UDP March Becomes Platform for National Frustrations

Today’s UDP-led protest may have started with allegations of corruption at the Ministry of Defense, but it quickly became a much louder statement about frustration across the country. Belizeans from different corners of society showed up, including activists, union voices, political hopefuls, and ordinary citizens, each bringing their own fight to the streets. Some called for stronger anti-corruption laws and wider investigations into government ministries. Others pushed for better wages, affordable land, and real accountability from those in power. So, while the defense scandal sparked today’s march, the message grew far beyond that single issue. Here are some of the activists who joined the movement.

 

Cyril “Uruwei” Garcia, Activist

“It’s not only the Ministry of Defense. We have to look at corruption overall. What we need is to activate UNCAC make every minister, every Area Representative who engage in a corruption go to jail. Today, we can’t jail nobody. They could do the worst heinous crime. Budna, the Mira situation. We don’t have enough people to talk on that stage to call out all the corruption. Activate UNCAC. That da the type of accountability we need. We need transparency.”

 

Dorla Staine, Member, Belize Energy Workers For Justice

“We as a group decide that it is important to come out. When government making so much money- Because it is unsettling, mind-boggling when we look at the television and you hear the news and you see just money is rolling out and rolling out. The volume of meat and things that are being purchased tells you that is not, that is not true. If that was so, the soldiers wouldn’t have anything to be griping about. Just as how we as, as energy workers are out here griping because we know we are not being paid what we are supposed to be paid.”

 

German Tillett, Bus Owner

“I do believe that we should audit all the other departments, but especially the one in the transport department where the NBC is running a lot of money, you know. Because we are seeing a lot of things, odd things going on there in that ministry. Also, we need to audit the Agricultural Department, the Ministry of Agriculture. Because right there we have the marketing board. You know, the marketing board right now is running as a personal institution for the Ministry of Agriculture, and that should not be like that.” 

 

Windell Lemoth, City Council Aspirant, UDP

“I believe I’d say tourism because I see the amount of money is being spent. And we need accountability and transparency, you know? Do the audit – an independent audit so that the people could have – regain their confidence in the government.   In respect to the Ministry of Defense, I believe that their behavior in that department is tantamount to treason.”

 

Stann Creek West Resident

“All of them minister they no good, you know boy, for this country again, you know. Grab, grab, grab, grab money, you know. We can’t tolerate that, man. We kick stone man. We need a lee piece of land to build wa lee house, man.”

 

 

 

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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