UDP Makes History with First Female Leader of Mass Political Party

Sunday was a big day for Belizean politics. Hundreds of United Democratic Party supporters gathered to witness history in the making, the swearing-in of the country’s first-ever female leader of a major political organization. It’s been a rough year for the UDP. Internal battles over leadership spilled into the courts and played a big role in their crushing defeat at the 2025 general elections. But yesterday marked a fresh start. Tracy Taegar-Panton officially took the reins as party leader, complimenting her role as the Leader of the Opposition. And that’s not the only win for women in politics. UDP Senator Sheena Pitts scored a landslide victory to become the party’s new chairperson, beating out contenders John Saldivar and Roosevelt Blades. News Five’s Britney Gordon has the full story.

 

Tracy Taegar-Panton, Leader, United Democratic Party

“Honorable Tracy Panton, do solemnly swear that as the leader of the United Democratic Party, I will bear truth, faith and allegiance to the United Democratic Party.”

 

Britney Gordon Reporting

The United Democratic Party has turned a new page in Belize’s political history. For the first time ever, a woman is at the helm of a major political organization. Tracy Taegar-Panton has officially been endorsed as the UDP’s new leader, a groundbreaking moment for the party and for the country. It comes after a tough defeat in the last general elections, but Panton says that chapter is behind them. She’s promising a fresh start and a bold vision for Belize’s future. According to her, this is the beginning of a new era for the UDP.

 

Tracy Taegar-Panton, Leader, United Democratic Party

“The magnitude of the responsibility does not escape me. I have tried to be sober. While I’m super excited for Belize I’m excited for the party. I think that the reset is necessary, and I do believe that we have an opportunity to rebuild and restore the trust and the confidence of the people, and that’s really what it’s about.”

 

This leadership transition follows months of legal wrangling between Tracy Taegar-Panton and former party leader Moses ‘Shyne’ Barrow. The dispute began after Panton and her supporters launched the Alliance for Democracy, a UDP caucus. In the end, the court sided with Barrow. Now, after all the courtroom drama, he’s stepping aside with just one simple wish for Panton and the party to succeed.

 

Moses “Shyne” Barrow, Former Leader, United Democratic Party

“As I engage in the peaceful United Transfer of Leadership to my successor, The Honorable Tracy Panton. I pray that the creator imparts her with the wisdom, knowledge, understanding, and political will to execute effective strategies in the processes of our United Democratic Party so that we can enter the halls of the Sir Cane building once more when the next general elections are called.”

 

Making a comeback on the political stage is longtime UDP figure John Saldivar. He insists his experience and political know-how are exactly what the party needs to reunite. But Saldivar’s name still carries controversy. Back in 2020, he won the leadership race to succeed Dean Barrow, only to be implicated hours later in U.S. court documents linked to convicted fraudster Lev Dermen, who was at the center of a massive fraud and money laundering scheme. The fallout forced Saldivar to resign as party leader and cost him his Cabinet post. Saldivar has repeatedly dismissed the allegations as baseless, but even with backing from the northern caucus, it wasn’t enough to secure a win at the convention.

 

John Saldivar, Candidate, UDP Chairperson

“I haven’t changed in terms of being the person that I’ve always been in politics. And like I said, the people know me, they know what I’m about. There have been some unfortunate circumstances and occurrences, which I believe have has been explained and people, at least what I’m hearing on the trail today, is that people understand what took place and know that it does not reflect who I am and what is being said out there in the media  does not reflect who I’m and people are confident that I am there. They, the good, sincere, honest politician that they’ve always known.”

 

Also, up for the post of chairperson was UDP campaign manager Roosevelt Blades. He was backed by Mesopotamia Area Representative, Lee Mark Chang.

 

Roosevelt Blades, Candidate. UDP Chairperson

“I have been operating from the background and that’s where the support comes from. I have been cultivating support in the background and now that I know that the time is right, I move up the ladder and that is what you do. You have to plant before you could reap, and so I have been cultivating from 2010 up until today.”

 

Ultimately, Pitts prevailed and became the UDP’s first female chairperson. John Castillo secured the Vice Chairman position after defeating Ivan Williams.  Pitts won in a landslide victory, accumulating three hundred and twenty-one votes in comparison to Saldivar who secured ninety-nine and Blades who received seventy-five.

 

Sheena Pitts, Chairperson, United Democratic Party

“My reputation of standing and fighting in the Senate, in the public domain, I come with the fire that I intend to put into all the strategies that we have already begun to work on, and when I tell you we’re coming roaring, we’re coming ready, and we’re coming for the UDP because guess what? The people’s win with me today represent that we are serious and ready to govern this country.”

 

According to Panton, the work to rebuild the party has only just begun. The party will now move to appoint its shadow cabinet and reestablish itself at the UDP headquarters. Britney Gordon for News Five.