For the past five weeks - politics has been in dynamic flux - and the Briceno administration has been reeling from the revelations of an avalanche of screenshots leaks of the government's computer ledger - known as Smart Stream.
With the PUP on the ropes and the Prime Minister getting ready to throw his own baby brother under the bus, the UDP was hoping for a popularity bounce. They held the "Stand for Belize" Protest March and Rally today. Jaleeza Roberts was there to see how they flexed - here's her report:
This morning, just after 10:00, about 750 United Democratic Party supporters left its headquarters on Youth for the Future Drive and headed for Battlefield Park on Albert Street. They marched under the theme "Stand For Belize" and deliberately tried to avoid party branding-using Belizean flags to pitch this as a nationalist event.
But, we saw almost exclusively party supporters and a few unionists. With a few handfuls of not very full buses coming in, they had representation from constituencies countrywide.
Tracy Panton, Leader of the Opposition
"I am energized and it is time that this country comes together, irrespective of our political ideologies, irrespective of the platforms we stand on to stand up for Belize."
"The government must get a loud and clear message that Belize will stand together and we're standing against corruption on steroids what has been placed in the public domain so far is just the tip of the iceberg."
And when it comes to the steady succession of SmartStream leaks which is subjecting the Briceno administration to a kind of Chinese Water Torture, National Campaign Manager Juliet Thimbriel praised the whistleblowers:
Juliet Thimbriel, National Campaign Manager - UDP
"I don't only commend them, they are heroes, they are heroes of this nation. They are taking risks that I don't even know that I would take if I was in their positions. You have no idea the amount of information that we have that we have not release because we are trying to protect public officers because if we release from a certain area, the focus will in that area and so we have to time our releases to protect them."
"I want to ask the People's United Party, do you think they can stay in government after we release everything that we have to release?"
And while that ominous question hangs, with 2 Ministers now on leave because of the leaks, the UDP hopes it will lead to a momentum swing in their favour.
The UDP was joined by the President of the PSU and the Union Senator who both shared some words:
Dean Flowers, PSU President
"Silence protects corruption. Complacency enables corruption and indifference guarantees more corruption. The Public Service Union will continue to fight. We will continue to demand accountability. We will continue to seek truth to power, but we need every Belizean who believes in justice, fairness and the rule of law to stand with us."
Glenfield Dennison, Union Senator
"I see a Belize where people go to work and know that if you work hard, you will achieve success and be promoted through the ranks. I see a Belize where somebody like me might make it to be chief justice, but unfortunately this is not the Belize we have right now. Unfortunately, the Belize we have day after the day the generalist are showing us that corruption is real and corruption is hurting every single person."
And the gratitude is to the real heroes, the public servants turned whistleblowers:
Tracy Panton, Leader of the Opposition
"And the one that is most pressing is the blatant and rampant corruption that is now on full national display. Corruption my friends will be the hallmark of the People's United Party and that is why it is time for them to go."
"I want to also thank our public officers, the president of the public service union did a good job at that but I join my voice with him to thank them for stepping out of their comfort zone, risking their jobs to stand up for Belize, you are our everyday heroes."
And when it was all over, Panton posted on Facebook 2,000 strong, even though we counted less than 500 at the Battlefield Park.
Was it enough to send a message? For Panton, that is her earnest hope:
Tracy Panton, Leader of the Opposition
"My heart is really full, I think that today is indicative of what is possible when we all come together to highlight the things that bring us together not the things that divide us and so I'm very pleased that we have the support of the unions at this rally and I'm pleased that we had the support of our constituency leaders at this rally."
Reporter:
"We are estimating it's about 500 persons, will that be enough to send a message to the PUP?"
Tracy Panton:
"Well you have not seen the situation report from the police who says that they have accounted for 2,000 people so your information is definitely not correct, you check with the police."
Reporter:
"But still is that enough to send a message to the current administration?"
Tracy Panton:
"Why wouldn't it be? You know what a difference one voice can make, on voice can make a difference. It took one public officer to release the report for Mira."
But one voice cannot win an election-and the UDP has to hope this is the start of a rising public chorus. Jaleeza Roberts, 7 News.
Police counted nearly one thousand persons in the march when it reached Orange Street.
