The political drama inside the United Democratic Party is not letting up. Today, Moses “Shyne” Barrow’s headquarters issued a fiery press release, warning Tracy Taegar-Panton to stop claiming she’s a member of the U.D.P. Barrow pointed to a recent court ruling by Justice Tawanda Hondora, which confirmed that Panton was expelled from the party back on August 28. According to the release, Panton had asked the court to declare her a U.D.P. member—but the judge declined, leaving the final decision in the hands of the party’s executive. Until then, Barrow insists, she remains expelled and has no authority within the party. Barrow even went a step further, calling on Panton to issue a public apology if she wants any chance at reconciliation. But not everyone in the party is backing Barrow. Hugo Patt, a key figure in the U.D.P., says as far as he’s concerned, Panton is still his leader. The leadership tug-of-war continues, and the U.D.P.’s internal rift shows no signs of healing just yet.
Hugo Patt
Hugo Patt, Area Representative, Corozal North
“As we speak, I think the only viable candidate and the only candidate that has in the indicated a willingness to lead this party is the Honorable Tracy Panton. So, she’s now the present Leader of the Opposition. And so, you know, it’s just a matter of processes for her to become the next leader of the U.D.P. I have said it openl, I support Honorable Tracy Panton to be our next leader. And all it will take this for us to do – from a legal standpoint and from a constitutional standpoint of the UDP to do what is necessary for Honorable Panton to become the next party leader.”
Marion Ali
“So if he happens to win again at that convention, are you willing to work along with Mr. Barrow as the leader of the party? He has said, you know, that he’s basically disappointed in your decision. How do you feel about him?”
Hugo Patt
“ I will respect whatever the decision of delegates is. I have never been the type of person who will go against anybody. I am a U.D.P. I never criticize any U.D.P. I have seen how people criticize one another. You have never seen Hugo Patt criticizing anybody. I believe that my job is first to serve the people of Corozal North; secondly to basically look at the flaws and identify the wrongdoings of the party in government. And that’s about it.”
With the United Democratic Party still tangled in a months-long leadership dispute, Corozal North Area Representative Hugo Patt says it’s time to settle the matter once and for all—with a National Party Council (NPC) meeting and a new convention. Patt believes electing a definitive leader is the only way to bring clarity and unity back to the party. But there’s a catch: before any convention can happen, Vice Chairman Alberto August—who held that role before the controversial October 20th convention—must call the NPC meeting. So far, August hasn’t responded to Tracy Taegar-Panton’s request to do so. Still, Patt says he’s spoken with August and remains hopeful that the meeting will be called “in due course.” As the U.D.P. power struggle drags on, all eyes are now on August—and whether he’ll take the next step to break the deadlock.
Hugo Patt
Hugo Patt, Area Representative, Corozal North
“Yes, there is a need for the party to heal. Yes, there is a need for us to unify. Yes, there is a need for us to have a party leader that nobody will question. And yes, there is a need for us to move on in the quickest time possible. And so while we in concept have agreed to that it is just a matter for us to get that advice. In my case, I just want to be legally sure that I’m doing the right thing, and from there we move on.”
Marion Ali
You’ve spoken to him? You’ve asked him to call the meeting?”
Hugo Patt
“Yes. I’ve spoken to him and he has said yes, we agreed that that’s the way forward. You will hear a lot of things here and there, Ms Ali and you have to understand that there are two factions within the UDP.”
In a fiery address at the close of today’s House Meeting, Opposition Leader Tracy Panton didn’t hold back. She accused the Briceño administration of serious misconduct during the March twelfth general elections, calling the alleged irregularities “corruption on steroids.” Panton spent over fifteen minutes laying out what she described as glaring procedural inconsistencies and questionable practices, painting a picture of an election riddled with flaws. Her remarks sparked immediate reaction from the government side. Minister of Public Service Henry Charles-Usher fired back, suggesting Panton’s outrage might be fueled by the recent High Court ruling in the United Democratic Party’s leadership dispute—a case that didn’t go in her favor. The heated exchange added a dramatic twist to the day’s proceedings, hinting that the political temperature in the House is far from cooling down.
Tracy Taegar-Panton, Leader of the Opposition
“It happened in Albert, it happened in Collet. It happened in Mesop., it happened in Queen Square. I was told by a colleague ion the government ‘s side, why complain about buying of votes, when both political entities have done it. It does not make it right and what we have pledged to do is ensure that our democracy works for all Belizeans not just those who have heavy pockets.”
Henry Charles Usher
Henry Charles Usher, Minister of Public Service
“I don’t know if it is because the Leader of the Opposition is reeling from her recent loss in the High Court where the High Court found the convention held in October weas invalid therefore her declaration as leader was invalid, therefore the candidates placed in certain constituencies may be challenged for being invalid. I don’t know if that is the reason she is standing up today for adjournment.”
Usher also challenged Panton over what asserts is consistent voters registration fraud in the Albert division.
The political drama inside the United Democratic Party (U.D.P.) is heating up fast, with lawsuits and accusations flying from all directions. Former Mesopotamia Area Representative Moses “Shyne” Barrow has come out swinging, accusing his successor, Lee Mark Chang, of voter fraud. Barrow, who recently lost his seat to Chang in a bitter internal battle, says he’s ready to take the matter to court. But Chang isn’t backing down. In fact, he’s threatening to sue Barrow for defamation over comments made during a press conference, where Barrow allegedly linked him to a passport scandal. Chang’s legal team is demanding a public apology and $5,000 in damages—or they’ll take it to court and ask for up to fifty thousand dollars. Meanwhile, the U.D.P.’s internal tensions don’t stop there. Party Leader Tracy Taegar-Panton is also threatening legal action—this time against the party’s Deputy Chair, Alberto August. She says August is refusing to call a National Party Council meeting, something she insists he’s obligated to do. If he doesn’t act by a timely manner, she says she’ll ask the court to force his hand.
Lee Mark Chang, Area Representative, Mesopotamia
“If he takes me to court or takes us to court, it is what it is and the court will decide what is our fate.”
Marion Ali
“Do you feel as if though – if it does end up before a judge, it could reach as far as having a by-election?”
Lee Mark Chang
“First of all, the word fraud whe dehn dh claim – we went in as U.D.P. candidates and the constituents wi nuh win by one or two votes. We win by two to one. If I have to do it again, it will happen again and it’ll be the same verdict, just that he wa look bad again after this.”
Tracy Taegar-Panton
Tracy Taegar-Panton, Leader of the Opposition
“There was no fraud as he alleges, but the legal system is there for any citizen of this country to utilize as they see fit. So that’s entirely his prerogative.”
Reporter
“Can you comment as well on the letter that was leaked to Alberto August asking for an N.P.C. and if the N.P.C. is failed to call, you stating that you will step down or focus your efforts more on being the Leader of the Opposition as opposed to the leadership of the party?”
Tracy Taegar-Panton
“Let me say this: Tracy Panton is going nowhere. I am here to fight to ensure that the democracy in this country prevails. I am going to fight to the best of my ability to ensure that the needs and concerns of the people are heard. Alberto August as the Vice Chairman ante has a duty, an obligation, a responsibility to convene the N.P.C. It has been petitioned, so he has no discretion where that is concerned, I will not be held hostage to a vice chairman status quo ante, who refuses to do his job. I will not be undermined by a vice chairman status quo ante, and I will certainly not yield to a madman.”
Reporter
“So what’s the next step if the N.P.C. meeting isn’t called?”
Tracy Taegar-Panton
“I believe the N.P.C. meeting will be called. And if the N.P.C. meeting is not called, we will have to take the matter to court and have the court compel Mr. August to hold the N.P.C. meeting.”
Reporter
“But you’re not planning to step down from leadership of the party?”
Tracy Taegar-Pantion
“Where did you get that idea from?”
Reporter
“Just what they quote said in the letter.”
Tracy Taegar-Panton
“I just answered your question. Tracy Panton is going nowhere. I have the confidence and support of my colleagues. I certainly have the support of the public at large. I will not be held hostage. I will not be undermined. And Mr. August has a duty and a responsibility to execute and if he loves the party as much I, as I believe he does, and as much as he advocates that he does, he will call the NPC.”
This morning, Leader of the Opposition Tracy Panton held a press conference at her constituency office to address the recent ruling by Justice Tawanda Hondora. The decision, handed down on Wednesday afternoon, declared that Panton’s expulsion from the U.D.P. was unlawful and that the October twentieth, 2024, convention she held was not an official U.D.P. event. Panton stated that she respects Justice Hondora’s decision and believes it sets the stage for the party to chart a new path forward in selecting a new executive team. News Five’s Paul Lopez has more on Panton’s reaction and the implications for the U.D.P.’s future.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
On Wednesday, High Court Justice Tawanda Hondora delivered a pivotal ruling in the United Democratic Party’s internal conflict involving Tracy Taegar-Panton, Moses Shyne Barrow, and others. The thirty-seven-page judgment declared Panton’s expulsion from the UDP unlawful and stated that the October twentieth convention she led was not an official UDP National Convention. Today, Panton responded to the ruling, marking a significant moment in the ongoing leadership struggle within the party.
Tracy Taegar-Panton
Tracy Taegar-Panton, Leader of the Opposition
“It leaves the party having to make a determination on a way forward, not post October twentieth, post March twelfth and we all know how March twelfth played out. The former party leader of the U.D.P. lost his seat and what the U.D.P. constitution dictates, if you lose your seat you cannot serve in the capacity of leader.”
Justice Tawanda Hondora has ruled that Tracy Taegar-Panton’s expulsion from the UDP breached several articles of the party’s constitution. The judgment highlighted that no evidence was presented to show that the Central Executive Committee investigated. Additionally, Panton was expelled without a hearing, and the decision was made by individuals with apparent grievances against her. However, Justice Hondora stopped short of declaring that Panton is or remains a member of the UDP.
Tracy Taegar-Panton
“If it was not valid, I was not expelled, I was not constructively resigned, I am a member of the party, I ran under the U.D.P umbrella, I won under the U.D.P umbrella, I have been appointed as leader of the opposition under U.D.P umbrella. I think you have the answer. It is not for any court to step within a membership organization, a political organization and tell the membership how it ought to conduct it affairs. I think he made that explicitly clear in his judgement.”
In an interesting turn of events, Justice Hondora has ruled against the expulsion of several key party members. Attorney Sheena Pitts announced that the ruling not only affects Panton but also nullifies the expulsions of Beverly Williams, Patrick Faber, and John Saldivar.
Sheena Pitts
Sheena Pitts, Attorney-at-Law
“When the claim was filed, honorable Panton counterclaimed and in her counterclaim other parties were sought to be added in the form of honorable Faber, Mr. Saldivar and Beverly Williams. So the expulsion point in the counterclaim covered all such members and what happened in the case the judge said to save cost we will not add these members but we can address the expulsion point as a preliminary issue and we will deal with in turn, address it for honorable Panton and the ramifications for honorable Panton applies to those person.”
Justice Hondora has declared the October twentieth meeting invalid, stating it did not adhere to the UDP constitution’s guidelines for national conventions. According to Hondora, a legitimate national convention must be organized and held by the Central Executive Committee. However, this meeting was orchestrated by Panton and her supporters. Furthermore, Hondora emphasized that the UDP constitution grants the National Party Council the exclusive authority to set the date for a national convention, which must be chaired by the council’s chairperson. This ruling raises questions about the legitimacy of the decisions made during the controversial meeting.
Tracy Taegar-Panton
“We felt compelled. The decision makers of the party was clamoring. The situation was completely untenable and so we took action, we made, and we respect that, procedural missteps. I can assure you that will not happen in the future.”
Pitts has conceded that her appointment as interim chair of the UDP, made on October twentieth, is invalid. This acknowledgment follows Justice Hondora’s ruling, which found the appointment did not comply with the party’s constitutional requirements.
Sheena Pitts
“The appointment for me as interim chair cannot hold, I am not the chair and especially backed up by the judgement, I am not the chair. But we knew that since general election, because those interim appointment only lasted until the general election. The general election was definitive in that it is the great reset.”
As the United Democratic Party (U.D.P.) navigates its future, Tracy Taegar-Panton has made a striking revelation: the party currently has no leader. Panton asserts that Barrow, having lost his seat in Mesopotamia and subsequently resigned, no longer has the authority to make decisions for the U.D.P. When asked about the party’s leadership, Panton’s response highlighted the uncertainty and need for a clear direction moving forward.
Tracy Taegar-Panton
Tracy Taegar-Panton, Leader of the Opposition
“I think the leadership will be determined when we have a leadership convention. In the absence of a leader, the deputy leader is tasked with taking on some of those responsibilities. In the absence of a chair, the vice chair is asked to take on some of those responsibilities, but there is no leader of the U.D.P. There is a first deputy leader and a second deputy leader who will step into that role until a leader has been determined.”
Sheena Pitts
Sheena Pitts, Attorney-at-law
“On March eighteenth and before the media, all members, all caretakers and area representatives met at the Biltmore Plaza and there the Honorable Hugo Patt stood up and declare his support for the intended leadership of the honorable Tracy Taegar Panton. It is correct to appreciate that since the great reset, there is no party leader, the former party leader not only lost his seat, but also resigned, a resignation you cannot take back. The former chairman, Michael Peyrefitte, has also resigned and has not gone down the same road of trying to take back that resignation. So it creates two voids, for party leadership and for chair.”
Tracy Taegar-Panton has initiated the process to convene a national party council meeting to set a date for a leadership convention. At this convention, party delegates will choose the U.D.P.’s new leader. With no current chairman, Alberto August is stepping in as acting chairman. Panton confirmed that August has already indicated they will proceed with the NPC meeting to finalize the date for the leadership convention. This step marks a crucial moment for the party as it seeks to establish its future direction.
Tracy Taegar-Panton
Tracy Taegar-Panton, Leader of the Opposition
“We are definitely adhering to the process. As I said, two weeks ago we started collecting the signatures for an NPC to be convened, to mandate it, because once it is petitioned, it must be convened. Those signatures have been delivered to the vice chairman status quo ante. Those signatures have been delivered to the secretary general. In my conversations with Alberto August earlier this week, there was an agreement and he wrote to me formally to say we will proceed with an NPC and that NPC a date will be determined for a leadership convention to be held.”
Paul Lopez
“We heard Mr. Barrow speak about October, are we concerned any at all about the apparent hold he has on the process and how it may frustrate this entire timeline and the plans we are setting out.”
Tracy Taegar-Panton
“This party does not belong to Tracy Panton, it does not belong to Hugo Patt, it does not belong to Beverly Williams. It does not belong to Beverly Williams. It does not belong to Jamal Barrow. The party belongs to the people.”
Moses “Shyne” Barrow is contemplating filing a claim against Tracy Taegar-Panton and her supporters, alleging fraud. Barrow argues that the October twentieth convention, now deemed illegitimate by the High Court, set off fraudulent events that deprived him and his supporters of a rightful claim to be the sole U.D.P. in the recent general election. With these serious allegations, the question arises: is Panton worried about potential exposure?
Sheena Pitts
Sheena Pitts, Attorney- at-law
“First of all you are asking me to be, enjoy the status of lord and Jesus Christ, because I don’t think it is my place to understand the irrationality of someone who is clearly belaboring from a delusion. I would ask you to allow me not to take the invitation to sort out that foolishness. What I can say is understanding the process within the U.D.P. there was nothing fraudulent in that it is his own constituency executive together met and decided that they had had enough of him as an area rep and they were dissatisfied of his leadership and they opted to go for somebody else. And guess what on the day of the election, if it is that we was still popular as he makes himself out to be, he still had that opportunity, he was still permitted to run, and it turned out the people signaled to him that the way we are going to show you that we are dissatisfied with your leadership is by voting for the alternative.”
In other U.D.P. news, Patrick Faber has been tapped to lead a constitutional reform committee, a move driven by Tracy Taegar-Panton’s call for urgent party reforms. However, this appointment has sparked controversy. Acting Chairman Alberto August is reportedly unhappy with Faber’s new role and is calling for the committee to be dissolved immediately. Here’s what Panton had to say about the situation.
Tracy Taegar-Panton, Leader of the Opposition
“We also need urgently the reforms in the constitution. There are some ambiguity in the constitution as it now stands. The honorable Patrick Faber was tasked to put together a working group that will start collecting recommendations for reform that will then be put forward for whoever the legal entity is, the Central Executive and national party council. I don’t see why Mr. Alberto or anyone else would see that as a legal approach. We cannot change the constitution and we will not change the constitution in the absence of hearing from the stakeholders of this party. Their voice is important and their voice will be taken into account when this party makes its decisions. Gone are the days when unilateral decision are taken on behalf of the party by a madman.”
This morning, sparks flew on live television as Moses “Shyne” Barrow and Wave TV’s Fus Ting Da Mawnin host Alfonso Noble engaged in a heated confrontation. The now-viral clash erupted when Barrow appeared on the show to discuss Justice Towanda Hondora’s recent ruling on the party. Wave TV and Radio, a U.D.P. media outlet located at the party’s headquarters, often hosts Barrow as a guest. However, today’s encounter was anything but routine. Noble had some grievances to air, and Barrow didn’t hold back, leading to an explosive exchange that has everyone talking.
Alfonso Noble
Alfonso Noble, Host, Fus Ting Da Mawnin
“That is the problem we have, you cannot take no for an answer, you cannot willingly accept, I have lost my position, I have lost my grounding, the general membership of the party is not behind you.”
Moses “Shyne” Barrow, Former Leader of the Opposition
“That is your opinion, because you are biased and team Tracy, make no doubt about it.”
Alfonso Noble
“You are holding the UDP hostage. When will we hold a national convention, when?”
Moses “Shyne” Barrow
“We will have a convention in October, but it is as Justice Hondora has said, it is for the party to decide who are members and who will be qualified to run in that convention.”
Alfonso Noble
“You cannot just come out of the blues and want to bully-reg a political party that has been here for years.”
Moses “Shyne” Barrow
“You believe that you can do what you want to do, but the rest of us cant do what they want to do. You are a criminal.”
Alfonso Noble
“No I am not a criminal, you are sir. I have never been incarcerated.”
Moses “Shyne” Barrow
“You should have been incarcerated for knocking that person down.”
Alfonso Noble
“That was tried at the court. The court dealt with that in the manner it was suppose to have been dealt with.”
