The UDP government has been in office for almost exactly half its term, two and a half years. So, heading into Sunday's national convention, the question was how much popular support do they still enjoy? After all, there's a natural attrition in politics, many who voted for the UDP have told us they feel disillusioned, dissatisfied. We wanted to see if that disaffectedness would result in a lackluster showing at yesterday's convention. But Jules Vasquez went to Orange Walk and found out that the scene was redder than red.
Jules Vasquez, Reporting
The UDP machine was in high gear as busses steamed towards Orange Walk and streamed into Orange Walk Town literally by the hundreds. This procession of buses flowed uninterrupted from outside Orange Walk Town right up to the people's stadium where the queue seemed to extend interminably to the horizon. We counted well over a hundred busses. Amused bystanders gathered on the street side to watch because the political circus had come to town.
Indeed, it was a mammoth show of muscle, machinery and money probably unmatched in the UDP's history and certainly un-matched for an event in an election off-season. Inside the people's stadium was filled to above capacity. Outside, it was like a political fair as the grounds were over-run. Just getting all the people there caused delays and the event started in earnest almost two hours behind schedule.
But for a mass party, having too much crowd is a good thing, and in his opening, Deputy Party Leader Gaspar Vega and the man under whose auspices the event was being held, headily declared...
Gaspar Vega, Deputy Party Leader
"The United Democratic Party is growing. This massive showing reaffirms what just a few months ago we reaffirmed again when we got the results of the village councils. I want to make mention that is was not only winning the village councils, but that we won village councils where we had never been victorious."
And while the showing would be intoxicating for any politician - for all this tremendous political combustion - only one thing was at stake - who would be the party's chairman: Patrick Faber or John Saldivar? They are good friends but rivals on this day. From the outset it was clear that Faber had the signs and shirts and the explicit support of the Party Leader. But there are no sure things and before the event started - while there was still space to move around - both men worked the crowd. And when the voting started - it was mildly controlled chaos as the 550 delegates queued up for three hours in the bump and grind, the hustle and flow of raw party politics to file into a single room to vote for their chairman.
Beyond the physical lack of space, the atmosphere was tense because a lot was at stake - no less than the leader's pride - after he put his name on the line for Faber. And while they voted, the thousands more were entertained by live music and dancers - in this case, Port Loyola representative Boots Martinez doing his thing in his inimitable style. Martinez - who was Faber's campaign manager - must have had an early indication of the outcome and felt good enough to dance because while the drums played for him, they did also for Faber who beat Saldivar handily, 422 to 122.
John Salvidar
"I want to congratulate my good friend honourable Patrick Faber on his magnificent victory."
Patrick Faber
"Let us not look at this a kind of victory of Patrick over John, let us look at this as victory for our great United Democratic Party whichever way it would have gone because we both are dedicated to our great United Democratic Party."
Patrick Faber
"I did not expect that kind of margin, but I do understand that the party leader gave me his support in this bid, the deputy leader gave me his support in this bid and, moreover, my work in the ministry of education."
John Saldivar
"You know I was going up against some difficult people who were supporting Patrick Faber and who were supporting his campaign."
Partick Faber
"I wouldn't want anybody to run away with the idea that is because of the party leader's endorsement. There were some constituencies that I had to use my merit that people were not so happy about what is happening and wanted to see change and I had to say to them that this is between my chairmanship and your constituency."
Jules Vasquez
"This is the second time you went for chairman; the second time you lost. Is that it?"
John Saldivar
"Well, my history as a candidate is that I always rise from defeat and I am a very resilient person. Defeat does not make weak, its make me stronger."
Jules Vasquez
"Do you see it as part of your ascendancy that one day chairman to someday possibly leader?"
Partick Faber
"Most definitely Jules, there is no secret that I am ambitious and I would wish to be the leader of the United Democratic Party one of these days. But I am not in a hurry."
Jules Vasquez
"It is a setback I know that like Mr. Faber you are ambitious and it's not unforeseeable to someday lead the UDP. How significant a setback is this in your effort to ascend within the UDP."
John Saldivar
"I don't consider it to be a major setback, defeat of course is always difficult, but I don't consider it a major setback because if you understand the intricacies that went into this campaign and the undercurrents you will know that I can rise again."
Jules Vasquez
"How effective a chairman can you be when you are already minister of education, minister of youth, you have so many responsibilities. How can you look after the needs of the party when you are doing these other things?"
Partick Faber
"Well as I have said to people; leadership is about making decisions. You surround yourself with good decent people."
And while Faber was swallowed by the crowd - his leader Barrow was energized by the showing
Dean Barrow, Party Leader
"Its two and a half years into our term and it is clear that the magic is still there. We count that a renewal of our mandate and we count that a reaffirmation of your support for and confidence in the United Democratic Party."
Or, in the absence of an energized opposition, the UDP may be politically the only game in town - but either way, with a crowd of this magnitude, there's really no arguing with Barrow's conclusion - whether they can maintain this support for the next half of their term is left to be seen.
And while there is a new chairman as Doug Singh steps down, all other executive positions were endorsed and remain the same. The party also presented policy statements on youth, women, crime, and Mayan land rights.
And while we always provide crowd estimates, in this case it is difficult, because the venue was too small, and the crowd too large and too dispersed across the grounds and under multiple tents.
There is no doubt, though, that it was a huge crowd comprising many thousands - how many? In a press release today, the UDP claims over ten thousand.
