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So, it is that Shoman entered on Sunday - in a wide open field - with one very wild card, the wily Amin Hegar, a former PUP Area Representative whose going for another round in his new home, Belmopan. We were on the ground in the Capital to see how it played out:

Jules Vasquez Reporting
As in every four way race, the signage was dense and the styles diverse as were the political pitches, but Amin Hegar took the plate and indeed he was an unexpected frontrunner in this race and every time we saw him, he was on the frontline greeting the most voters.

Using his Latin background and political savvy honed as a former area representative for Cayo West - Hegar was relentless.

Jules Vasquez
"What do you see as your strength in this race?"

Amin Hegar, Aspirant for Std. Bearer
"As they say that the old Belmopan - the public servants are afraid to come out and vote because they are afraid to be victimize, so it is my belief that most of the people that come out will be from the outskirts. The law has to be change so that there be no victimizations. Yes most of the people from Maya Mopan, San Martin, Salvapan, Riviera and all those areas. PUP and even UDP are going to vote for me today."

Hegar's principal challenge was from Senator Lisa Shoman.

Lisa Shoman, Aspirant For Standard Bearer
"I think it's going really well Jules. I think if anything this is a triumph for the PUP."

Jules Vasquez
"Now again it's not a party effort today. You have to win in order to...."

Lisa Shoman, Aspirant For Standard Bearer
"Absolutely and as you can see our machinery is in over drive, it's a PUP blue tsunami, it's a Lisa Shoman wave."

Jules Vasquez
"Earlier people are saying and I don't have empirical evidence but they are saying that so far Amin is ahead."

Lisa Shoman, Aspirant For Standard Bearer
"I am sure Amin's people think that. What do we say, 'Lisa Shoman number one'."

Amin Hegar, Aspirant for Std. Bearer
"I am from the west; the other lady candidate is nit from the Cayo District. I am from the Cayo District and I love my Cayo District and we have the bigger Belmopan City this time."

Jules Vasquez
"Lisa, how do you answer one of the central criticism that they put against you that you are not registered - you don't live in Belmopan, even in the Cayo District."

Lisa Shoman, Aspirant For Standard Bearer
"News flash, Dean Barrow is not registered or living in Queen Square so Jules that is not a consideration. The people of Belmopan know my heart and soul are here and they know I am here for the future of Belmopan and come July when I can transfer I too will be voting in Belmopan."

Jules Vasquez
"Will you be living in Belmopan?"

Lisa Shoman, Aspirant For Standard Bearer
"I already live in Belmopan Jules. I've been living in Belmopan for two months now and it's my home, my commitment is here."

Jules Vasquez
"Well how do you answer the criticism that you wanted to run in Caribbean Shores but then....."

Lisa Shoman, Aspirant For Standard Bearer
"You know that was a crazy rumor Jules. Here I am and here I stay."

Jules Vasquez
"Some people are saying that you are a senator and you are the choice of the party leadership - they would want you to be elected to represent."

Lisa Shoman, Aspirant For Standard Bearer
"Of course I think anyone would want me to be elected because I am a strong representative."

Jules Vasquez
"Some people are saying that the chosen candidate of the current leadership John Briceno is Lisa Shoman and that you are not the favorite of the leadership. How is your relationship with the leadership of the party right now?"

Amin Hegar, Aspirant for Std. Bearer
"I don't care who supports other candidates. All I care is that the people of Belmopan care about me and care about their future - the one Christian person who believes in God and that is most important."

Jules Vasquez
"We know that Ms. Shoman have filed some papers on behalf of UNIBAM. Has that been an issue in your campaign? Have you made it an issue?"

Amin Hegar, Aspirant for Std. Bearer
"That has not been an issue in my campaign, it has been an issue in Lisa's campaign to be frankly."

Jules Vasquez
"Have you exploited it?"

Amin Hegar, Aspirant for Std. Bearer
"I have never exploited that. The churches probably have. Yesterday we had the big protest that was against UNIBAM, if it hurts any candidate - that's their problem. It doesn't hurt me because I am not for that. I am a Christian."

Jules Vasquez
"Have your opponents exploited the UNIBAM issue because I know you've been link to UNIBAM."

Lisa Shoman, Aspirant For Standard Bearer
"Jules, they tried everything but they won't move this camp. Team Lisa is here to stay."

And while Hegar had the hustle and the Shoman camp had the best choreography, the other aspirants JB Wade and Maureen Leslie - both long standing Belmopan residents appeared to be almost on the outside looking in.

JB Wade, Aspirant for Standard Bearer
"Not only a hard day but it's been a long haul, I've been on this trail since December but it's a rewarding the same although we don't know who is the victor of today's yet but none the less the turnout that we have had today is quite rewarding as far as I am concern. I am the only candidate that is from Belmopan and has been living in Belmopan for the past 35 years of my life. That is my message that I took out to the people of Belmopan and like I explain to them before is that what we need in Belmopan is somebody that knows what needs to be done in Belmopan and to get the job done."

Jules Vasquez
"How is it that you are now perceive as an underdog?"

Maureen Leslie, Aspirant for Standard Bearer
"I've been told that I have 3 things against me. I've been told that I don't have name recognition - Maureen Leslie is not a name out there, I've been told that i am not financially viable - I don't have any money - i am a grassroots poor person and the third one I won't mention that what I have why i am not number favorite."

Jules Vasquez
"You think that you should have been rewarded with a greater degree of loyalty from the party leadership?"

Maureen Leslie, Aspirant for Standard Bearer
"I expected a certain level of loyalty but don't think that the hierarchy of the party should become personally involve, supporting a particular candidate."

Jules Vasquez
"You think that the influence of money will have a bearing on the outcome of this convention. You think it's having one right now as voting is going on?"

Maureen Leslie, Aspirant for Standard Bearer
"I think so and if you ask anybody out here they will tell you the same thing. When you have - for example I only have 5 vehicles and some candidates have nearly 100 I understand. Things are extremely hard and people will serve their integrity. Sad to say I've seen some of my people - some of them came to me and told me that they are sorry but they need the need the money and I said baby go for it - that's reality."

And the reality on this day was that after all the dust of dissent had settled, the cagey old veteran Amin Hegar had risen to the top, besting second place finisher Lisa Shoman by almost 300 votes.

The final vote count was Hegar, 847 votes, Shoman, 581 votes, Maureen Leslie, 235 votes, JB Wade, 132 votes. A total of 1,825 voted.

The day's other contested convention was held in Orange Walk South where UDP incumbent standard bearer Marco Pech was defeated - making him the third elected standard bearer to go down in the UDP's convention season. Pech was defeated by former UDP OW Central Standard bearer Rosendo Chendo Urbina, who got 1050 votes while Pech got 991 - a margin of 59 votes. Dr. Ricardo Fabro got 141 votes. The total number of voters was 2,189.