Breaking News - Greater Belize Media

NPC Votes to Reinstate Expelled Members Except for Faber

Just when you thought the political drama within the United Democratic Party had simmered down, think again. One month after a National Party Council meeting descended into chaos, the U.D.P. gave it another shot this past Saturday. This time, things were quieter outside the party’s headquarters, but inside? A different kind of storm was brewing. Chairman Michael Peyrefitte, who recently returned to the helm after stepping down post-election, was determined to bring unity to a fractured party. But the meeting took a sharp turn when Opposition Senator Patrick Faber showed up uninvited. What followed was a standoff, a refusal by police to intervene, and a vote that ended up… on WhatsApp. News Five’s Paul Lopez has the full story on this latest chapter in the U.D.P.’s ongoing saga.

Paul Lopez, Reporting

Inside the UDP headquarters, chaos once again took center stage. Chairman Michael Peyrefitte, freshly reinstated and hoping to steer the party toward unity, found himself presiding over yet another political showdown. The tension hit a boiling point when Lead Opposition Senator Patrick Faber made an uninvited entrance, behind familiar faces, including Area Rep Miguel Guerra, Deputy Chair Alberto August, and former candidates like Jose Espat and Omar Figueroa. And it didn’t stop there. August was soon seen calling on police to remove Faber, while another controversial figure, Brian ‘Yellow Man’ Audinett, also showed up.

Brian “Yellow Man” Audinett, Member, U.D.P.

“Mister Faber is a part of the NPC. Mister Faber has absolutely nowhere to go.”

And then this happened, an exchange of expletives between Audinett and Almendarez that got close to becoming physical.

Paul Lopez

“You think you deserve to be a part of this meeting?”

David Almendarez, Former U.D.P. Candidate, Belize Rural Central

“I dah wah Belizean, I deserve to be anywhere I stand. I dah wah lion, sih lion, Belizean. No comments.”

Inside the meeting room a resolution was put on the floor for voting: reinstate all expelled members of the U.D.P., except for Patrick Faber. And with that Chairman Michael Peyrefitte suspended the meeting and the vote was moved to Whatsapp.

Michael Peyrefitte, Chairman, U.D.P.

“The resolution is that everybody who was expelled from the party and not in good standing with the party, except for Patrick Faber, we are putting that these people be invited back into the party and we proceed with our conventions and national convention on October fifth. But the resolution right now, given his behavior and given his disrespect today, we are voting and putting to the floor of the NPC to not have him return to the UDP and I was the first one to vote to not bring him back to the UDP.”

And we challenged Peyrefitte about the validity of a Whatsapp voting process on such a weighty decision. Here is how he responded.

Michael Peyrefitte

“We have done Cabinet meeting by Whatsapp. It is a matter of a resolution for a decision. It is that simple.”

By five o’clock, the results were in and the message was loud and clear. The National Party Council voted unanimously to welcome back all previously expelled members… all except one: Patrick Faber. The only person who didn’t cast a vote was former Cayo Central candidate Mark O’Brien, who chose to sit this one out. So, what does Faber think about being the lone man left out? We caught up with him right after the meeting to hear his take on the day’s events.

Patrick Faber, Former Area Representative, Collet

“Mister Peyrefitte could say what he want. I have been here longer than he. I have worked for this party from fourteen years old. Dah nuh for me, deh nuh the have no convention in Collett. That is not one of the divisions in any danger for a convention to be held. But we must do what is right. You show me, they could say what they want to say, that is fine. Ultimately I know my value, not only for this party but as an individual as well, so it does not matter what they say.”

Faber then asserted that Almendarez physically pushed him while inside the building.

Patrick Faber

“He was pushing me through the door until saner minds intervened. So, expect that I am going straight to the Queen Street Police station to make a complaint.”

As the crowd trickled out of the UDP headquarters, the mood was far from celebratory. Several members didn’t hold back, expressing frustration over yet another in-person NPC meeting that ended in disappointment.

Ralston Frazer, Former U.D.P. Candidate, Belmopan

“I am very disappointed, but I do know that when you have genuine legitimate cause to carry one then you stand and carry on and sometimes in leadership you have to stand and carry on alone.”

Jose UC Espat, Former U.D.P. Candidate, Albert

“To be honest, I myself am getting tired of this. It seems that one person destroyed this whole meeting, Patrick Faber. If we cant get we act together this party wont go anywhere and to be honest I the get tired of this.”

Macario Augustine, Former U.D.P. Candidate, Stann Creek West

“It is one party and it is so disappointing of what is happening up there at the moment, but my main focus is uniting the party and moving forward.”

So, is this the final chapter for Patrick Faber in the UDP? Or is there still a twist in the tale? And the bigger question—can the United Democratic Party ever truly come together under one roof? Reporting for News 5, I am Paul Lopez.

UDP Closes Door to Faber; What is His Future in Politics?

Saturday’s NPC meeting marked Chairman Michael Peyrefitte’s first time back at the helm since his return, and it didn’t take long for tensions to flare. After Patrick Faber’s surprise appearance, Peyrefitte made his position quite clear: as long as he’s chairman, Faber won’t be running under the U.D.P banner in any future election. Here’s how Peyrefitte put it in his own words.

Michael Peyrefitte, Chairman, U.D.P.

“Patrick Faber he think he big and bad, he think the rule does not apply to him. But the UDP is not an abused woman. The UDP is not to be bullied. The UDP will not have its doors kicked down, by a sick deranged individual. What the UDP will do, what I believe will happen by five oclock is to say that we don’t want Patrick Faber in the UDP anymore.”

Paul Lopez

“Is that then the end of him and his run in the UDP while you are chair?”

Michael Peyrefitte

“I know that while I am chair, when the applications come for conventions for the different divisions and Collet is one of them, Patrick Faber’s application will not be accepted if he chooses to apply him.”

Paul Lopez

“Why did you all not just remove him out of the meeting and continue with it here?”

Michael Peyrefitte

“We spoke to the police. We are decent people. I know that people like you would love to see a fight. People like you would love to see June fourteenth. But that is not going to be repeated today. Nobody will commit a crime and try to remove anybody. You know what we do, remove him form the UDP. Remove him from the UDP is better than dragging him from upstairs. We called the police and they made it clear that unless there is a fight they wont intervene. So the political directorate of this country wants a fight. They say they will send the police if you start a fight, Peyrefitte if you start a fight then the police will come. We are not going to do that in the UDP, not today.”

Faber Fights Back: Says NPC Has No Power to Expel or Reinstate

Patrick Faber isn’t backing down. He’s pushing back hard, saying the NPC has no authority to vote on reinstating him, or anyone else, for that matter. According to Faber, the High Court already ruled that those expulsions were illegal in the first place. And when it comes to removing him from the party? Faber says the NPC can’t just pass a resolution and call it a day. He insists that’s not how it works under the U.D.P’s own constitution.

Patrick Faber, Former Area Representative, Collet

“This party is democratic. If they want to bring a charge against me, to say I am disruptive or I have breached the constitution of the party, I have no problem with that. Do it the proper way. Bring the charge, take it to the central executive and say Faber has to go and then send it to the ethic committee. The ethic committee will come in and say Faber why did you do this and give us your answer. Then the ethic committee will say, Faber you know what, you really out of order, you got to go. Here is your expulsion or suspension or a hundred dollars fine or a letter of reprimand. Those are the four outcomes from the ethics committee. Again, you will understand the court was clear there was no expulsion. So they cannot vote to reinstate me. I am a member of the party. What they may do is decide that they want me expelled and they have to go through the process, which is to bring a charge through the central executive committee. I the tell them how to do it.”

He Was Killed Over a Bicycle

Police continue investigating the fatal chopping of Carlos “Galazan” Garvin, whose body was discovered near a liquor establishment in Cowpen Village on the night of 12 July, the Commissioner of Police Dr Richard Rosado told the media this afternoon.

“The victim sustained fatal chop wounds to the upper part of the body. Our preliminary investigation revealed that the attack may have been motivated over a bicycle,” ComPol Rosado added.

According to Rosado, the suspect has been apprehended, and “charges will be laid today.”

A friend remembered Garvin as a man with deep biblical knowledge despite his struggles. “He was a man who, despite his mistakes, had a deep knowledge of the Bible.”

Belize Defends Taiwan’s Sovereignty in Senate Meeting

Belize’s Senate came together in a rare moment of unity to reaffirm the nation’s support for Taiwan and its sovereignty and its right to self-determination.

The motion “Resolution to Support Democratic Taiwan and Strengthen Bilateral Bond,” was passed in the Senate, which reaffirmed Belize’s commitment to Taiwan’s democracy and international participation.

Government Senator Eamon Courtenay pointed out the strength of Belize and Taiwan’s 36-year diplomatic relationship and cited the “common values of democracy, freedom and human rights.”

“Taiwan is not only a faithful ally and a development partner of Belize but also an active contributor to addressing pressing global challenges,” Senator Courtenay added.

Opposition Senator Patrick Faber also supported Belize’s long-standing diplomatic ties with Taiwan, stating, “I rise on behalf of the opposition to give my full and unwavering support to this important motion, a resolution that affirms Belize’s … the unbreakable bond of friendship with the people and government of Taiwan.”

Senator Courtenay called on China to end its threats toward Taiwan. “The people of Taiwan have a right to self-determination. They have a right to determine that they wish to exist as a country, separate from the People’s Republic of China.”

“It is an opportunity for us today to reaffirm our commitment to that relationship,” Courtney added.

Belize’s Silver-Winning Volleyball Team’s Next Stop: Home

Belize’s Men’s National Volleyball Team secured silver at the AFECAVOL Men’s Final Four Championship in El Salvador over the weekend. It was a close five-set match against gold medallists Guatemala.

The win represents Belize’s best showing yet at the regional tournament. Francis Hauze earned 1st Best Attacker, while Hakan Godoy was named 2nd Best Blocker.

President of the Belize Volleyball Association, Allan Sharp, said the team came just four points shy of gold. “It’s definitely a time that we want to celebrate… This is a step closer now. In fact, we were four points away from getting gold. So, we came so, so close, but it shows the growth of the programme, and it shows that the guys are putting in a lot more work.”

The team’s return home was delayed after getting stuck in a teacher-led blockade in Guatemala. Sharp confirmed that the roadblocks stemmed from a nationwide strike by the Guatemala Education Workers Union.

“We did our best to try and leave as early as possible. So, we missed a few of the roadblocks but unfortunately missed this one by just a few minutes,” Sharp said. “They told us to just get ready for a long wait; sometimes they let the traffic through in some stages… so we’re hoping for that. If that doesn’t happen, then we just have to wait it out, unfortunately.”

The team waited for a few hours before they were able to peacefully pass at around midday.

Volunteers Mobilise to Battle Sargassum in Caye Caulker

The persistent invasion of sargassum along Belize’s coast continues to drive community action. Over the weekend, volunteers from the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at (AMJ) joined a clean-up in Caye Caulker to help remove the seaweed from the island’s shores.

“The community joined residents and local stakeholders to remove large amounts of the seaweed, which continues to threaten marine life, damage tourism, and create health hazards due to its foul odor and decay,” AMJ said on social media.

The problem is not limited to Caye Caulker. Sargassum has been piling up in San Pedro and even along Belize City’s coastline as of last week.

Just last month, Minister of Blue Economy Andre Perez described this year’s influx as a “relentless” challenge, surpassing previous years.

Meanwhile, Belize is among a group of countries preselected by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) for funding to support innovative solutions that convert sargassum into valuable resources for industries such as agriculture and renewable energy. However, the country’s participation is still pending a due diligence process.

Iranian Group Places $40 Million Bounty on Trump’s Head

A religious fatwa from Iran’s top clerics is calling for the assassination of former U.S. President Donald Trump, with reports claiming an online crowdfunding campaign has already raised more than $40 million as a bounty for carrying out the threat.

The calls for Trump’s death follow recent remarks by Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who, during a televised speech, mocked the former president’s security, saying, “Trump has done something that he can no longer sunbathe in Mar-a-Lago. As he lies there with his stomach to the sun, a small drone might hit him in the navel.”

According to the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI), an Iranian group calling itself the “Blood Covenant” is behind the online campaign, which includes a website showing Trump in crosshairs and urges supporters to donate “in order to help establish stable peace.” The poster on the site reportedly quotes the Quran: “Strive with your wealth and your lives in the cause of Allah,” describing the bounty as a legitimate call for jihad.

The threats come weeks after the U.S. reportedly carried out significant airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities. MEMRI says Iran’s religious establishment has recently increased explicit calls for Trump’s assassination.

Travis Scott Samples Shyne, Barrington Levy on New Album

US rapper Travis Scott has once again tapped into Caribbean classics, this time sampling Belize’s own Shyne and reggae icon Barrington Levy for his brand-new album, Jackboys 2.

Released over the weekend in collaboration with his “Cactus Jack” collective, Jackboys 2 has already stirred a wave of reactions across social media. One standout track, fittingly titled Shyne, features rising Memphis rapper Glorilla and has quickly become one of the album’s most talked-about songs.

‘Shyne’ heavily samples the 2000 hit Bad Boyz.

The original track, produced by Ez Elpee, famously blended hip hop with reggae and dancehall, sampling Grace Jones’ Nightclubbing and showcasing Barrington Levy’s iconic vocals and unmistakable “Broader Than Broadway” riff.

Travis Scott’s version goes a step further, with Scott himself attempting Barrington Levy’s trademark “shibbily dabbily” style.

Reacting to the track’s release, Shyne shared his pride in seeing his work inspire a new generation of artists. “I am honored that two of the biggest popular artists out right now have remade my classic song,” Shyne said.

Scott now joins other artists, including Lady London, Sean Price, and Cassidy, who have sampled Bad Boyz over the years.

UDP Claims “Successful Reunification Meeting”

The United Democratic Party (UDP) has set 5 October 2025 as the date for its National Convention, following Saturday’s National Party Council (NPC) meeting. While the party touted the gathering as a “successful reunification meeting,” unresolved internal disputes indicate otherwise.

In its statement, the UDP said NPC members “voted unanimously to reinstate all members that were expelled and not in good standing except for one individual.” That individual is former party leader and current Opposition Senator Patrick Faber, who was denied reinstatement during a virtual vote held via WhatsApp.

Party Chairman Mike Peyrefitte told the media on Saturday, “We are putting forth to the NPC to not have him return to the United Democratic Party, and I was the first one to vote to not bring him back to the UDP.”

Peyrefitte accused Faber of entering the in-person meeting uninvited and attempting to cause a disruption. Faber disputed that, telling reporters he had every right to attend. “I am the former leader of the UDP and current senator for the party and the caretaker for the Collet constituency; therefore, no invitation is needed.”

He pointed to a court ruling that, he said, declared his expulsion “illegal, void; it never happened.”

Opposition Leader Tracy Taegar Panton took to Facebook, stating, “Whenever the current UDP Leadership Executive is ready to do the right thing and do things the right way, we will be here ready to participate. In the meantime, the UDP Parliamentarian Caucus and I will focus on the national issues.”

The UDP release said, “The UDP looks forward to the coming weeks where 18 Special Constituency Conventions will be held for the people to elect their Caretakers and ultimately the National Convention on October 5, 2025 for the Delegates to elect new Leaders.”