In the world of politics, private conversations don’t always stay private, and this week, U.D.P. Chairman Michael Peyrefitte found himself at the center of just that. Following the leak of a private exchange with Opposition Leader Tracy Panton, Peyrefitte is speaking out. He’s not denying it happened; instead, he’s acknowledging that in political life, these things can and do occur. But more importantly, he’s using the moment to call for something bigger: transparency and unity within the United Democratic Party. Peyrefitte says it’s time to stop the distractions and start focusing on what really matters, bringing the party together.
Michael Peyreffite
Michael Peyreffite, Chairman, U.D.P.
“A piece of communication was leaked between myself and Tracy Panton it gotinto the media, I don’t put myself on some pedestal you know, not even presidents of big countries can stop leaks, leaks will happen but in the spirit of transparency and in the spirit of trying to get to a place where the UDP can be the UDP again if it leaks it leaks you know it’s not secret we are a mass party and I would love for the media to know and for the people to know every step that we are taking to get back to that place of unity and strength so there was a communication, was it ever my desire for it to become public? No. We’re communicating between two party people, but it leaked, it happens but nothing in there was ignitious nothing in there was a lie and hopefully the public can see that it was an attempt to try and make peace in the party, so it is what it is.”
Well, that’s where things stand tonight, calls for unity, clarity, and a fresh start from within the United Democratic Party. Chairman Michael Peyrefitte is urging members to put the past behind them and focus on reconciliation and renewed purpose. But whether those efforts will truly heal the party’s internal rifts? That remains to be seen. Still, the U.D.P. is laying out a roadmap. The National Party Council is set to meet right here in Belize City on July twelfth, where they’ll consider reinstating expelled members and those previously not in good standing. It signals a clear intent to rebuild trust. And that’s not all, plans are also in motion for a national convention on October fifth, with special constituency conventions happening across fifteen areas throughout July.
Today, the National Biodiversity Office, under the Ministry of Sustainable Development, launched its very first National Biodiversity Dialogue. The theme? “Biodiversity Beyond Boundaries: Connecting Ecosystems and Empowering Communities through National Collaboration.” It’s more than just a mouthful, it’s a mission. This event brings together key players from across the country to strengthen partnerships, protect our ecosystems, and ensure that Belize’s protected areas are managed effectively and sustainably. News Five’s Britney Gordon was there and brings us the story.
Britney Gordon, Reporting
There are no borders when it comes to nature. Across Belize, hundreds of ecosystems are linked, not just by plants and animals, but by the people working hard to protect them. These natural networks provide vital resources, and it’s the efforts of conservationists that help keep them thriving. Today marked the kickoff of Belize’s first-ever National Biodiversity Forum, a space where those on the frontlines of conservation came together to share ideas, tackle challenges, and align their goals. Saul Cruz, Director of the National Biodiversity Office, explained why this kind of collaboration is more important now than ever.
Saul Cruz
Saul Cruz, Director, National Biodiversity Office
“Really what the National Biodiversity Office is looking forward to is just having an open dialogue where we share a lot of what we’ve been doing in terms of our national policies, structures, and governance. But really also to provide a space for our unsung heroes to also provide some updates and some information in terms of what they’re doing. Some of the challenges. Some of the achievements and some of the opportunities for collaboration and partnership really the theme is just built around that. How do we strengthen partnership? How do we strengthen collaboration from government to our NGOs and to our protected area managers and even amongst government entities? And so it’s really focused around strengthening partnership, strengthening collaboration. And one way that we see that coming is through just information sharing, showing everybody what is it that we’re doing and what our plans are for the next coming years.”
The two-day forum drew participants from the north to the south of Belize. Valdemar Andrade, Executive Director of the Turneffe Atoll Sustainable Association (TASA) explains that his participation is a testament to TASA’s dedication to protecting Marine spaces, and the industries that depend on them.
Valdemar Andrade
Valdemar Andrade, Executive Director, TASA
“The marine environment itself contributes millions of billions of dollars in terms of the Belize economy. In 2024, the tourism industry alone was one point two-four billion. And so all of that is based on the biodiversity, right? That’s based on diving, snorkeling, fly fishing, those industries that contribute to the economy and that employ lesions. I think it was almost about twenty-five thousand people that were employed through the tourism industry. There are another three thousand fishers that are employed through the fishing industry and there are also about fifteen thousand families in northern communities southern communities, and across this country that depend on fishing, for example.”
The forum is the first of its kind for the National Biodiversity Office (NBO), drawing attendees from government ministries, co-management partners, civil society, and academia. According to Cruz, the event comes at a crucial time for conservationists.
Saul Cruz
“This is the very first event the National Biodiversity Office has been created in 2020. And from since then we’ve not been able to have. This sort of a national dialogue. And so it’s very critical at this point in time. It’s very important in terms of ensuring that we have a very strong communication and collaboration process with all our partners.”
Protecting Belize’s natural beauty isn’t just about passion, it’s about planning. And today, the National Biodiversity Office laid out exactly how that plan will unfold. During today’s session of the National Biodiversity Dialogue, the NBO presented its roadmap for how stakeholders, from government agencies to grassroots groups, will work together to protect our ecosystems. The aim is to make sure everyone knows their role in keeping Belize’s environment healthy, thriving, and accessible for generations to come.
Saul Cruz
“In our role, we are the co-manager of the Turneffe Atoll Marine Reserve. And so we basically are ensuring that we run the day-to-day management of the reserve, ensuring that whether you are a fishing stakeholder or a tourism stakeholder, or the general public, engaging with the reserve, that you comply with the rules and regulation and ensure that you’re not taking more than you should. You’re taking it within the rules. For example lobster season just opened. We have to ensure that everybody has their licenses for their boats, as a fisher. The same thing for tour guides, tour operators. We check with them to be able to ensure that they have their licenses and ensure that they’re doing proper things and not again jeopardizing the very biodiversity that they depend on for their livelihoods.”
NBO believes that by working together and crossing the borders that hinder them, that environmental stakeholders will start to see progress.
Saul Cruz
“And so it’s understanding that biodiversity spans beyond our protected areas. And so it includes community, it includes people, and so understanding that interaction of people, our communities with our biodiversity and our protected areas is very essential to being successful in managing our protected areas.”
The national biodiversity office is charting the way forward in the way stakeholders design conservative strategies to ensure that the biodiversity is managed and remains in a healthy state. Britney Gordon for News Five.
Before the House Meeting even started, thousands of teachers from the Belize National Teachers’ Union marched in Belmopan to express their frustration with the government. They’re upset because some haven’t received their due benefits. The teachers are demanding changes in how the school system is managed. Today, B.N.T.U. President Nadia Caliz told reporters that better school management systems are needed to ensure teachers get their salaries and benefits on time. The B.N.T.U. is urging the Ministry of Education to lead this change. Here’s News Five’s Marion Ali with the report.
Marion Ali, Reporting
Thousands of teachers from the Belize National Teachers Union gathered in Belmopan this morning to protest. This comes after a meeting on Wednesday between B.N.T.U leaders and the Ministry of Education, where they demanded systemic change and urged the Ministry to take the lead. Today, B.N.T.U President Nadia Caliz told reporters that they want meaningful change. She highlighted a major issue: the lack of proper documentation in the school systems.
Nadia Caliz
Nadia Caliz, President, Belize National Teachers’ Union
“Some managements are faltering. They’re not pulling their weight. Going in they realize now what we have been saying is true. Some of the management’s don’t have the number of personnel required to serve this huge group that you see here and that they as a ministry, even as government, they need to stop doing what you call a hands-on approach; make policies and give it to them to institute and all of that. That needs to stop. Now that they are going in, they are finding exactly what the teachers are saying because when they were sharing with us their report, we couldn’t argue because we know that that’s exactly what is happening.”
Some teachers haven’t been able to get the money they’re owed because school management hasn’t sent their details to the ministry for processing. During their discussions, Caliz mentioned there’s even confusion about how many teachers are supposed to receive these payments.
Nadia Caliz
“We applaud them for one, bringing to our attention – which we knew but we did not have the figures, that while we are putting forward six hundred and fifty-eight teachers, they have over two thousand teachers who are affected by this – I call it archaic, crazy system. It’s outdated; it’s antiquated. They realize that. And they have already begun to put systems in place to correct that, because they shared all of that with us. Some teachers don’t even have a file. There’s so much missing documentation. And money must follow the paper. So, they are now working with management to get all the missing documentation so that they can ensure that these teachers receive what they have to receive.”
Ifasina Efunyemi and a group of teachers from Dangriga traveled to Belmopan to take part in the protest.
Ifasina Efunyemi
Ifasina Efunyemi, Teacher
“There’s so much background work that has to be done to verify why win uh di get the pay weh wi done work fa. This is not something for the future. We have worked for this already. Teachers have to be going to work under very arduous conditions, so even if some of us got our increments, it doesn’t mean that all got and we have to stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters who are still suffering. That’s what a union is about.”
Paul Lopez
“How do you respond to some who may criticize the fact that you’re out here when you should be in the classroom teaching the students on a Friday morning?”
Ifasina Efunyemi
“But being outside of the classroom is also a teaching moment. Our children need to learn civic pride. They need to know that they must have a voice and use that voice in a democratic nation and we have to make sure that our government representatives, who are our employees who we pay with all the taxes that they take out of our salaries every month, we must hold them accountable.”
Calis says the ministry has eliminated unnecessary bureaucracy that delayed the process for teachers’ salaries and benefits. Today, teachers protested under the theme ‘Value Teachers, We Matter.’ Caliz specifically called out certain school managements that have been causing frustration for teachers.
Nadia Caliz
“You have schools – and I’m talking specifically to my management – you have these schools because these teachers have been financing these schools. They have been fundraising for you. They have been looking for monies to find these tables and chairs, to pay the electricity bill, to do a lot of these things. That’s why you have these schools. That’s why I do not support Pastor Rock’s statement in the media this week.”
Pastor Ashley Rocke commented on the teachers’ protest at Belmopan Baptist High School on Wednesday. As the school’s board chairman, he felt that the teachers wanted to dictate how the school should be run. Caliz explained that today’s protest was the start of a campaign, and they will take further action if other issues aren’t addressed. She emphasized that the protest and any future actions are not intended to influence the upcoming election results. While the Opposition has shown support for the teachers, Caliz stated that the union wants to keep politics out of their event. The union and the Ministry are set to meet next week. Marion Ali for News Five.
Joining today’s protest were members of the Public Service Union, led by President Dean Flowers. Flowers told News Five that the P.S.U.’s participation had two purposes: to show solidarity and because public officers have children taught by these teachers, making their wellbeing crucial.
Dean Flowers
Dean Flowers, President, Public Service Union
“When you speak of solidarity, solidarity is not behind, it’s not sitting behind your computer screen. behind your cell phone saying that you support the teachers when you’re not on the ground. Solidarity means getting on the ground and giving that support physically. Secondly, I’m a parent and I have children at every single level of education in this country and their education If the teachers are not contented while contented while contented while in their jobs and so it’s important that I stand in solidarity with these teachers to ensure that whatever the issues are where their instruments are concerned their classroom conditions the working conditions that it is addressed and addressed properly not a short term fix be delivered to all of our children who we say are the future.”
The Christian Workers Union (CWU) has officially informed the Government of Belize that it plans to take industrial action against the Port of Belize Limited in twenty-one days due to ongoing labor disputes. In a letter to Minister of Labor, Oscar Requena, CWU President Leonora Flowers emphasized that the stevedores need a new Collective Bargaining Agreement with fair and mutually beneficial terms. Today, President Leonora Flowers shared more details.
Leonora Flowers
Leonora Flowers, President, Christian Workers Union
“We’ve only just given the minister notice that we intend to do the twenty-one days to possible strike action. That’s what’s afforded us, under the law. And so it’s now, with the ministry that they can summon a tribunal. In fact, they have asked the National Trade Union Congress of Belize to put forward someone for the tribunal. And we believe they, very shortly, they will tell us that the tribunal has been enacted. And we will follow through on that.”
Britney Gordon
“What exactly are they calling for?”
Leonora Flowers
“Who’s calling for it?”
Britney Gordon
“The stevedores, what exactly are the concerns that they’re having this time around?”
Leonora Flowers
“The concern that we have is that we’ve not been able to reach any significant growth in arranging an increase for the stevedores. No financials have been considered except to say we’re giving, we’re offering three more on meals, twelve to fifteen, and thirty cents per, on a dollar per year. for the annual salary. So we believe that’s very small, and with the cost of living now, we’re asking them to increase that and to look at something else.”
Opposition Leader Moses “Shyne” Barrow has strongly opposed the appointment of Maria Rodriquez as Auditor General. Barrow claims Rodriquez is unqualified, alleging that the university from which she says she earned her master’s degree doesn’t offer an online business administration course and doesn’t accept students from Belize. He also criticized her administrative skills. These were just a few of the points Barrow raised during his passionate forty-five-minute speech in the House of Representatives.
Moses “Shyne” Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
“It starts with illegal promotions. There is evidence that Ms. Rodriquez was promoted illegally twice. If something starts wrong it continues wrong and it will only end wrong. The office of the Auditor General has been a problem for this country for quite some time. This people United Party government promised in its Manifesto to fix the office of the Auditor General and they have not done that. The country has been without a functioning auditor general for the last four years. And this attempt to appoint a PUP crony. I believe family with the Corozal Southeast.”
Florencio Marin, Area Rep, Corozal South East
“I believe the Leader of the opposition has his information incorrect, Ms. Rodriquez is not a family member of mine. And she is originally from Corozal South East proudly. I am correcting you. That is an incorrect information like presume the rest of your speech. Please scratch that off the record and preferably don’t say anything else. You are wrong.”
As expected, the House of Representatives meeting was filled with heated exchanges. The debate over Maria Rodriquez’s potential appointment as Auditor General saw plenty of mudslinging. Henry Charles Usher, the Area Representative for Fort George, mocked Barrow for questioning qualifications while holding an honorary master’s degree himself. Prime Minister Briceño also joined the fray, adding his own comments to the lively discussion.
Henry Charles Usher, Area Rep., Fort George
“While he came here and talk about and try to create the impression that the qualifications that Ms. Rodriquez has is unsubstantiated. But what I can inform the leader of the opposition is that it is a fact that the whole country knows that the doctorate he claims to have is not in his possession. That he cannot show the country at any point. He wants to about qualification.”
Moses “Shyne” Barrow
Moses “Shyne” Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
“On a point of order, I have an honorary doctorate from the University of Liberia.”
Henry Charles Usher
“It is also a fact in his own party that they have asked him for his high school diploma which he cannot produce as yet.”
Prime Minister John Briceño
Prime Minister John Briceño
“I was listening to the leader of the opposition, at least one of the leader of the opposite.”
Moses “Shyne” Barrow
“On a point of order, there is only one leader of the opposition according to the constitution. I remember you knocked your head when you get into that accident. So I have to correct you.”
Prime Minister John Briceño
“I just can’t understand this young man, to come here with this kind of behavior in this house and go after a public service a woman that has served this country well all over this place, just because he wants to score some political points. I just hope women across this country hear how he went after a woman, a well qualified woman.”
Today’s House of Representatives meeting was full of heated exchanges, leading to the Speaker calling for a recess. The debate over the auditor general’s appointment got particularly intense. Prime Minister Briceño called the Leader of the Opposition “Ms. Petty,” while Barrow made a serious accusation against Area Representative Jose Mai. Briceño also took jabs at former P.S.U. President Gerald Henry, adding more fuel to the fiery session.
Prime Minister John Briceño
“If you mih want Mr. Henry apply you should have put in his name, but why did Mr. Henry not apply, because he was not qualified. I am sorry that I have to call out this gentleman, because Mr. Henry and I get along ok. I wouldn’t say we are friends, but we talk well. I think he is a decent man. But when you come and read things that are half-truth and twist things around to suggest there is a sinister move to try and put a highly qualified public servant who is a woman I have a problem with that, even the bigger side of the opposition has a problem with that. Bway you dah wah real Ms. Petty for true, madaz, my god.”
Valerie Woods
Valerie Woods, Speaker of the House
“Members, no, no, members, honorable members for Orange Walk, Honorable Members for Orange Walk.”
Moses “Shyne” Barrow
Moses “Shyne” Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
“You dah cartel, you dah wah drug trafficker.”
Valerie Woods
“I need to take a break, this is deplorable. Member for Mesopotamia, while not on record, your words is deplorable.”
Senior Counsel Anand Ramlogan has responded to a letter from the law firm Courtenay Coye, representing the Government of Belize. This concerns a pre-action claim about the long-overdue redistricting exercise, filed in the High Court for Ramlogan’s clients, including Jeremy Enriquez, Jessica Tulcey, and Rudolph Norales. In reply to Courtenay’s letter, which stated that the Briceño administration won’t announce the general election date today, the Trinidadian lawyer emphasized the need for a broader commitment from the Attorney General of Belize. He requested that the Attorney General inform the claimants’ attorney in writing at least five days before any decision to dissolve Parliament and set a date for the general election, as required by the Constitution. News Five spoke with Jeremy Enriquez, one of the three claimants.
Jeremy Enriquez
Jeremy Enriquez, Claimant
“The government was, as we know, intending, the Prime Minister was intending to call or set a date for the elections, for the national elections to occur and what we were very concerned about, I, as a citizen of Belize was that the move was going to continue the status quo in which we have severe malapportionment of Belize’s electoral constituencies. So, as far as I am concerned, they were planning again to violate the Constitution of Belize even though when, at the beginning of their term, they promised that they would have all of that ironed out in compliance with Section Ninety of the constitution. So it was very disturbing that they would even consider rushing through another election without first redistricting the electoral divisions of Belize. It was at that point that we secured the services of an attorney, a well-known international constitutional attorney, highly qualified, from Trinidad, to assist in this case. He had written to the Prime Minister, to the Attorney General to make it known that any election that would be called would be considered illegal and in violation of the constitution and that we are going to challenge it through to the highest court, if necessary. As a result, the Prime Minister complied and did not, if he was intending to, announced any date for election. Hopefully, in good faith, to try to have this resolved.”
This afternoon, the law firm of Courtenay Coye, representing the Government of Belize, responded to a letter written by Senior Counsel Anand Ramlogan. The attorney wrote on behalf of his clients, including Jeremy Enriquez, requesting that the government indicates at least five days in advance when the date of the general election will be announced. In its rejoinder, Courtenay Coye wrote, “we acknowledge receipt of your letter dated February sixth, 2025 which we received via email at 10:14 pm. We note in your letter that you have demanded an undertaking be given by the Prime Minister by 4 pm today. As you have expressed in your letters, the House of Representatives is sitting today. Therefore, it is not possible for us to advise our client and obtain instructions within the unreasonably short period you have demanded. In accordance with the Pre-Action Protocols Practice Direction, we expect to be able to take instructions and respond more fully on Monday, February tenth, 2025”.
Jeremy Enriquez, Claimant
“We were satisfied to know that yes, the Prime Minister would not call an election at this sitting of the house, but there is nothing to say that he could not, tomorrow, call the election. So we were able to get another letter sent back to the Attorney General through the private law firm of Courtenay Coye and associates to indicate that we accept in good faith that the election is not called at this house meeting, but that if elections will be called, whenever elections are called, that we be given at least five days indication that the election will be called. That will give us chance, and the court a fair chance to be able to examine if we need to seek redress at the court, there would be enough time for at least that window of time for the court to hear our case.”
