Panton Rejects Claims of UDP Maya Discrimination

A political firestorm is growing over remarks made at Punta Gorda’s Independence Day celebrations. Toledo East Area Representative Osmond Martinez accused the UDP of discriminating against Belize’s Maya community, an allegation Opposition Leader Tracy Panton flatly rejects. She says the party’s record and leadership reflect Belize’s ethnic diversity. Here is Tracy Panton.

 

Tracy Panton, Leader of the Opposition

“Absolutely not true. Absolutely not true. Our representative or caretaker in Toledo West – our regional leader in the South, Mr. Alfonso Sanchez is Ketchi, a member of the Ketchi community. We have always embraced Belize’s diversity. We have always celebrated our diversity, and so I think it’s unfortunate. That was a low, low, low blow for the member from Toledo East and I think it has– the backlash has been quick and fierce, and I hope he would never make that mistake in the future.”

 

Both Polonio and Martinez have since expressed regret for the tone they took at Punta Gorda’s Independence Day Ceremony.

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

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