Earlier, we showed you the PUP nomination in Dangriga Town - where the opposition came out energized one week after saying that they weren't even sure that they would contest the bye-election. Well, for the UDP there was never even any doubt - they have been on the ground in Dangriga from the day after PUP Representative Ivan Ramos stepped down. And so today, their engine was already red hot when they hit St. Vincent Street in downtown Dangriga - here's how it looked:..
Jules Vasquez reporting
The Prime Minister flew into Dangriga at 1:00 pm in visible pain, walking gingerly. By contrast about 250 supporters looked nimble and battle ready on the ground.
The crowd was about twice the size of the PUP's and much like the PUP - they showed fighting spirit. And even something akin to carnival spirit:
Jules Vasquez
"PUP had a modest crowd and the UDP has an alright crowd. But it's not anything to blow you away."
Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
"Well, thought you said that it was bigger than the PUP. Well that's it. Victory declared, whether it's over the defenseless, although great though memorable - victory declared."
A victory where Petrocaribe was the buzzword, the mantra and the slogan:
Jules Vasquez
"So much has been said about the largess of your party, that in fact you all are trying to suborn democracy and purchase the election. That's the Opposition...."
Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
"They complain about, as you describe it, our largess. What we find to fund an election campaign comes from donations that people make, including of course business people. I keep saying, it doesn't help the PUP to complain about what we have. Go out there and try to persuade the business community that you are a viable option - that you have a chance of winning and then perhaps they will agree to help you. The fact that they are helping us - helping us absolutely so robustly, is because they feel that the UDP is doing a good job and that the UDP on the basis of that record will win again."
Jules Vasquez
"Will there be any fallout when allegations are made in there that in fact UDP is trying to buy out this election? That's what Mr. Hulse says, that UDP are spending 2 million dollars on this election and that in fact the Prime Minister just wants to force a bi-election because he is hungry for power and he just wants to get that third term. That's what Mr. Hulse says."
Hon. Anthony "Boots" Martinez, UDP "Ground Commander"
"Two things: political parties are involved in election to win election and I don't know - you are talking about buy. We don't need to buy. We have the majority. UDP never did need to buy. We have the majority and so, what do we need to buy for?"
Jules Vasquez
"How much of the taxpayers money will be used really to ensure that you believe is a win for the UDP?"
Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
"No. The taxpayers' money will be used to improve infrastructure in the constituency both here in Dangriga Town and in Sarawee and Hope Creek. The fact that we are in a position by virtue of our good stewardship and by virtue of having unlocked once again the Petrocaribe multilateral arrangement, is not anything that should attract any kind of criticism or ascentia. In fact, it should attract praise and certainly as far as we can tell it is attracting gratitude on the part of all those all over the country that are being help."
Jules Vasquez
"This is a seat that the UDP wants because it won't have any effect on the composition or the control of the House of Representatives."
Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
"You know the kind of...I can't even say ripple effect, perhaps the shock effect of another UDP victory and another PUP defeat. So, from that point of view it is extremely consequential. It is fundamentally important and it is a victory that we very much want."
But what about the candidate? He took his wife up as one of his nominees, but is he ready?
Jules Vasquez
"Melvin Hulse says this is Dean Barrow election and not your election. Is it an election that you want? Is it the timing that you want?"
Frank Pawpa Mena, UDP Candidate for Dangriga
"I ready long time you know, Jules. You know that I ready long time. And everybody got their opinion and respect to their opinion, but my vibes, I ready long time."
And while Mena's campaign will be buttressed by muscular UDP ministerial support - at the end of the day - the townspeople of Dangriga and the villagers of hope creek and Sarawee will be the ones choosing:
Jules Vasquez
"They say that they have a candidate that is superior to you, that Mr. Sabal is loved in this community."
Frank Pawpa Mena, UDP Candidate for Dangriga
"Ask the people, ask the people. I will not spend my time and energy talking about Sabal. I have never ran my politics like that, because you know what is going on; in this community, too many times we eat up one another and it's not working for us. So, I will not spend my time to eat up Sabal. If he wants to eat me up - let him go ahead and then when it is time - he will get the sense."
Jules Vasquez
"He says that the people who support Ivan Ramos will also support him. I told him in Cayo North the PUP stayed home. Will the PUPs come out in Dangriga for Sabal?"
Frank Pawpa Mena, UDP Candidate for Dangriga
"Sabal better throw away that pillow that he is sleeping on. What does he think? The people elect brother Ramos, they come and single handed took down brother Ramos. Don't give a damn about the people and he supported the taking down of his brother. He thinks that my people are so light and weak that they will accept that? He better throw away that pillow that he is sleeping on."
So who had the bigger crowd? Well, the PUP started with 120 supporters and ended up with about 150, while the UDP started with about 250 and ended up with just under 300.
