UDP National Meeting Descends Into Chaos Amid Infighting

The United Democratic Party continues to show no signs of progress, as Saturday’s National Party Council meeting descended into chaos and disorder. What was intended to be a day of unity and forward movement turned into shouting matches between and among party members and supporters. A major point of contention was that several elected officials, despite holding mandates from their constituencies, were not invited to participate in key decision-making processes. They further criticized party leader Moses “Shyne” Barrow, arguing that his leadership lacked legitimacy as he was not elected on the day of the general elections. As tensions flared, long-standing UDP supporters voiced their disappointment, stating that rather than challenging the government, the party is now consumed by infighting. In the aftermath, Barrow broke his silence, referring to the Tracy Panton-aligned faction as a “criminal enterprise,” citing their conduct during the meeting. He added that such behavior is precisely why he is not prepared to relinquish leadership of the party.

Moses “Shyne” Barrow, UDP Leader: “It is a shame and disgrace what we saw on display today from Tracy Panton and her alliance I don’t know if you can call them a for Democracy Party it was more like a criminal enterprise  that we saw out here exercising not freedom of expression but political  violence. It was repugnant. Something that escalates the discourse in Belize  beyond that of difference of opinions and philosophies, but to that  of violence. This is the same reason  Tracey Panton and her cabal were expelled from the United  Democratic Party for acting outside of the framework that guides our institution, which is that of the Constitution. They continue to demonstrate a level of lawlessness, a level of contempt for authority that frightens me. And that is why it has been difficult to hand over  the party to people who behave more like a criminal enterprise rather than  democratic loving servants of the Belizean people. And it is rather unfortunate because what would have happened today would have brought the party forward. It would have opened the doors to inclusion,  to reunification, reset and rebuilding. Today we would have passed motions to lift the expulsion of Tracy Panton and others. Today we would have passed motions to allow everyone, even those members or former members that ran with Tracy Panton to contest in constituency conventions.  Today,  we  would have made recommendations to the constitution in order  to  reconcile inconsistencies.”

We have come to understand that of the 118 eligible voting members only 11 were in the meeting.