Earlier this week, we reported that Jose Uc Espat has thrown his hat into the ring for the 2025 general election in the Albert constituency. Espat, who initially started an independent party, has now joined forces with the United Democratic Party under Moses ‘Shyne’ Barrow. Today, Sheena Pitts, Tracy Taegar-Panton’s chairperson, explained why they believe Espat isn’t a legitimate candidate.
Sheena Pitts
Sheena Pitts, United Democratic Party
“Don’t forget the backdrop of the argument of Barrow and his console that status quo anthem means before October twentieth, and everything should be before then so putting into its proper context, you can really have each of both ways, if status quo and means, which we know are clear, now no clearly what the court meant when he gave the order. But if we are to entertain his argument, and it means that status quo ante is prior to October twentieth, 2024, then it would mean those standard bearers prior to that. And certainly what Honorable Panton is saying, that the standard bearers under UDP Are those standard bearers from then with the exception of the Mesopotamia division where the constituency committee invited an audience and indicated that they are no longer desirous of being represented by Barrow and so there was a departure and by the UDP constitution, which permits that to happen and the procedure was followed and there is a different and new standard bearer. So although we, we like that there are persons. Who want to put themselves forward for service to the people and country. Unfortunately, you will be cajoled into boycotting procedures to, to get yourself in the foot of a person who can’t properly serve under the UDP banner. So in short, Mr. Espat did not enjoy his position through the procedural regulations of the UDP. And so it is the honorable, honorable Penton’s view that he is not the rightful candidate for the UDP in the Albert Division.”
On December eighth, 2023, the Government of Belize took over the Port of Belize Limited, and the interim board they appointed is still in place. Since mid-2024, the Christian Workers Union (C.W.U.) and PBL’s management have been negotiating a new Collective Bargaining Agreement for the stevedores. On January thirty-first, 2025, the C.W.U. issued a twenty-one-day notice of industrial action to the Minister of Labor. In response, the minister set up an Essential Services Arbitration Tribunal to resolve the dispute. However, the C.W.U. argues that the government can’t just rely on this tribunal, which includes three government representatives out of five members, to fix the mess they’ve created. The C.W.U. has warned the Government, the National Trade Union Congress of Belize, and the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industries that moving forward with this flawed tribunal is nothing short of a farce and a tragedy for the workers and the people of Belize.
Leonora Flowers
Leonora Flowers, President, C.W.U.
“Our concerns surround the fact that it does not bode well for the CWU, its members and all the workers of Belize that the government owns the company. The government as its management that has not made a decent offer to the stevedore and then when we reach an impasse and we indicated such and we sent this to the minister, the government turns around and empanels a tribunal and the government, again, chooses its three members to sit on a five-member panel. NO matter how you cut that, no matter how you slice it, that doesn’t look fair. There is no justice that we can await coming from such a makeup of the tribunal. And we don’t say this to cause any slight on the tribunal, they believe, they may want to believe that we are putting their integrity into impunity. We are not. We are not looking at the person, we are looking at how it looks on the face of it. We cannot ask the same government who owns the port to set up a tribunal to give us justice.”
The C.W.U. has pointed out the flaw in the Labor Minister’s decision to set up the tribunal. While the law does give the Minister the power to form a tribunal when a notice of industrial action is received, the principles of natural justice and fair practices mean the current tribunal can’t be seen as impartial.
Leonora Flowers, President, C.W.U.
“We are asking the government to do what it needs to do to come clean. You own the port, you can make an offer to the stevedores and resolve this matter. Cost of living has gone up for every single worker in the country of Belize. Every single household can tell you, what I use to buy with a hundred dollars, I can no longer buy that. My bags are this tiny when I go to the stores and the government knows that. We have a statistical institute that explains that from month to month. So the government, we are asking them to come to the table, make a decent offer and close the deal, resolve it to the extent that you don’t need to empanel a tribunal which is a farce, in the face of the Belizean people whom you came to on the eighth of December 2023 and said that we took over the port, we acquired the port for the people of Belize. It now belongs to the government, but they still continue to take us down the same road that the other person took us. How can that be just?”
Tonight, a local baker has come forward with a harrowing account of her experience with the Belize Police Department. Dylan Ysaguirre, a disabled baker from Dangriga, claims that on Thursday night, police stormed into her home on suspicions of her selling cannabis and possessing illegal guns and ammunition. She alleges that the officers overturned the baked goods she was preparing to sell and is demanding compensation for the loss of her goods and the emotional distress she has suffered. Ysaguirre, who was charged once back in 2023 and has been diligently paying her fine, further alleges that one of the officers disrespected her and even kicked her wheelchair. She suffers from a stress-induced autoimmune disease, which she says has worsened since these raids began.
On the Phone: Dylan Ysaguirre, Alleged Raid Victim
“They have been, this is like the tenth time that they’ve come to my house and it’s over the course of the past like year and a half, because last year I had gotten arrested and charged for some marijuana that they had found in my house. It was my personal, they didn’t believe it, so they put a traffic in charge on me and I wasn’t happy with that because, I tell them that, I tell them what is the main reason that I use it for, that I use it for herbal medicine, yes I smoke weed, but the main reason I’m using it is for my remedies and for my medicine for my son because, I am disabled, my mother is also disabled but my son, he is special needs, he’s not just disabled. They keep harassing me not even my personal, that’s the part that really hurt me yesterday because yesterday they were roughing me up and I had less than two grams on my table. And they’re still accusing me of selling weed even though I had less than two grams on my table and they’re still accusing me of selling weed.. I do not appreciate the way how they disrespect me as a disabled woman because, I know how women are, sometimes we’ll have scuffle and we’ll back and forth, but that’s not the way to treat someone in my position that’s disabled because they’re not shaved. She kicked my wheelchair while I was trying to stand up to make me fall. She disrespected me, she disrespected my stuff, and I feel unfair and I feel like I should get compensated for the cupcakes that I had lost. And also emotional damages. After they left my house, And after I did that live, I was so upset that I was physically sick, like my hands were shaking, and I felt like I wanted to vomit.”
Former Senior Accountant Ivan Ayuso is still behind bars after admitting to one count of theft and three counts of money laundering. He embezzled over a million dollars from the Government of Belize and has been sentenced by Justice Nigel Pilgrim to four, five-year terms at the Belize Central Prison. These sentences will run concurrently starting from September 27th, 2024. In a detailed twenty-two-page ruling from the High Court, it was decided that the forfeiture of Ayuso’s Belama property will be addressed separately. This comes after an application by the Crown, with his wife, Tanya Savery, who has filed for divorce, stepping in to contest the ownership.
Tonight, a family is mourning the tragic loss of a loved one after a fatal traffic accident in the Corozal District on Wednesday afternoon. Around 3 p.m., brothers Gaspar and Santiago Cantun were driving a Chevy Tracker on Sarteneja Road when Gaspar lost control, causing the vehicle to flip multiple times. When the police arrived, they found Gaspar bleeding from his face and Santiago also injured. They also noted that the vehicle’s license plate was expired. The brothers were rushed to the Corozal Community Hospital, where Gaspar sadly succumbed to his injuries. Santiago has since been released.
Losing everything in a fire is a life-changing ordeal, but for Emelina Molina, it was the start of an inspiring journey to rebuild. When the flames turned her home to ashes, she was left with nothing—but she wasn’t alone. With the unwavering support of her family, community, and a group of dedicated volunteers, she found hope amidst the devastation. Now, after months of uncertainty, that hope is becoming a reality. This week, Emelina finally has a new place to call home. Sabreena Daly shares her uplifting story in this week’s segment of On the Bright Side.
Sabreena Daly, Reporting
For people already struggling to get by, losing everything in a fire can be a crushing blow that tests the limits of survival. This nightmare became a reality for Emelina Molina on December twenty-eighth, 2024, when her home—a sanctuary amid financial hardship—was reduced to ashes.
Emelina Molina
Emelina Molina, Recipient, Building for Change Program
“That was an ugly feeling. It’s an ugly, ugly feeling. When I ran out and I went on the roadside and I watched that house blazing in fire, all I could do was cry. I cried out because I ran out with one suit of clothes on my back and nothing on my feet.”
When disaster hits, having a strong support system can change everything. When all seemed lost, it was the steadfast support of the family that laid the groundwork for hope. Their encouragement and determination transformed a moment of despair into a chance to rebuild and find resilience.
Philip Molina
Philip Molina, Brother
“I told my sister, hey, let your heart not be troubled. I said, this is done. We’re going to start a new life all over, and the next chapter will begin in Boom.”
Philip Molina describes his sister as a determined woman who faces challenges head-on and never backs down. After her loss, her strength shone through as she placed her trust in those ready to help.
Sister Luke Boiarski
Sister Luke Boiarski , Missionary
“ What’s significant to me is that her family and her friends have come. I was really worried because we had all women, but I know they’re hard workers, but I’m still worried about when all these men showed up Her nephews and her brothers. And I’m like, Oh, thank you, God. I mean, it was wonderful. And there’s a real community spirit here. I feel it. It’s very tangible.”
At the heart of this transformation is Sister Luke Boiarski, a missionary with the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, whose commitment to service has touched countless lives. Partnering with Hand in Hand Ministries, she led a team of nine women who took on the challenge of constructing Molina’s new haven in just one week.
Sister Luke Boiarski
“ I’ve done 22 builds and this is by far the best. We have a women crew, ten of us. Nine from the same family. They’re dedicating this house in memory of their sister who was a sister from Charity of Nazareth–Sister Mary Patricia Brennan. So they’re all here, they’re working away and they’re so happy to do this in her honor and her memory.”
Emelina Molina
“Well, all I have to do is thank each and everyone who came out and helped me, and also my brother, and the good Lord. I thank the good Lord that one door closed but another opened. I thank him so very much because I got down on my knees and I prayed every day and night. I don’t know how to thank the good Lord for it. He answered my prayer.”
The love and generosity that surrounded Emelina’s journey went far beyond just bricks and mortar. It was the spirit of community that truly carried her through. Emelina calls it a miracle—her new home was built with dedication and hard work. While the flames may have taken her house, they couldn’t take her hope, faith, or the unwavering support of those around her. Thanks to the kindness of strangers and the love of family, Emelina Molina’s story is one of resilience, rebuilding, and the incredible power of community.
Albert Area Representative Tracy Taegar-Panton has emerged victorious in a contempt case filed by Moses “Shyne” Barrow, who challenged her leadership claim. Barrow had sought to challenge Panton’s leadership claim, referencing a November 2024 court ruling that aimed to return the United Democratic Party (UDP) headquarters to its previous status.
Both Barrow and Panton claim to be the legitimate leader of the UDP.
However, Justice Hondora dismissed Barrow’s contempt claims, clarifying that the November ruling applied solely to the possession of the UDP headquarters on Youth for the Future Drive in Belize City, not to the leadership dispute.
Attorney Sheena Pitts elaborated on the decision. She said, “The court agreed with Peter Knox Casey that the order of November did not definitively establish that the party leader is Barrow.” She added that the ruling only addressed possession of the headquarters, not leadership, leaving that matter unresolved.
A recent court ruling also confirmed that Panton may continue calling herself the UDP leader. Barrow had filed legal action to prevent Panton from using the title, claiming it violated a November court decision that upheld the status quo.
Pitts defended Panton’s right, stating that both Panton and her supporters, as well as the media, are free to refer to her as the UDP leader, citing freedom of speech.
Pitts added, “The court concluded that the second application to injunct her from exercising freedom of speech in a political space could not be granted.” She added that both of Barrow’s applications had failed, and as a result, Panton and her legal team are entitled to recover legal costs.
The Hopkins Village Council has responded to growing community concerns over recent land clearing along Hopkins Road, assuring residents that the development is not within protected wetlands.
In a statement issued, the council reaffirmed that over 60 lots in the area had been distributed to Hopkins residents several years ago. The ongoing work, they explained, is meant to provide long-awaited access to these properties. “Our people have been lobbying for this access for years, and we are dedicated to providing this opportunity to them,” the statement read.
The council insisted that the land being cleared is outside the wetland boundary, located beyond the canal. They also assured residents that necessary drainage measures are being implemented to prevent flooding.
The council further stated that all legal processes were followed in partnership with the Ministry of Natural Resources, emphasising that their priority remains ensuring rightful landowners can access their properties. Despite the council’s clarification, some residents remain skeptical and have called for further transparency regarding the development’s environmental impact.
Some residents contend that the land being cleared is part of a wetland and unsuitable for development. They fear that removing mangroves could worsen flooding along Hopkins Road. Dissatisfied with the council’s response, frustrated residents planned a meeting this afternoon to demand answers from local authorities.
A Dangriga baker, Dylan Ysaguirre, is speaking out after a traumatic police raid at her home. Ysaguirre claims that on Thursday night, police raided her house based on “tips” they received about her allegedly selling marijuana. According to Ysaguirre, the police entered her home without a warrant, adding that this has happened at least ten times over the past year and a half.
“The police walk up to my house without the car, without a warrant. They came, and they stepped right up to my house; my door was open, and they just walked into my house,” Ysaguirre told News 5. She said that the police officers told her there was no need for them to have a warrant and that “supposedly that’s the new law in Belize.”
Ysaguirre stated that she was previously arrested and charged for drug trafficking after she was found with more than the legal amount of marijuana in her possession. She says that while, yes, she does consume it, she does so for medicinal purposes. “I tell them what the main reason is that I use it, that I use it for herbal medicine. Yes, I smoke weed. But the main reason I’m using it is for my remedies and for my medicine for my son,” she said.
Ysaguirre, who is bound to a wheelchair, stated that her condition is due to “an autoimmune disease that is stress-related” and that remaining calm is important to control her health condition.
She also said that her son has a history of multiple seizures a day, and combined with his “multiple congenital malformations, it causes intense pressure on his brain,” and for this reason, she administers medicinal marijuana to her son in the form of oil. “You need a lot of weed to concentrate it down into a potent weed oil for him to prevent the seizures,” she added.
After what she called a “traumatising experience,” Ysaguirre took to Facebook Live to share the aftermath of the raid. In the livestream, she revealed the damage to her home, including all her baked goods scattered across the floor, which is one of her few incomes she relies on to provide for herself and her son.
Ysaguirre added that after the ordeal, she became physically sick from the distress, and it has affected her mental health.
While she hasn’t made an official report, she said she is now considering making one.
