And while Lee Mark Chang is sure he is going to win - we know for sure that the Mesopotamia race will be one of the most compelling because it will feature Chang battling Shyne Barrow for the UDP vote, while Lawrence Ellis will try to steal a victory in a constituency where the PUP has not won in 51 years.
But while that division is a worthy micro-study - today, Jules Vasquez got to do his own when he got to see behind the Blu curtain as the PUP candidates set up for a carefully choreographed election announcement. Here's what he saw:
With their places precisely marked in terms of seniority and perhaps electability - with considerations for height, gender and party executive seniority, the 31 area reps took their places.
With the precision of a set designer and the authority of a stage manager, the Prime Minister's assistant Vaughan Gill shuttled across the area with the intensity of a hovering hummingbird.
Another assistant made sure every button was buttoned.
After three minutes of this micro study of life behind the blue curtain - PM Briceno emerged.
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"Good Morning."
With his generals all in a row behind him - Briceno recapped his accomplishments of the last 5 years
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"Things have changed dramatically as we promised they would."
He laid out what will be the bulwarks of his campaign.
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"Belizeans are working, earning higher wages. Productivity has soared, expanding the economy. Hundreds of millions in new private sector investments have spawned development."
But the party hopes it won't be spurned by voters - and with that the PM pulled the trigger and exposed one of the worst kept secrets in town - that elections will be November 12th.
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"With this sterling report card in hand, and after careful reflection and prayer, I have decided that now is the appropriate time to seek from you a renewal of our electoral mandate. Earlier, I advised the Governor General to dissolve the National Assembly today and to appoint Wednesday, March 12th, 2025, as the date for general elections."
With that, the party launched its campaign, built around this music video, prominently and almost solely featuring Briceno. The party leader now reported to be in his last term. And if he is in the last term, he will have to look to one of his colleagues on his left and right to take over the party leadership in what would be an interesting five years.
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