On October 20th, a convention was held to remove the current Leader of the Opposition United Democratic Party (UDP), resulting in the election of the Honorable Tracy Taegar-Panton as the party’s new leader. However, this decision was disregarded by UDP Leader Honorable Dr. Moses ‘Shyne’ Barrow, who claimed that Panton was no longer a party member. Barrow and his supporters maintained control of the UDP headquarters in Belize City following the convention. This situation continued until Monday, October 28th, when Panton’s Alliance for Democracy faction took over the first floor of the building, followed by the second floor the next day.
The takeover of the facilities was initially met with force, but Panton stated that she had received permission from the building’s trustee, Philippa Bailey. Amid the chaos at the site, police arrived to prevent the group from seizing control of the entire structure. However, by the following day, they had taken over the whole headquarters of the United Democratic Party (UDP). Panton explained to the media, “The trustee of the land granted me access to the building through a written letter, and we now have power of attorney, which confirms the legality of her wishes for us to occupy and utilize the building for the business of the United Democratic Party.”
Later that day, Panton released a statement reiterating that Bailey had authorized their access to the building. The official note read, “This authorization, provided in writing, reaffirms that this space belongs to the UDP and its rightful leadership. Today’s events reflect our commitment to honoring the voice of our members and protecting the future of the UDP.”
On Tuesday, October 29th, Barrow described the recent actions as criminal. He stated, “What we’ve witnessed goes beyond the illegal activities associated with convening conventions in the name of the UDP that were not authorized. The ongoing occupation of the UDP headquarters is a criminal offense. We have reported the break-in to the Belize Police Department, and it was our hope that the police would respond promptly.”
Barrow referenced comments made by the Commissioner of Police, who indicated that a court order should be obtained before someone is evicted from a building. “They did not follow this process; instead, they took matters into their own hands, which was extremely irresponsible and dangerous,” Barrow added.
UDP Chairman Michael Peyrefitte expressed his desire for Panton and her supporters to reconsider their actions, emphasizing that they are not in the best interest of the party they claim to love. Peyrefitte firmly believes that Bailey did not have the proper authorization to grant permission to Panton. He stated that while the building represents the party, the essence of the party goes beyond just that structure. “What are we talking about? A building. It doesn’t matter; all it does is embarrass us,” he remarked. Peyrefitte stated that Panton and her faction should not have gone to the UDP headquarters in the first place, asserting, “Anyone who claims to love the UDP would never storm the headquarters of the UDP.”
The true leader of the UDP is still regarded as the Honorable Barrow. On Wednesday, October 30th, the party issued a press release condemning the takeover of the UDP headquarters by supporters of Panton, who are referred to as the Alliance for Democracy, allegedly led by former government minister John Saldivar. The release stated, “The actions of the Panton/Saldivar Alliance represent dangerous attacks on democracy and have created situations that could have led to bloodshed. Their actions demonstrate a troubling disregard for the rule of law and an insatiable desire for power, even if it involves criminal or violent means. No citizen can be forcibly removed from a property by a group without a Court Order. The Panton/Saldivar Alliance Party has revealed to the Belizean people their true nature: significantly corrupt, with no respect for our judiciary or the rule of law, reflecting their longstanding behavior as former ministers embroiled in scandal and as members of the UDP who were expelled for failing to follow party rules.”
The release expressed disappointment regarding what they perceive as a failure by the Commissioner of Police to safeguard against unlawful acts. The party claims to have reliable information suggesting that his instructions to the police were to take no action despite a police report filed by the UDP Deputy Party Chairman. The statement further noted that, even with live video evidence showing Panton and Saldivar’s operatives breaking into the UDP offices and admitting to the press that the Alliance needed a court order to take possession of the property, the police did not take adequate action.
The UDP’s official statement concluded by assuring their members, supporters, and all Belizeans who value democracy and freedom that they will continue to conduct themselves in a manner befitting the highest offices they aspire to hold as the next Government of Belize. They emphasized their commitment to avoiding the political gangsterism on display during recent events. The actions of Panton’s supporters on Monday and Tuesday resembled those of a criminal enterprise rather than a legitimate Cabinet waiting.
