And the Shyne Barrow UDP faction didn't draw a larger crowd. There were a few supporters waiting outside the Civic, and reports are that a couple of the candidates had a hard time finding nominators. Some candidates walked there alone and while shirts don't vote, it's not a good look. But Barrow wasn't paying attention to that noise - he was focused on the support from Mesopotamia.
Shyne Barrow
"It's been a long day, early rise this morning, checking on all of the standard bearers. I oftentimes have to share myself with my constituents as well as the other 30 constituents. It's an arduous task and I was extremely emotional today because outpouring of love and support that I get from my Mesopotamia voters is what carries me through."
"All that we're facing as a country, highest cost of living, high crime, high everything and different political wars and all of the challenges, turbulence that comes with this journey of life. It is quite fulfilling when your people come and carry you because I was so happy, I was a candidate today."
"Usually I'm party leader, I'm leader of the opposition, but for a moment, a brief moment, I was able to be the Mesopotamia candidate."
Reporter
"The size of your crowd, it's a big glearing difference between that and the size of the PUP's crowd this morning. I think maybe Caribbean Shores had more than maybe what was out here today."
Shyne Barrow
"That is to be expected when you're in opposition. We don't have the opportunity to misappropriate the public coffers for the benefit of shirts. We're in opposition. I was never a government minister, so I never thiefed the people money and could now reinvest it in shirts. Whatever I have is what I've earned from the sweat of my brow and that doesn't necessarily play a role."
"The government can afford to spend a million dollars and this is a capacity of 5,000. Yet they say they bring 10,000 people in and they're lying, but it's expected that the government has all the money in the world."
We also spoke with the standard bearer in Queen's Square, Shane Williams. Williams lost in a convention against Godwin Haylock, but since Haylock is now under Panton's leadership, Williams is back in the running. And he said his performance following that loss is what sets him apart.
Shane Williams, SB UDP Standard Bearer, Queen Square
"When I'm relieved, the day is finally here. I'm an official candidate. It's really a proud day for me. It's a proud day for my family. As you notice, I came with my mom and my aunt and my cousins. So it's not every day that someone like me gets nominated for a mass party in Belize."
"So it's a very special day for us. And hopefully, it's not the last. I'm not the last candidate from community that gets an opportunity like this."
Reporter
"But the last time you went up in a convention, you got blown out. What gives you the confidence this time around, even though your opponent is still in the race?"
Shane Williams, SB UDP Standard Bearer, Queen Square
"The thing is, you really judge people based on what they do after a loss like that. The day after that loss, I was preparing for my summer camp. After that devastating defeat, as you said, it was a blow. I went directly preparing for back to school programs, preparing for my sporting events, dealing with the programs that I've been doing before, that blow out. So people judge you based on what happened after that. After that blow out, the individual who won disappeared. And I will tell you another thing. After March 12th, on March the 13th, no matter who wins, I can tell you that the individual for the PUP, her office will be closed. My opponent from the Alliance, his office will be closed. And I will be the only person in Queen Square on March 13th, no matter what the result of this election is."
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