UDP’s Tracy Panton Says Crime Was Better Controlled Under Former PM Dean Barrow

Coming out of today’s press conference by the opposition, UDP’s Tracy Panton defended the UDP’s time in government. She says crime was better controlled under former Prime Minister Dean Barrow and argues that the current administration has failed to keep the country safe.  Her comments follow the recent violence that prompted the government to impose another State of Public Emergency.

Tracy Panton, Leader of the Opposition: “There must be standards by which we evaluate our interventions. Perpetrators of crime, the hardened criminals, those gang leaders that the Commissioner of Police and the Minister of National Security met with they are the ones that should be held to account. We must protect lives now and give our young people a credible path from violence. We will do our part. The UDP will demand delivery. The UDP will examine critically progress by the same thing, progress of the programs. And we will ensure that the dignity of our Belizean people are always preserved.”

Panton also politicised the crime situation, predicting that voters would vote the PUP out, come March 2027 because of crime. She tied her criticism of the government’s handling of public safety directly to an appeal at the polls.