The United Democratic Party is facing more internal drama as Interim Leader Hugo Patt clashes with Acting Chairman Alberto August over a key party meeting set for this Saturday. Patt has asked August to postpone the National Party Council meeting, saying it needs to be delayed to properly review the list of delegates. But August isn’t budging, he responded that the meeting will go on as planned and told Patt he’s free to skip it if he wants. Meanwhile, Moses “Shyne” Barrow is still claiming he’s the rightful party leader. His legal team has warned Patt that trying to remove Barrow could lead to legal trouble. Patt, who’s usually stayed quiet during the party’s internal battles, is now speaking out. He’s accusing August of ignoring his authority and called the upcoming meeting “illegitimate.” He’s also urging other party members not to attend. We begin tonight with a perspective from Albert Area Representative Tracy Taegar-Panton.
On the Phone: Tracy Panton, Leader of the Opposition
“When you have more than fifty percent of your caretakers and their respective executive committee excluded from an NPC meeting that we have now petition for twice. Then you cannot deem that as any effort to unite. We have been in dialogue with all colleagues, not just Hugo Patt, to say that when we look at all the glaring issues, the corruption by government, the disregard of public officers, the disrespect to teachers, all that we see in these bloated contract that have come to life, the issuance of land, these kinds of stories should be what we ought to be spending our time and attention on and we have been distracted by the internal matters of the matter. So, we have been having these dialogues to find every way as peaceful as possible, as respectfully as possible, to engage colleagues. I think it has now become absolutely clear to the honorable Hugo Patt who is our first deputy party leader and the de facto leader of the party now that Shyne Barrow resigned and also lost his seat, that he has come to recognition that no amount of talking, no amount of reaching out, no kind of mediative process has yielded any results in the interest of the party.”
Alberto August has reached out to Patt in an effort to clear the air about who really has the power to call or delay a meeting of the UDP’s National Party Council (NPC). August insists that everything was done by the book: the required fourteen-day notice was sent out, the agenda was shared, and NPC members were consulted. He says he’s been working tirelessly to bring the party together and believes they’re finally seeing some progress. But not everyone’s buying it, Panton dismissed August’s letter as nothing short of laughable.
On the Phone: Tracy Panton, Leader of the Opposition
“I find that laughable since when the former party leader was of the view that our deputy party leader had made a decision to sit out the fight, that they were quite find with that and they hailed him as the interim party leader and acknowledged him as the interim party leader. Now that he has taken a firm and definitive stance he is no longer the interim party leader. No how has August become the acting chair? It is through the same mechanism. The chairman resigned and until the chairman is replaced, the vice chairman then acts in that defacto position. It is the same position for that of the leader. The leader resigned and put his letter in public domain. Let us not forget, he lost his seat, he is the third man in a three man race. And we must respect the will of the people and the way the constitution is crafted, it is to respect the will of the people. So, Hugo Patt is indeed our interim leader. He is in charge of the party. The de facto chairman has a responsibility and duty to follow the directives of the interim leader on matters of this nature.”
A twenty-two-year-old woman from Dangriga is speaking out, saying she was physically assaulted by her common-law husband in front of several witnesses, and that police have yet to take action. The woman told News Five that the incident happened on Saturday night at a party in Hope Creek Village. She says the confrontation began after she suspected her partner was involved with another woman at the event. According to her, things escalated when he handed her a phone to arrange a ride home. She says she spoke into the phone, saying, “Baby, can you please come pick me up,” which triggered the violent outburst. She has shared photos of injuries to her face and head, along with a medico-legal form that classifies the injuries as “wounding.” Despite this evidence, she says her report to the police has gone unanswered.
On the Phone: Domestic Violence Victim
On the Phone: Domestic Violence Victim
“So he called someone and handed me the phone. When he handed me the phone that is when I picked up the phone and I said can you come look for me. And I gave the address and ended the call. When I ended the call he got so upset. He started slapping me, punching me and yelled I will kill this ***** tonight, in front of everyone. He grabbed a Buchanan bottle, walked passed her and starting swinging at me, at my head and I just crouched down like I am trying to defend myself and this man the knock me in my head. That is when I felt pressure and something cold start dripping down. He got in his truck and sped off and yelled out they will not f***ing catch. He got in his car and he went off and the police came and my parents came and my brothers came and they took him to the hospital. I got a medical form and I took it to the station the next morning, and I made my statement. That is what happened and up to now he still has not been arrested or charged and I think that is wrong. I am in deep fear of my life and several of his friends have called me convincing me I should drop the charges and think about what I am doing to him and myself and at this point I am just so overwhelmed and want to move past this. But I am so scared he will find a way to get to me. It is crazy, because he is a justice of the peace.”
Twenty-one-year-old Paul Smith Junior of La Democracia is behind bars tonight, accused of attempting to kill Tyrone Godoy during a violent altercation on Sunday, June eighth. Smith, who appeared unrepresented before Magistrate Ludlow Black, was read three serious charges: attempted murder, use of deadly means of harm, and grievous harm. Due to the severity of the charges, no plea was taken, and bail was denied. Smith has been remanded to the Belize Central Prison until August sixth. This isn’t Smith’s first run-in with the law. He previously beat a murder charge in 2024 and was recently arraigned for escaping police custody and handling stolen goods. The motive behind Sunday’s chopping incident remains unclear, but Godoy suffered injuries to his hand and was hospitalized.
Belizean pilot Howell Grange is calling it his “second birthday”, the day he survived a terrifying mid-air hijacking that nearly cost him his life. Back in April, he was flying a routine Tropic Air flight when the unthinkable happened. A forty-nine-year-old American passenger, a military veteran, suddenly turned violent, stabbing two passengers and Grange himself, demanding the plane leave Belize. But thanks to the quick action of a brave, armed passenger, the attacker was stopped, and the plane made a safe emergency landing in Ladyville. Grange was seriously injured, but his recovery has been nothing short of remarkable. He’s now in Western New York, undergoing intensive rehab at a clinic in West Seneca. His daily routine includes chiropractic care, physical therapy, and wellness treatments, up to five sessions a day. Doctors say he’s already regained ninety-five percent of his physical abilities.
The 2025 Village Council Elections are in full swing, and this year’s race is shaping up to be anything but ordinary. While these local elections are meant to be non-political, the rivalry between Belize’s two major parties, the P.U.P. and the U.D.P., often plays a big role. But this time around, things are changing. With the United Democratic Party still reeling from internal divisions, several villages have seen no U.D.P. candidates at all. That’s opened the door for independent candidates, who are stepping up to fill the gap and bring fresh energy to the race. According to the Elections and Boundaries Department, official results from the first rounds of voting—held on May eighteenth, May twenty-fifth, and June first—show a mix of contested and uncontested victories across the country. More elections are scheduled for June twenty-second and twenty-ninth, following the official dissolution of dozens of village councils earlier this month. News Five’s Britney Gordon has more on how the elections are unfolding.
Britney Gordon, Reporting
Running as an independent in any election is tough, without the backing of a major party, candidates must rely entirely on their own resources and support. But while the odds are steep, success isn’t out of reach. Since May, village council elections have been underway, and while many villages have leaned toward party-backed “blue” councils, independents are gaining ground. One standout is Elise Vernon, who on June first led her team to victory in Biscayne Village, proving that determination and community support can go a long way.
Elise Vernon
Elise Vernon, Chair-elect, Biscayne Village
“We tend to think that independent means against the government, and I’ve heard it so many times, oh, that means you’re against the government. That means that you are fighting against them, that is not the case. I am independent because I, myself, Elise Vernon, I’m running for an office to help my community. I am not running. Under a different party. I am not running against a certain party. I am running because I, as a resident of Biscayne want to do good in my community.”
Village council elections are not intended to be overly politicized. However, as candidates lean on parties for support, their influence is felt during the campaign period. This year, several P.U.P. candidates have won in villages in an uncontested race. We asked Leader of the Opposition, Tracy Taegar-Panton if the ongoing internal dispute of the U.D.P. has affected the number of U.D.P. candidates stepping up to the plate.
On the Phone: Tracy Taegar-Panton, Leader of the Opposition
“I dunno that the the internal, disquiet has affected those persons who want to run for the UDP in the village councils. Those people who have wanted to run, have formed slates. They’re on the ground doing the work. I have visited a few communities and I’m very careful with that. Because I really feel at the village council level it shouldn’t be politicized.”
Elise Vernon secured her position as chair in a close race, winning by seven votes. In Gales Point Village, independent candidate Nadine Moore came out on top. Securing forty-eight of sixty-five votes. Belize Rural Central Area Representative, Dolores Balderamos-Garcia welcomes the independents to the slate as she believes it makes for a healthy democracy.
Dolores Balderamos
Dolores Balderamos-Garcia, Area Rep., Belize Rural Central
“The Prime Minister has said it, the village Council shouldn’t really be politicized. But we live in a real world. Again, you have perception and you have reality. Life is reality. I repeat that. Although village councils should not really be partisan political, we know that the reality is that there is some level of that. I don’t have a problem if an independent slate goes in uncontested or a PUP slate goes in uncontested. Naturally, I will fight for my political party. And I don’t think it is bad that maybe you might have a slate that’s uncontested. But I will agree with you. It’s good for democracy when independent people offer themselves. Because then the people will have a choice and they will choose who they feel is the better.”
There are three hundred and sixteen registered voters in Biscayne village, with one hundred and seventy-one showing out to vote on June first. Vernon says that while some voters appeared hesitant to support a young independent candidate, ultimately, she had proven herself worthy of their vote.
Elise Vernon
“ I heard quite a few times that I was too young. I think at one point somebody even mentioned that, we don’t want this “lee gyal”. But at the end of the day, we keep saying that we want you to get involved. And yet the system is set in such a way that when you does want to get involved, it seems like if we don’t want that to happen and it’s contradicting. And so I decided I am one who loves to stand for change.”
Panton says she’s been careful about openly supporting U.D.P. candidates to avoid disrupting the democratic process.
On the Phone: Tracy Taegar-Panton
“These are small communities, small villages that need to work together to improve their conditions of living. Where there has been well-defined UDP slates or I have visited at the request of the slates themselves, but I really think that, we should go back to what was the original status quo of village councils, where it was not politically painted or tainted. So that these villages can help to empower themselves.”
Despite the challenges, Vernon urges anyone who wants to make a positive impact in their community to rise to the occasion and run.
Elise Vernon
“So this kind of needs to change. Then that support will come along with it. Because now if you’re seeing an independent team Biscayne, as we call ourselves for the people and not against a certain entity, now you can see that that support can come true. Because if you and I have the same idea in mind, then why can’t we work for the people? And this is something that I am speaking out about. I want you to see us as nonpartisan. We are working with you. We want. You need to work with us because at the end of the day, if there isn’t support given, then it’s not team Biscayne who gets hurt. It’s the people.”
The rise of independent candidates offers hope for keeping village council elections free from political influence while protecting voters’ right to a fair and democratic process. Britney Gordon for News Five.
Belize’s village council elections will conclude on June twenty-ninth 2025.
With just over two weeks left in the 2025 Village Council elections, the People’s United Party is keeping a close eye on the results. While some villages saw uncontested races, a surprising number of independent candidates emerged victorious, shaking up expectations. Today, we caught up with Belize Rural Central Area Representative Dolores Balderamos-García to get her take on how things are shaping up in her constituency. Here’s what she had to say about the performance of local candidates and what it could mean for the final stretch of the elections.
Dolores Balderamos-Garcia
Dolores Balderamos-Garcia, Area Representative, Belize Rural Central
“I’m happy to say that our slates were successful in those two areas, but it was contested. So we, because we had independent slates in those areas, but those elections have been held, Gracie Rock and La Democracia for Freetown Sibun, which is a very tiny community, only about twenty-eight voters. They did not have any contest. Mr. Roberto Tun and his team went to get nominated. Nobody else went. So they are the council and he’s, he repeats now as chairperson, and he’s a very good one. Coming now to Gales Point, Manatee, the six counselor candidates were not contested, so they became the council, but there was a contest for chair, and that was held on Sunday, and there were two candidates. None of them were PUP, but one, they were independent. But I think Miss Nadine Moore, she won for chairperson. I’m happy that the chairperson of Gales Point is a woman now and a good one too. She’s a good person, a good leader. So where does that leave us? That leaves us with, Mahogany Heights for Sunday. This coming Sunday, there’s a PUP slate and an independent slate. And then after that you would have the big ones. The bigger ones, Western Paradise and Hattieville go on the twenty-second of June. And Ladyville and Lord’s Bank go on the twenty-ninth of June. I do know that it’s we have an independent slate for Mahogany Heights this coming Sunday. And then after that it will be Hattieville and Western Paradise on the twenty-second, and Ladyville and Lord’s Bank on the twenty-ninth. So let’s see what happens. I know there’s gonna be definitely a contest in Hattieville because I think we have three slates going up. We have three slates going up, so it’ll be an interesting one to watch.”
The village leader of Crique Sarco in the Toledo District is calling foul on the results of their May twenty-fifth village council elections. First Alcalde Marcos Choc and his deputy, Javier Coy, have written to the Elections and Boundaries Commission, raising serious concerns about voters who claimed to live along the Temash River. According to Choc, no one actually lives along that stretch of the river, which lies within the Sarstoon Temash National Park—an area with no recognized settlements. He argues that the people using “Temash River” as their address are actually residents of Barra Sarstoon, a Guatemalan village just across from the Belize Defense Force’s forward operating base on the Sarstoon River. Choc and Coy are demanding that the election results be thrown out, a new election date be set, and that the twenty-five individuals with questionable addresses be removed from the voters list. They’ve submitted a list of names and are urging the Elections and Boundaries Department to carry out an official site inspection. Prime Minister John Briceño was also copied in the letter.
Belize’s utility unions are speaking out in strong support of the Belize National Teachers’ Union (BNTU), expressing serious concern over the conditions that have pushed teachers to take to the streets in protest. In a joint statement released today, the unions say teachers have faced years of stagnant salaries while the cost of living continues to rise. They point to a growing gap between how lower-level public workers and top officials are treated, especially when it comes to salary increases and tax breaks. The unions argue that this situation goes against promises made during political campaigns and undermines fairness in government. As representatives of essential service workers, the unions emphasized the vital role teachers play in shaping Belize’s future. They called fair pay for educators a smart investment, not just in education, but in the economy as a whole. They’re now urging all parties to return to the negotiating table and reach a fair agreement without delay. The unions say they’ll be watching closely, because the outcome of this issue directly affects the quality of education for Belize’s children.
Today in Belize City, celebrated author and publisher Yasser Musa unveiled his latest creation, IMAGINEaStories, at the Imagination Factri. The digital publication is a curated collection of Musa’s Facebook posts spanning seventeen years, where he reflects on themes like education, art, history, and technology. More than just a compilation, IMAGINEaStories invites readers to explore the powerful crossroads of art and literature, all through a distinctly Belizean lens. Musa says the goal is to inspire people to think differently and see the world in new, creative ways. We caught up with him at the launch to learn more about the inspiration behind the project and what he hopes readers will take away from it.
Yasser Musa
Yasser Musa, Author
“Today I made a public presentation of two new books, one called IMAGINEaSTORIES that features seventeen years worth of Facebook writings that have posted since 2008 until now. The writings involve topics ranging from technology to politics, to art, to culture, to education. So that was launched today as a QR code so that anybody can download it for free. But we also presented a physical one copy of a art hook called Yasser Musa Works, which is a four hundred page book, which is also at the same QR code available for free for people to look at. So it’s a kind of a duality. One book on text, one book on images. And in addition to that, I made an art installation of works involving found objects, things that inspire me. For example, the ash from the Baptist church fire. You may think that is very morbid, but for me, the Baptist church is a special landmark. I tried to do was first categorize in different areas. For example, I write a lot about people, my own family members, people who have inspired me, artists, musicians, DJs historians. And so I cannot categorize putting some of that. Some on technology, putting some on education, putting some on politics, putting some on art to try and create a balance to give a buffet so that people could see what has been going through my mind for seventeen years.”
IMAGINEaSTORIES is free to download by scanning the provided QR code.
