Thanks Courtney for that update - we'll hear more from you at the end of the news as things pick up over there.
First though, we look back at the mood of the day on the ground on Toledo East. Jomarie Lanza has put together what our team captured:
The PUP team started out this morning by flexing political muscle in Osmond Martinez's home village.
It gave the already confident PUP another booster to bolster their political clout:
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"Osmond Martinez and his team, they've been doing an awesome job in the preparation, in organizing, getting our voters tagged and who's going to take what who and so forth."
"And we have the confidence, we have the confidence that people are going to support him. And it's not only because the PUP has been doing a fantastic job, which we have, but probably just as important is that Osmond Martinez represents what it is to be a true servant, because many times we get caught up with the trappings of the office."
"But really we are servants, we're here to serve, we're here to work with people, to help people, how is it that we could make their lives better."
Francis Fonseca, Area Representative, Freetown
"We're here to support our friend, our colleague, Dr. Osmond Martinez, our party's candidate today."
"So that's why we're here. We are also, certainly I am here to honor the legacy of the honorable Mike Espat, who passed away. You know, we remember Mike very fondly today. He was a strong warrior for the People's United Party."
"I know Mike would have wanted all of us to be here today to make sure that Toledo East remains a PUP seat."
Charles Obeah' Galvez, Mayor, Punta Gorda
"It's a great feeling to see that everybody is here in terms of cabinet ministers, area reps, CEOs, senators, and all municipalities."
"This is what you call all hands on deck. And the idea is to lend support to our candidate, our standard bearer, Dr. Osmond Martinez, to ensure a victory for the party today. That's a must, victory, nothing less."
But it wasn't all walking on sunshine and pressing flesh with the red shirts for the PUP. In the heated political battleground of Punta Gorda the PM got into a low grade argument:
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"All of us are Belizeans and all of us are given an opportunity to do the best with our candidate. I don't have anything more to say."
Spectator
"But you already said that we don't have talent."
Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
"Yes, people are coming out slowly but surely. We are meeting our targets."
Reporter
"Have you been noticing a low voter turnout?"
Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
"You know, I work until the last ballot is counted and I recall in the municipal elections, I anticipated it was going to be a low voter turnout and it didn't panned out that way."
"So I won't speak out of turn. We'll just keep working until the last ballot is casted and the last ballot is counted."
Dennis Desho Williams, UDP Candidate, Toledo East
"In Toledo East you will always face challenges. The farthest village is 72 miles to the north, 60 plus miles to the south, and you'll have a town."
"So, resource is always a problem. I plan to take a run in Forest Home. Cattle Landing, but I will spend my time in the town, because we have the biggest bulk of votes here."
Earl Trapp, Mayor, Santa Elena San Ignacio
"Well, I believe that, and my council believe that it's very important to come out and lend support to our colleague here in Punta Gorda".
"After all the cries from the people, it's time to basically set the foundation as we know that the general elections are very near, it's around the bend. I think this is the time to set the tone."
The independent Candidate for the PNP may have gotten some teasing by the Prime Minister - but he stayed on message:
Wil Maheia, PNP Candidate, Toledo East
"I want to say, I'm doing fine. I mean, like, I feel great. The energy is great. I'm encouraged by the amount of text messages, the amount, I mean, people who come from all over to show their support."
"A lot of people can't vote, but what I think have me encouraged is the fact that the rest of the nation is watching what's going on and they are sending their well wishes and I'm really encouraged by that."
