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There was a strong showing of support for some, and also a few firsts. Jomarie Lanza was on the ground in her hometown and here's what nomination day looked like in the north.

The Corozal PUP office was teeming with Thea Garcia supporters as of 7:00Am. Garcia ensured that they could be seen and heard from afar as they made their way down College road to the Corozal Library beside the Town Hall. Too consumed by her campaigning activities she told us that she hasn't had time to pay attention to what's been happening on social media. One thing she did say for sure though is that her constituents are the ones in control, and they have the last say in who they will vote in or out.

Thea Garcia Ramirez, PUP Standard Bearer, Corozal Bay
"Well there has been very little time for social media honestly because its a very short campaign season we are about 16, 15 days out and so my time has been really dedicated to trying to meet as many voters of Corozal bay one on one, we have been having neighbourhood meetings to try and bridge that gap we have been on social media but I personally I'm not there looking at the comments, and what I have seen by a large are comments outside of Corozal bay they don't vote here. And my primary concern and primary responsibility who I answer to are the voters of Corozal bay, voters who know what happen here and who understand what we have been through and sincerely I think their minds are made up, we know what we are going for we are ready and we can't wait for the 12th to come and we are going to go out there very early and we are going to vote and ultimately anybody can have their say, but Corozal bay? Corozal Bay always has its way, so they vote you in, they will vote you out, they are the boss,they run things, I'm just a servant."

And one of her opponents Elvi Vega Samos whom she bested in a convention in July of 2024, still wont go down without another fight. Vega has decided to run independently. Vega says she felt that this was something she had to do.

Elvi Vega Samos, Independent Candidate
"I did this because I have other females watching the future generation watching and they are there looking at me and if I am to take this, ford my hands and take it lightly I cannot do that I need to stand up for what is right."

"I truly believe that the Corozal Bay constituents should have the opportunity to choose who they want to represent them and it should not be something that should just be thrown at them. I believe that the time has come for an independent candidate it's not just 2 parties you know it is healthy to have other options."

"The Garcias have been trying their very best to take over Corozal bay. The people have always voted resoundingly, and my brother thanks to the Corozal constituents he won but unfortunately covid came and took him away and as a certain individual, the day my brother one he said he will not live to enjoy this and my brother died. But he did not die in vain and I stepped up to the plate. It's something that was planned in my honest view with all the things that happened throughout the 4 years, it's not something that happened overnight. This individual was given all the resources you could think about there was nothing I could have done about it."

"But I'm not giving up Jomarie. I believe the people should be the one to choose."

Vega isn't the only female independent candidate however. This afternoon we became acquainted with Condace Lowe, running in Corozal North, for a third party The Belizeans Justice movement. She says while she acknowledges that politics isn't exactly a level playing field she is dismayed by the consistent attacks between the female candidates running in Corozal.

Condace Lowe, Independent candidate
"We are a third party called the Belizean Justice movement and we are comprised of 8 of us at the moment and what we are trying to do is seek the injustices happening at the moment so we want the betterment of all Belizeans life."

"Why I've joined because our democracy and our constitution, this administration they are overriding our constitution and for one we must go through with the redistricting first as per our constitution then we can do the election but they bypassed that. So does that mean they can bypass the constitution no one is above the law. The constitution is our bible we must abide by for all Belizeans. "

"Its unfortunate to see that things happen this way we are all humans and we should be humble whatsoever what we need to do is have the principals for our Belizeans and have betterment for our Belizeans not sided by colors, and I am so sad to see among women and me as a women to see how they can bicker like that. We are here for each other. We need to support each other at our utmost so we can do the best for our country."

And after Lowe signed and sealed her deal, we also spoke to David Castillo, PUP's Standard bearer for Corozal North. He's lost twice to Hugo Patt but he assured his constituents that this time around is different.

David Castillo, Corozal North PUP Standard Bearer
"The area wants leadership, they want effective leadership, they want to see Corozal North moving forward like the rest of the country. Corozal north has experienced almost 18 years of stagnant development so the people are seeing progress in the entire country through Plan Belize the people united party so Corozal north wants to witness that they want to experience that. I have been working for the past 5 years I have been implementing plan Belize to Belize even though I am not the official area representative we have been working for the people whether providing education assistance for the students in the area assisting people with many land problems we inherited from the previous administration helping and assisting the farmers in repairing and rehabilitating the cane roads and even the village roads so we are doing our part."

And in the afternoon once the PUP's and independents had completed their nominations, we met with Patt at the civic centre. He brought out a sizable crowd of supporters from the constituency has had won three times. Right off the bat he made it known that there is only one UDP in Corozal, and they are not divided:

Hugo Patt, Corozal North
"I have to be very thankful to the people of Corozal North for having given me the opportunity to stand as their standard bearer for the Corozal north division. Certainly I have enjoyed the privilege of having their support for the past 3 terms and I am here standing thanks to the good lord. Thanks to our people we are still here with life and good health and ready to work and serve the people of Corozal north."

"As far as I am concerned Hugo Patt is UDP and there is always going to be one United Democratic Party who will work for the people of this country in a fashion that is totally different from what's happening now."

"When you look at what is happening in the country you take a look at what happened back in 2020. There was this overwhelming feeling and this was all across the country that there would have been a change in government there was this drive from the people, the pandemic was a major factor in all of the scenario but more importantly you could have felt a whim that people wanted a change, you can take at a poll and go ask each and every single Belizean if they are satisfied with what this present administration is doing. If you guys can take a look at what plan Belize promised they have failed and they have failed miserably. They have failed the people, the very same people who supported them to the very same thousands of the United Democratic Party who supported them and they have failed the thousands of their supporters who supported them."

Our final candidate to be nominated was Hernan Riverol, The UDP Standard Bearer for Corozal Bay. Riverol had ran as an independent candidate during municipal elections but was unsuccessful. And though he was known to have recently switched to team Tracy, similar to Patt he reiterated that there is only one UDP in the Bay:

Hernan Riverol, UDP Candidate, Corozal Bay
"Well I am the Corozal standard Bearer for the United Democratic Party, the only candidate for Corozal bay."

Jo:
"But your party leader, are you with Tracy or are you with Shyne?"

Hernan Riverol, UDP Candidate, Corozal Bay
"We are for Corozal, Corozal Bay, The United Democratic Party representing the UDP"

Jo:
"So there is only one UDP in Corozal you are not divided up here?"

Hernan Riverol, UDP Candidate, Corozal Bay
"No I represent my people of Corozal I represent Corozal."

"The people of Corozal Bay are looking for a good candidate so you know after talking to them I have been visiting the people of Corozal for many years. And that's the reason I decided to."