Sunday was UDP Leader Shyne Barrow's big show - his unopposed endorsement convention. This comes 17 months after he narrowly defeated Tracey Taegar Panton in a tightly contested leadership convention in March of 2022.
Since then, Barrow has made all kinds of moves to consolidate his leadership and unite his deeply divided party. Did he manage to pull it off - just to and a half years after one of its worst defeats ever?
Courtney Menzies and Jules Vasquez were on the ground. She starts off the coverage at UDP headquarters on Youth For The Future drive:
A river of red swallowed the streets of Southside Belize City as the UDP marched against the government on Sunday.
Buses piled in front of the UDP headquarters, bringing supporters from every district. When the protest kicked off midmorning, their flags waved against a sweltering morning sun, and we saw a parade placards all expressing discontent with the PUP.
But while it was a short protest, the UDP's party leader believes that it sent a message of frustration to the government.
Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
"The energy is intense, the people are motivated due to their frustration with this government that is embroiled in corruption, that has given us the highest cost of living ever, given us the highest gas prices ever, and the worst performance ever. They have not delivered on any of their promises, our healthcare system is in crisis, our education system that they promised to give free education, they still have not delivered on that promise, the economy they claimed they have grown has not put us in a position where we don't have to borrow, they're borrowing two million dollars a day and the people are suffering, the people are punishing, so you can see the result of that frustration and that disappointment and that belief that the UDP is going to be the next government of Belize."
And even the dogs were decked in red, but despite their participation, the UDP still did not reach the 5,000 person threshold they'd wanted.
Courtney Menzies:
"Is it a lot less people that you anticipated though?"
Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
"It's thousands of people, how many did I anticipate?"
Courtney Menzies:
"You said five thousand."
Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
"Yes, did you do a headcount? You can't listen to what the PUP government, the PUP minister and the PUP ComPol, you can't listen to their statistics, you have to do your independent analysis."
Courtney Menzies:
"But we're seeing it with our eyes, it doesn't look like five thousand."
Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
"Well, we could debate that, but there is a few thousand people, but we haven't done a count, I'm too busy marching."
And perhaps one of the reasons they weren't able to make half the promised amount was because of the noticeable absence of one of their strongest members: Patrick Faber. He and his Collet supporters were missing since, as Barrow explained, he's abroad studying.
But according to another Belize City area rep, Collet isn't excluded from the message.
Tracy Panton, Area Rep, Albert Division
"I think it's absolutely important. I think the government must hear the voices of the people. You know when I say that Belizeans are going through a tough time, I can tell you that because they visit with me at my constituency office and they're not coming to shake me down, they're coming because they're really in need. The cost of food is a big issue, the cost of healthcare is a big issue, the cost of fuel is a big issue, you know and people are struggling, trying very hard to keep it together for their families so I think people need to be heard, and the government needs to hear directly form the people that something has to change, the conditions of living, must improve."
Courtney Menzies:
"As a Belize City strong hold, do you feel that there wasn't enough support here in the city, especially with Mr Faber absent?"
Tracy Panton, Area Rep, Albert Division
"I did not see the parade, we were, as you know in the front of the parade, I don't know what my other colleagues did in terms of being able to muster some support, it is unfortunate that the Honorable Patrick Faber could not be here to bring out his supporters but I'm sure that they feel the same way every Belizean feels that enough is enough."
The protesters marched from the UDP HQ to Birds Isle for the main event: Barrow's endorsement convention. Despite all the infighting that has played out on a very public stage over the last three years, the party has decided once and for all to throw their support behind him - at least until the next general elections.
And according to both Panton and Barrow, it's the best move for the UDP.
Tracy Panton, Area Rep, Albert Division
"I think that we agree that there are many issues plaguing our country and that we need to be a voice for those people who do not have a voice, for those people who are not being heard, it's not a perfect situation within the UDP, I will not say that to you, we are trying to really stand up for the people and stand up for what is good for Belize and I think we are united on that front."
Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
"I feel great that I have been able to consolidate my support in the party and I've been able to gain the confidence of my colleagues to trust my leadership going into the general elections, it's for the betterment of the party and the betterment of the country that we not spend our time fighting for the reigns of power internally but we need to fight the PUP for the reigns of power in this country so I'm very grateful, I'm extremely humbled by this vote of confidence that my party has given me to lead us into the next general elections where we will be victorious."
And at the convention, it wasn't just Barrow who was endorsed until 2025, but also the other members of the party executive.
And like moths to the flame, the UDP supporters rushed in front of the stage, flags in hand, intoxicated with promises of a new government.
And Barrow also has former St Lucia President, Allen Chastanet, singing his praises.
In his speech, the Leader of the Opposition explained that has big plans for the country if he is elected.
Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
"Belizeans are being crucified before our very eyes. Things have never been so bad in this country. So the journey that we are on, it is not for the sake to be prime minister, for us to be in a Cabinet for the sake of being in a Cabinet, it is for us to revolutionize this country, to bring transformation to this country like has never been done before."
