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This time that verdict had some surprises for the UDP - especially in Belize City. Jules Vasquez looked at some numbers:...

Jules Vasquez reporting
57% of the 114 thousand voters eligible to vote in municipalities came out. That's a little below the 59% that came out in 2015.

The only place where turnout increased was Belize City - which had the strongest turnout in Pickstock and Lake - I where the PUP got 52% of the vote, and the UDP got 47%.

To give you a sense of the enormity of the reversal - the UDP Mayoral Candidate Dion Leslie got 46% of the vote, while Bernard Wagner got 50% of the vote - While Darrell Bradley had gotten 63% of the vote to Yolanda Schakron's 35% just three years ago.

Leslie said he sensed the shift during his campaign:

Dion Leslie, Lost Bid For Mayor
"It was all national issues and they basically ran a municipal campaign like they were running a general election campaign and that really hurt us."

Jules Vasquez, reporter
"Did you know, did you sense in the week or so lading up when things were really starting to hit a crescendo with all these national issues against the UDP, particularly against the city representatives?"

Dion Leslie, Lost Bid For Mayor
"I'll be honest with you, being on the ground of course you feel things that others may not see or feel, but about two weeks ago I did feel a shift so to speak coming and met with my councilors, I met with my campaign manager and strategy team and told them listen we need to battle down because a feel a little shift and the tide is coming, so this is what we need to expect. I didn't expect it to be so great."

It was great indeed. The PUP had a 37% gain in vote share in Belize City where Dr. Candice Pitts topped the polls for the blue ticket.

The UDP lost 6 of the ten divisions in the city - including Pickstock and Port Loyola which they expected to hold unto.