Yesterday, we went on the campaign trail with both UDP standard bearers who had two very different campaign styles. Courtney Menzies has this story.

The Mesopotamia constituency has had a UDP representative since 1979 and this time, they have two red options to choose from. The incumbent rep, Shyne Barrow, leader of his faction of the party, will be facing off against a not-so-newcomer, Lee Mark Chang.

Chang is no stranger to politics, but he had stepped out of that world after his loss in Caribbean Shores in 2020. He had also previously ran in Freetown. But this time he's gone home to Mesopotamia - where he spent his childhood.

But does he actually want to be an area rep or is his focus solely on ousting Barrow? In response to that criticism, he says his target is no secret.

Lee Mark Chang, TP UDP Standard Bearer, Mesopotamia
"Anybody could say what they want to say but we have to do what we have to do to make sure we can fix the party and make sure the country could run democratically."

"It will definitely keep red but they just want to vote for another red and not the current area representative, that is the feedback that I've been getting. They want to vote red and they want to keep it away from the current area representative. I have campaigned in majority of the area, probably 80, 90% of the area and we have a lot of votes, UDP votes, that have moved to other divisions because they want to vote for a UDP, they just don't want to vote for this current area representative. So when July come, we'll have to try and bring all of them back."

And as Chang walked through the streets, his campaign style differed from the other politicians. His team consisted of only four others and none of them wore UDP shirts. He moved from home to home, spending a lengthy time at each residence. Passersby shouted in his direction, telling him they had his back and drivers stopped to give him well wishes.

He says he feels that his demeanor towards others is what's helping him win over the voters.

Courtney Menzies:
"What do you feel gives you the comparative edge in this election?"

Lee Mark Chang, TP UDP Standard Bearer, Mesopotamia
"How you speak and how you talk to people and how you treat them. That is one of my biggest advantages in this election. I've heard some horror stories about how people have been mistreated, hollered at, ridiculed. For me, as a businessman, I don't do those things, we have to treat people with respect, you vote for me, no problem, but we still have to treat people with respect."

Courtney Menzies:
"When you're campaigning, what is it that you're telling the voters?"

Lee Mark Chang, TP UDP Standard Bearer, Mesopotamia
"It's not more about me telling the voters, it's about what the voters are asking me for. The concerns in the area, and one of the biggest concerns of course, people want land, they want education grants, they want food pantries, they want home improvements and one of the biggest concerns that we have heard is that they want a community center. And so we already have that in the making and once we have that, get the mandate then we will start our community center in the area right where the office is so we'll do the ground floor and we'll change it to the community center which will act also as not only for kids but also for, we're trying to get in the young men and do a crash course in construction for job placement to see which one of the courses in the construction field they like. And then we could probably help them to go to ITVET to get their certification so they could get the job easier."

And in terms of ensuring the voters know which red to mark their 'x' next to, he says the voter education hasn't been too difficult.

Lee Mark Chang, TP UDP Standard Bearer, Mesopotamia
"We are sending out our campaign team with the ballot and just to go to house to house and making sure that people know the different between the two reds that says Shyne, there's one that says Lee Mark and then the third one says Mr Ellis and I believe it's just voter education to have to go to the household and show them the sample ballot, we leave it with them and people will decide."

"The people are easy to understand, so I don't think it's something hard, it's just the voter education we need to do properly and on Election Day we'll see the results."

And his opponent says those results will be known before the day is even half over. Barrow's campaign trail was a major juxtaposition to Chang. He flexed his political muscle with a miniature parade of supporters and his campaign song playing on loop as they marched through Mesopotamia. He told us that that's just one form of his campaign.

Courtney Menzies:
"Your style of campaigning, walking through the streets like this. Why do you choose this as opposed to door to door campaigning?"

Shyne Barrow, SB UDP Standard Bearer, Mesopotamia
"We do door to door this is just one layer of our campaign."

Courtney Menzies:
"What's the plan going into March 12th when you hit the ground, what's the first thing you'll start doing?"

Shyne Barrow, SB UDP Standard Bearer, Mesopotamia
"On March 12th, the elections will be over by 10:00 in morning."

Courtney Menzies:
"Why do you say that?"

Shyne Barrow, SB UDP Standard Bearer, Mesopotamia
"Because my people are going to go to vote, this is just a snapshot of the amount of people that we have on the Shyne team."

Courtney Menzies:
"What makes you so confident?"

Shyne Barrow, SB UDP Standard Bearer, Mesopotamia
"Well I am telling you how I feel and that's all I can do."

And with less than a week until the elections, he says he's not deterred by his opponents.

Courtney Menzies:
"How do you gauge your other opponents, Mr Chang and Mr Ellis?"

Shyne Barrow, SB UDP Standard Bearer, Mesopotamia
"I don't think about my opponents."

Courtney Menzies:
"With 6 days away from the election how is the energy on the ground?"

Shyne Barrow, SB UDP Standard Bearer, Mesopotamia
"You see the energy."

Courtney Menzies:
"What about the people you talk to, what are they saying?"

Shyne Barrow, SB UDP Standard Bearer, Mesopotamia
"The energy is 100%."

But just last week - in the middle of the campaign season - Barrow flew out of the country en route to New York City. He said he had already planned around it.

Shyne Barrow, SB UDP Standard Bearer, Mesopotamia
"Oh I had to go, I had an award that I was being given by the chairwoman of the National Congressional Black Caucus and the New York City Council, that was already the plan. Only for a few days."

Courtney Menzies:
"You don't feel like it hurts your campaign any at all?"

Shyne Barrow, SB UDP Standard Bearer, Mesopotamia
"How so? That's not for you to determine, that's for me to determine."

Courtney Menzies:
"That's why I'm asking."

Shyne Barrow, SB UDP Standard Bearer, Mesopotamia
"I already answered that."

And if the sharp-tongued Shyne Barrow seems defensive it's because he has a lot, maybe everything riding on this race - while - at worst for Lee Mark Chang - it will be two months wasted in a sprint campaign.