October 5, 2024 - Channel 5 Belize

Tropical Storm Milton forms in the Gulf of Mexico

The National Hurricane Centre’s latest reports have confirmed the formation of former Tropical Depression Fourteen to Tropical Storm Milton.

Milton’s trajectory will be influenced by a cold front next week, steering it towards the Florida Peninsula. The storm has the potential to become strong, with forecasts indicating it could reach Florida as a strong Category 2 hurricane by Wednesday.

Currently, Milton is expected to intensify slowly over the next day. Rapid strengthening is anticipated during the week. Heavy rainfall and life-threatening flood hazards are expected in the Florida Peninsula.

Tracy Panton Calls UDP’s Motion “Fraudulent”

Albert Area Representative Tracy Panton is rejecting the United Democratic Party’s (UDP) statement, calling it a “fraudulent attempt” to expel four senior party members without due process.

In a Facebook post, Panton said, “Yesterday’s fraudulent attempt to pass a motion improperly, illegally, and unconstitutionally to expel 4 senior members of the party, without due process, is indicative enough for us to act and to act now.”

The UDP states that its leadership will serve until the National Convention after the next general election, clarifying that no convention will be held before then.

Panton rebutted, “There is no place for a dictatorship in the principles, values, and ideals we must guard zealously. The current Party Leader is unhinged, and it is time for him to step aside in the best interest of the Party.”

Collet Area Representative Patrick Faber supported Panton’s stance, stating, “To make quorum for an NPC meeting, the UDP Constitution requires a majority of its members to be present. If there is no quorum at the initial meeting, the meeting can be adjourned to a fixed date, and at that rescheduled meeting, the members present will form the quorum.”

He explained that “decisions taken at that rescheduled meeting will only be valid if they are carried by at least 40% of the total membership of the Council. By any stretch, 39 people out of 118 can never work.”

Panton reiterated the Alliance for Democracy’s “UDP National Convention” on October 20, 2024, at Birds Isle.

National Hurricane Center Warns of Potential Gulf System Development

The state of Florida is preparing for another potential storm as Tropical Depression 14 is expected to form in the Gulf of Mexico, with a 70 percent chance of development in the next 48 hours. “A tropical depression or storm is likely to form later today or on Sunday,” said the NHC in its latest updates. It is likely to make landfall on Florida’s west coast by Wednesday.

The next tropical storm to form will carry the name Milton.

The NHC warned, “Regardless of development, locally heavy rains could occur over portions of Mexico during the next day or two and over much of Florida late this weekend through the middle of next week.”

This new threat follows Hurricane Helene, which made landfall as a Category 4 storm on September 26, causing widespread flooding and over 200 fatalities across six states.

Additionally, the NHC is monitoring two other hurricanes in the Atlantic: Hurricane Kirk in the central subtropical region and Hurricane Leslie in the eastern tropical Atlantic.

UDP Rejects Calls for Leadership Change

The United Democratic Party says that its National Party Council has confirmed decisions made at the National Convention on August 13, 2023, and reiterated in an April 7, 2024 resolution. This statement comes as October 20th nears—the date when the Alliance for Democracy led by Albert Area Representative Tracy Panton has scheduled a “UDP National Convention” in Belize City.

The UDP says that “The Party Leader, Shyne Barrow, Deputy Party Leader Hugo Patt, Party Chairman Michael Peyrefitte, and Deputy Party Chairman Alberto August are elected to serve until the National Convention to be held immediately after the next general election.”

It added, “The National Party Council makes it emphatically clear to all delegates, party members, and supporters that the United Democratic Party is not conducting a national convention until it is due immediately after the next general elections.”

“The National Party Council condemns the lies, defamation and personal attacks against our duly elected Party Leader, Shyne Barrow, Deputy Party Leader, Hugo Patt, Party Chairman, Michael Peyrefitte, Deputy Party Chairman, Alberto August, and other Party Officials.”

The statement also says that the party supports Peyrefitte in rejecting petitions to alter these decisions and backs the Central Executive’s resolutions regarding John Saldivar, Tracy Panton, Patrick Faber, and Beverly Williams, as well as Phillip Willoughby and Andrew Bradley, to align with their reform plans for the upcoming elections.