So, as you saw, the northern corridor - which is the backbone of the PUP's power axis - is one of those areas where the party expanded its margins if victory.
Our teams were on the ground in Corozal and Orange Walk where we witnessed a blue brush across the north. Jomarie Lanza and Kevin Mendez covered the northern part of the country.
It was a night of celebration in Corozal as it was in Orange Walk where the Peoples United Party coasted to massive victories.
Earlier in the day in Corozal it looked like it might be competitive in terms of voter support and turnout.
Rigo Vellos, PUP Mayoral Candidate CZL
"First of all I would say that my machinery is extremely ready. We have oiled up we are energetic, motivated and we plan to win. That is what keeps us motivated that we want to win and we plan to win everybody is already at a place where they need to be they all know what they need to do and we do plan to take out our people today and be victorious."
Ricardo "Rick" Ake, UDP Mayoral Candidate CZL
"As early as this morning we gathered up people we put in our street captains all the drivers in place already and we have already sent them to the areas in which they need to be moving getting people to come out here and vote you know because some of them need to work early and so we try to bring them in as much as possible and the time that we have so we can come here and vote."
But here in Orange walk, there was no doubt that from earlier in the day the PUP had most of the muscle on the ground, and the popular support in the polling stations:
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"I was there I was there we destroyed his career. He will beat you bad."
Enrique Carballo, UDP Mayoral Candidate OW
"Well the preparation has been a process, a process in which we started campaigning with all the constituencies in Orangewalk and I believe that we have done a very good job and I believe that is the first and the most important step towards a win."
And in the end, shortly after the boxes were taken into the counting stations and it became apparent, it would be a route, the the UDP was nowhere to be found while the Corozal mayor won a third term, and his new council huddled together in prayer and feasted on their massive victory.
Ladrick Shepherd, Orange walk Elected Mayor
"It goes back to when I started in 2021 hard work always pays off. First of all i would like to just give a praise to the UDP team for giving us a challenge in this election so for 2024-2027 without them we wouldn't be out here today. So again I must congratulate my entire team as well to being out here. I must give a big big up and enough respect to the PUP machine because they are the ones who basically came out. Enough respect to kevin in the east, enough respect to the prime minister who came out and Hon Monchi in the north we all came together and did what we need to do to make sure we secure another victory, another three more years. For the PUP right here at the Town council."
In Orange Walk - Prime Minister Briceno who started out his career in 1992 as a town councillor was grateful for this and the many other victories his party gained in this election:
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"For us it is only a vindication of the work that Ladrick and his team have been doing for the past three years. This is a continuation of a work i started way back in 20212 when kevin bernard was first elected as mayor and now that we have a PUP central government we are partnering with the orange walk town council so that we can provide even more for orange walk town so i would want to humbly talk to the people of Orange walk town from all the divisions for the support that they continue to give us and i want to assure the citizens of Orangewalk town that we will not let them down."
