagger. And who did have the swagger. Well like we said, it's hard to compare the two - one a motorcade the other a parade, but the UDP's event was longer and thicker, and while the crowd in both seemed more or less the same, the UDP's event - in the street at least appeared more spirited.
Orange Walk was the other municipality that had a major showdown and later in our newscast, we'll show you how that looked on both sides of the political color bar.
