Tonight, the takeover of the United Democratic Party’s headquarters in Belize City is officially complete. Earlier today, supporters of the Alliance for Democracy and its interim leader, Tracy Taegar-Panton, successfully gained access to the second floor of the building, which houses the party leader’s office and the U.D.P. convention hall. This follows Monday’s attempt to occupy the property and seize control of all party organs, including Wave Radio and the Guardian Newspaper. Earlier this evening, we spoke with Shyne Barrow, whose removal as party leader now appears finalized. Here’s what he had to say about these latest developments.
Shyne Barrow
Shyne Barrow, Party Leader, U.D.P.
“What has happened is criminal. It has gone beyond the illegalities that we saw with them convening conventions in the name of the UDP that were not sanctioned. But this seems to be a pattern with the Alliance for Democracy that they will resort to absolutely any measure to accomplish their end. What we saw yesterday and today is criminal, the continued occupation of the United Democratic Party’s headquarters is a criminal offense. We have reported the breaking and entry to the Belize Police Department and it was our hope that the police would respond promptly, but while the Commissioner of Police has said that they did not follow the proper procedures that the Alliance, Tracy Panton and her cabal should have gotten a court order. That is the prudent and lawful way by which to remove any from a property in any such dispute. They did not do that, rather they took things into their own hands which was extremely irresponsible and dangerous because if I were not the leader that I am which is bound by the rule of law, which appreciates our judiciary and our law enforcement and will exercise all of those remedies, then we could have had a very dangerous situation.”
Isani Cayetano
“All things considered, the result of this all, including what has transpired yesterday and today, is you being overthrown as leader of the United Democratic Party. It’s what we call a defenestration, you have been tossed out the window, so to speak. How do you look at that in comparison to the masses of other supporters who you say are behind you?”
Shyne Barrow
“If you call criminal and illegal acts something that people should be proud of then I am disappointed to know that that is your perspective. We keep running away from the facts, people doing illegal things does not make it right.”
On Monday, the property rights to the U.D.P. headquarters were officially transferred to Albert Area Representative Tracy Panton and her faction of the party. This handover was executed by former U.D.P. Secretary General Phillipa Griffith-Bailey. However, a debate has arisen regarding whether she possessed the authority to make such a transfer.
Isani Cayetano
“As it stands, there is an argument over who has the actual right to the property in question. On one hand, members are saying, okay, Phillipa Bailey rightfully conferred the rights to the property to the alliance members. On the other hand, they are saying now, no, she is not in any capacity to be able to do so, based on her resignation as secretary general of the UDP several years, if not over a decade ago or so ago. Where do you stand on that in terms of this not being taken up in court as a legal matter, to begin with?”
Shyne Barrow
Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
“Well it has to be now taken up in the courts, but the proper procedure would have been for the alliance to go to court with whatever documents they had and have the courts issue an order, but I believe the reason they did not go to court is because the documents that they have do not support any rightful ownership or authority by Mrs. Bailey to transfer any rights. The owners of the UDP headquarters are the United Democratic Party. That is what is written on the land title. Mrs. Bailey signed as the agent for the UDP in her capacity as secretary general at the time and, as you said, she has retired eleven years ago and so she has no authority to transfer anything to anyone. In fact, the central executive, as per the United Democratic Party constitution, explicitly states that in 17 subsection 2, that the central executive directs trustees, people who hold anything in trust for the party as to how to manage those assets manage those assets.”
In the lead-up to the October twentieth Unity Convention, both factions of the U.D.P., including the Alliance for Democracy, cited the party’s constitution, each interpreting it to bolster their own stance. Interestingly, neither side sought a judicial review of the U.D.P. constitution. Here’s Barrow’s response to this observation.
Isani Cayetano
“The alliance has quoted one aspect of the constitution that essentially empowers them and you, as the Leader of the United Democratic Party up until perhaps the twentieth of October, also cited the UDP constitution to bolster your position as well. But no has decided to take the matter before the court for a proper reading of what the constitution actually says.”
Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
“And so, I reject you saying up until the twentieth because before the twentieth there was no controversy as to my leadership. Now you accept that this is controversial and contentious, but as far as the country knows, myself, Hugo Patt, Michael Peyrefitte, Alberto August, we are the duly elected leaders of the party. This event that took place October twentieth had no sanction, but now you say, why didn’t we stop them or try to get an injunction from them using the name UDP. I think that would have been the only remedy because we can’t stop people from gathering, we can stop people from using the name.”
Isani Cayetano
“To be specific, I am citing that portion of the constitution that speaks to the delegates forming and having a vote based on the fact that they may not necessarily be satisfied with any part of one’s leadership or satisfied with the direction in which the executive may be headed.”
Shyne Barrow
“Well here is the thing, what we are seeing from the Alliance for Democracy Party is not the breath of fresh air, is not the renewed or rebirth of democracy and ideologies strengthen our nation.”
Turning back to our headline story involving the takeover of the U.D.P. headquarters… late this evening, attorney Orson Elrington penned a letter to Commissioner of Police Chester Williams. In the letter, Elrington, representing his client Philippa Griffith-Bailey, asserted that Bailey, as a trustee for the U.D.P., is the rightful owner of the land where the U.D.P. headquarters stands. He claimed that the police officers present were infringing on her rights. The letter emphatically demands, “We insist that you immediately instruct your officers to cease and desist from encroaching upon her rights and unlawfully occupying the property. This ongoing action not only violates her legal rights but also risks unnecessary escalation. Furthermore, we request that the Belize Police Department halt these unlawful acts within the next eight hours, by ten a.m. on October 29, 2024. Should you fail to do so, we will consider your inaction as a decision to have your officers remain on our client’s private property illegally. We will then take immediate steps to file a claim in the High Court for Judicial Review of your decision to have your officers remain on our client’s private property without authority”.
While Shyne Barrow faces intense scrutiny at home over his leadership of the U.D.P., the embattled politician is also under fire from well-known radio personality Funk Master Flex. Over the weekend, Flex launched a scathing attack on Barrow during his show on New York’s Hot 97 Radio Station. In a lengthy tirade, Flex accused Barrow, a former recording artist with Bad Boy Records, of being a liar. This accusation stems from statements Barrow made following the arrest and detention of music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs.
Isani Cayetano
“You’re coming under fire from multiple angles, here at home and most recently abroad. In the world of hip hop music and entertainment, you have a prominent figure such as Funkmaster Flex coming forward to essentially rake you over the coals for statements that you have made that effectively have drawn distance between yourself and Diddy, in the wake of his own issues in the United States. How do you respond to Funkmaster Flex calling you out as a liar?”
Shyne Barrow
Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
“It’s defamatory and my lawyer’s going to deal with it.”
On Monday, Tracy Panton, the Albert Area Representative, made quite a splash when she, along with about fifty supporters, marched into the U.D.P headquarters on Youth for the Future Drive and took control of the building’s offices and operations. This morning, Panton took to the airwaves on the U.D.P’s own Wave Radio and TV, laying out her reasons for the takeover and the backing she’s received. Supporting that bold move, Panton’s attorney, Orson Elrington, presented documents to the media, showing that they had enlisted an employee of the Magistrate’s Court to transfer the land documents into their custody. But the plot thickens—today, a letter from Shari Medina, who insists she’s still the Secretary-General of the party, was circulated to the media. In it, Medina argues that the property couldn’t have been handed over to Panton’s team. News Five’s Marion Ali has the latest on this unfolding drama.
Marion Ali, Reporting
Today, the final lock on the upper floor of the U.D.P. headquarters was swapped out as Albert Area Representative, Tracy Taegar-Panton, officially took the reins of the building. In a press release, Panton announced that she and her supporters have now taken full control of the building, managing the entire compound and the party’s media outlets, the Guardian Newspaper and Wave Radio. When we swung by the headquarters this morning, only a handful of police officers were on guard, keeping an eye on things. Late Monday evening, Panton issued another press release, reaffirming her position as the leader of the United Democratic Party.
Panton shared that she, along with the party’s new Chair, Sheena Pitts, and new Secretary-General, Lynn Singh-Ross, have moved into the headquarters. She emphasized that it’s her duty to make sure the U.D.P.’s resources, including the headquarters, are available to those working to bring the party together. Despite the Leader of the Opposition’s attempt to change the locks and station security at the building, trustee Philippa Griffith-Bailey granted her full access to the property.
Attorney Orson Elrington provided the Instrument of Transfer that bore the Land Registry number: two, zero, one, zero, zero, six, two, nine, two for block forty-five, parcel zero, zero, nine, six, nine. Elrington presented those at the office with a copy of a transfer land document that bore the name of Phillipa Bailey as trustee. And although Bailey handed over the property to Panton and her team, today, Shyne Barrow, who still claims to be the rightful leader of the U.D.P, forwarded a digital copy of a letter to the Commissioner of Police. That letter, signed by Shari Medina, who also claims she is still the Secretary-General of the party, debunks the position of trustee that Bailey said she enjoyed. Medina maintains that Bailey has never been a Trustee of the U.D.P and has no authority to make any pronouncements on the assets of the party.
Medina points to a land transfer document that Gaspar Vega signed when he was the Minister of Natural Resources in 2010. The document does state that the land was transferred to the name Phillipa Bailey for the U.D.P. That document shows a line penned through Bailey’s name. Medina’s release goes on to explain that at the time of the land transfer, Bailey was employed as the party’s Secretary General and hence, was the logical person to sign on behalf of the UDP. But since then, Bailey resigned and was asked to hand over all the party’s assets, including the land document. According to Medina, the U.D.P’s Central Executive has not written to any of the party’s trustees to instruct any change in leadership or authorize any transfer of the assets. The letter also asserts that Moses “Shyne” Barrow is the U.D.P Leader, and that Mike Peyrefitte continues to be the party chairman, while Alberto August remains the Deputy Party Chairman, with herself being the Secretary General.
Yesterday, things got heated outside the compound when two of Shyne Barrow’s supporters, Allan Kelly and Ian Jones, refused to budge despite demands from Panton’s supporters to leave. With her picture proudly displayed on the wall at the headquarters, marking her as the new U.D.P Leader, Panton assured the media that no one is being kicked out because, after all, they’re all U.D.Ps. She also clarified that Bailey was never a trustee for the party itself, just for the property.
Tracy Taegar-Panton
Tracy Taegar-Panton, Area Representative, Albert
“She has never been a trustee for the party, but she is the trustee for the land. Her signature appears on the land document. So she has the power to give me access to the land, to the property. We are not trying to also mode of the party. We’re not trying to eject him from the party. There is a new party leader. I will lead the mandate. I will take up the mandate and I will lead the mandate of the people. He is free to run in Mesop as a standard bearer for the United Democratic Party.”
On Monday, Alberto August filed a police report against Panton, Elrington, John Saldivar, and several others with damage to property for breaking open padlocks at the building and for trespassing. So far, no charges have been filed against these individuals. The Commissioner of Police has made it clear to officers at the compound that they should stay out of the U.D.P’s internal politics. He told the media that the police are there to ensure no property damage occurs. Marion Ali for News Five.
As we reported on Monday, a reputable attorney, speaking on the condition of anonymity, provided insights into the unfolding events within the U.D.P. The attorney explained that the U.D.P. Constitution permits a group of dissatisfied party members to gather enough delegates to hold a special convention. However, the Constitution is ambiguous about whether this group can appoint an interim chair to oversee the voting process, as only the party Chair, the Secretariat, or a constitutionally recognized individual can verify the legitimacy of the delegates. The attorney noted that the Constitution does not address what happens if the chairman, like Mike Peyrefitte, refuses to participate, leaving these issues likely to be resolved in court. Another critical matter is Tracy Panton’s influence in the House of Representatives. Shyne Barrow remains the Leader of the Opposition, with the authority to make parliamentary decisions, including appointing U.D.P. representatives to House committees. For Panton to assume this role and lead the party into the next general elections, she needs the support of at least three of the five U.D.P. elected representatives. Currently, she only has the backing of Collet Area Representative Patrick Faber. Godwin Haylock, who has replaced Denise “Sista B” Barrow as the Queen Square Area Representative, was asked if he would leverage his connections to sway her vote in favor of Panton. He indicated that he has not been able to do so.
Godwin Haylock
Godwin Haylock, U.D.P. Standard Bearer, Queen Square
“I have spoken to her before and she’s not at that stage at this point. I personally am completely for the new leadership team. I think it’s the rebranding of the UDP. I look forward to seeing a new UDP united and I can’t do much more at this stage when it comes to the composition of the leadership within the opposition in the House of Representatives.”
We’ll have more from our sit-down with Leader of the Opposition, Shyne Barrow in Wednesday’s newscast.
The Foreign Minister of the Republic of China (Taiwan), Doctor Chai-Lung Lin, is currently on an official visit to Belize. Doctor Lin’s visit is part of Belize’s celebrations marking thirty-five years of diplomatic relations with Taiwan. This afternoon, Doctor Lin and Belize’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Francis Fonseca, held a press conference in Belmopan, where they celebrated the ongoing strengthening of ties between the two nations. They also announced that discussions are underway for further collaborative development initiatives.
Francis Fonseca
Francis Fonseca, Minister of Foreign Affairs
“We are every happy and honored to welcome to Belize his Excellency Minister Doctor Lin and his entire delegation. We just had a very good constructive bilateral discussion and dialogue where we discussed many important issues and cooperation between Belize and Taiwan. This year of course we celebrate thirty-five years of diplomatic relations between Belize and Taiwan and Taiwan had proven over those thirty-five years to be a valuable partner and ally and friend of Belize’s development.”
Chai-Lung
Dr. Chai-Lung UN, Foreign Minister, Taiwan
“Under the leadership of Prime Minister Briceno and his government Belize has made remarkable achievements. Taiwan and Belize has many things in common. We both cherish peace and uphold the values of freedom, democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights. Based on these solid foundations of common ideas and mutual interest our friendship has continued to flourish for thirty-five years. We have worked hard in the field such as infrastructure, agriculture, the environment, sustainable development and culture and education. These efforts has further unlocked the potential of our people. This afternoon we have come up with very constructive and fruitful collaboration projects.”
In September, Leader of the Opposition Moses “Shyne” Barrow made headlines when he refused to stand in the House of Representatives to support a motion celebrating thirty-five years of diplomatic relations between Belize and the Republic of China (Taiwan). Barrow expressed skepticism about Taiwan’s generosity towards Belize and accused the nation of meddling in Belizean politics. Today, we sought a response from Taiwan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Doctor Chai-Lung Lin. He confidently stated that Taiwan remains assured of Belize’s bipartisan support.
Dr. Chia-Lung Lin, Foreign Minister, Taiwan
“Belize is democracy so with democracy comes different opinions. That is a natural phenomenon. We are confident of a bipartisan support from your political elites and most importantly the support from the grass roots people. So generally speaking the Belizean people are quite satisfied with the partnership between our two countries. So, regardless of election competition and outcomes we are confident because we have experienced the different party leadership during the past thirty-five years and we congratulate Belizean people and your achievement in terms of democracy and rule of law and respect for human rights.”
We took the opportunity to speak with Taiwan’s foreign minister about the growing trend of Belizean students choosing to remain in Taiwan after finishing their studies. We inquired whether there are any initiatives in place to motivate these students to return to Belize and contribute to their homeland’s development. Here’s what he had to say.
Dr. Chai-Lung UN, Foreign Minister, Taiwan
“Your question confirm that education is important for tailored cultivation and social mobility. So the fellowship recipient from Belize, many of them stay in Taiwan and make contributions to our society. We are thankful for that, but we will also encourage Belizean people in Taiwan to finish form Taiwan and return to their home country to make more contributions. We will work with your government in providing more incentives to have them start their business in Belize. We will also encourage, our government has a new policy encouraging people to go abroad and participate in international affairs. We chose Belize as a good destination for Taiwanese young people to work here and more relationships with your young people. We are ready to discuss the design of this project to attract more Belizean people who are now in Taiwan can go back to their home country to make more contribution in tourism, business, agriculture and many more areas.”
