2025 - Channel 5 Belize

Elections and Boundaries Commission Rejects Fraud Claims

The Elections and Boundaries Commission has firmly denied allegations of electoral fraud in the Cayo North Electoral Division. It said in a press release that all voter registration processes comply with the Representation of the People Act.

The statement comes amid concerns over the inclusion of certain names on the electoral list. “Any challenges regarding voter residency within the division are being properly addressed through the appropriate legal channels,” it said.

The Commission acknowledged an appeal filed in Inferior Appeal No. CV20240006, challenging a decision by Revising Officer Her Honour Kara Walters on November 13, 2024, regarding the legitimacy of specific names on the Cayo North voter roll. The matter is now before the courts.

Additionally, a constitutional application under Section 20(3) of the Constitution of Belize has been filed, seeking judicial clarification on whether the Revising Officer’s proceedings adhered to legal and procedural requirements under the Representation of the People Act, Cap. 9.

“The Commission remains committed to upholding the integrity of Belize’s electoral system and will continue to cooperate with the courts to ensure that all legal and constitutional questions are properly addressed.”

Belize Secures Funding for Feasibility Studies on Two New Hospitals

The Government of Belize has secured funding for feasibility studies to develop the Northern Regional Hospital and Punta Gorda Town Hospital.

The studies, valued at US$986,050, are funded through the Taiwan Cooperation Partnership Trust and facilitated by the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI). The official signing ceremony featured Prime Minister John Briceño, Ruth Calderon of CABEI, and Lily Li-Wen Hsu, Ambassador of Taiwan to Belize, who served as an honorary witness.

Minister of Health and Wellness, Kevin Bernard, highlighted the importance of these studies in ensuring the hospitals meet the healthcare needs of their respective regions. Minister of State for Foreign Trade, Osmond Martinez, also stressed the broader impact of the project on Belize’s healthcare system.

KHMH Receives Vital Medical Equipment Donation

The Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital Authority (KHMHA) has received a donation of medical equipment from local and international donors.

KHMHA acknowledged the contributions of donors, including Edward and Patricia Lord, who helped secure a donation worth $333,604.01 USD from the Providence Healthcare System in Southern California. Key contributors from Providence included Brandon Allen (St. Joseph, Burbank), Sharon Gross (Cedar Sinai Tarzana), and Dr. Bernie Klein (CEO, Holy Cross Mission Hills).

The donation includes 35 HillRom Med Surge Beds, five ICU Beds, six Patient Recliners, seven Patient Sleepers, and assorted care supplies. Additionally, six GE OmniBed Giraffes and NICU supplies, valued at $104,178.36 USD, were sourced through collaboration with Providence and local donors.

KHMHA covered $26,800 BZD in shipping costs to bring the donation to Belize.

KHMHA CEO Chandra Cansino expressed gratitude to all sponsors.

Fisherman Survives Shooting in Belize City

Gunfire erupted near the San Pedro Belize Express parking lot on North Front Street in Belize City over the weekend. The target of the attack, 32-year-old Akeem Smith, a fisherman from the Lake I area, was with three other men travelling along Haulover Creek toward the Swing Bridge when they spotted two men standing on a concrete deck behind the Musa & Balderamos Law Firm.

One of the men on the deck suddenly opened fire, releasing four to five shots in the direction of the boat.

Smith and his companions leapt into the creek, swimming toward City Hall on Regent Street to escape the hail of bullets. The boat captain later climbed back into the vessel and manoeuvred it away from the scene.

Smith sustained a graze wound to the head and was rushed to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, where he was treated for minor injuries.

Major Water Disruption in Belize City as BWS Repairs Broken Main Line

Belize Water Services (BWS) has issued an urgent notice to customers regarding low water pressure and an unplanned water interruption affecting Belize City.

According to BWS, the disruption is due to a break in a 24-inch main transmission line, impacting both Northside and Southside Belize City.

Water Supply Schedule:

7:00 AM – 10:00 AM: Low water pressure
10:00 AM – 6:00 PM: No water (Northside)
9:00 AM – 6:00 PM: No water (Southside – updated schedule)

BWS is urging residents to conserve water and prioritize essential use, discouraging activities such as recreational water use, excessive watering of gardens, unnecessary laundry, and car washing.

Despite challenging weather conditions, BWS assured the public that its crew is working diligently to repair the damaged pipeline and restore normal water service as soon as possible.

“Our crew is on the ground, pushing forward with determination despite weather conditions and any challenges they face, all in the effort to repair the line break. Their commitment to getting the job done, no matter the obstacles, deserves a huge shout-out. We are proud of their hard work , as they continue to make progress and prioritize getting things back on track,” the company stated.

Tracy Wins Contempt Case Against Shyne in Court

There’s big news from the United Democratic Party! With less than a month to go before the general election, Albert Area Representative Tracy Taegar-Panton has secured a legal victory in the High Court. Earlier today, Justice Hondora threw out the contempt claims against the head of the Alliance for Democracy, which were brought by Moses ‘Shyne’ Barrow late last year. Barrow, along with his attorney, Christopher Malcolm, had pointed to a November 2024 court ruling that called for a return to the previous status quo. But the court has now made it clear that this ruling only applied to the occupation of the U.D.P. headquarters on Youth for the Future Drive in Belize City. Sheena Pitts, who was appointed chairperson by Panton, sheds more light on the decision.

Sheena Pitts, United Democratic Party

“On their contention, they’re saying status quo ante refers to him being definitively the party leader and that when the order was granted, it definitively established that he is the party leader. And on our case the position of the Honorable Panton and her learned attorney is that that is not what the order established and what was argued before determining contempt or any injunctive relief is exactly what did the order grant. And so in the backdrop was, remember you will recall, a claim was filed for possession, and the claim for possession was filed in relation to the headquarters, and attendant to the claim was the application for interim relief. And so when the interim relief was granted, it was granted in relation to possession of the headquarters. And so on the contention of the Honorable Panton and her learned attorney, Peter Knox Casey, is that the order is confined to just that and the status quo ante refer in its context. So the claim for position and the position of the headquarters so it would not be true and correct to say that when the order was granted, it extended itself to definitively declaring the honorable shine barrel party leader. And I can tell you, casing to the conclusion by the court that the court agreed with Peter Knox Casey, that the order of November, it did not. Definitively establish that the party leader is borrowed because that question remains to be determined and that the order issued November 8 is limited to trespass where possession was granted back to Barrow.”

Shyne Maintains That Nothing Has Changed, Despite Court Ruling

This afternoon, at a press conference at the U.D.P. headquarters, Shyne Barrow addressed the dismissal of his contempt claims. He argued that despite Justice Hondora’s decision, the leadership of the party remains unchanged. Barrow’s remarks have certainly stirred the political pot, leaving many to wonder what’s next for the U.D.P.

Shyne “Moses” Barrow, Leader of the Opposition

“The applications that were filed by myself and the UDP Central Executive: Hugo Patt, Michael Peyrefitte, Alberto August, Shari Medina, an application for contempt and an application to restrain the defendant, Mrs. Panton, from passing herself off as UDP leader and other related orders, they were both dismissed.”

Reporter

“How does this impact you going into the elections?”

Shyne Barrow

“Well, it is not idea. But nothing has changed, which is evident as to where you are right now, at the UDP headquarters, and the Guardian, the Wave, the operations of the UDP remain as it was ordered in the November eighth order which is to return to the Central Executive of the UDP. I will share with you that the defendants, Tracy’s lawyer, Senior Counsel Knox, pleaded to the court that this is a matter of free speech and that his client is free to say whatever she wants because what she is saying has no impact on my operation and function as leader. According to Senior Counsel Knox, there has been no injury or no interference with my function as leader. I’ve removed candidates, I have elected new candidates and I have continued to function as the party leader. So she could say whatever she wants, but I continue to function as party leader, controlling all of the assets and operations of the party.”

Tracy Permitted to Call Herself Party Leader Through Freedom of Speech

Shyne Barrow has also taken legal action against Panton, aiming to stop her from calling herself the leader of the United Democratic Party. Barrow argued that this violated the court’s November ruling to maintain the status quo. According to Sheena Pitts, the Alliance’s chairperson, Panton and her supporters, as well as the media, are free to refer to her as the leader under freedom of speech.

Sheena Pitts, United Democratic Party

“The second aspect of the proceedings this morning is based on whether or not the honorable Panton could be restrained or gagged from saying anything in relation to the UDP, the UDP headquarters, whether or not she could be gagged from holding herself out as interim leader and that sort of thing. And I have to point out that application also included in it that order was intended to extend over to parties who are not parties to the proceeding, namely Hot Off the Press, Orson J. Ellington Mr. John Saldivar, and unfortunately myself, who have zero social media presence. And so, what really was shown today in arguments is that if it is that contempt, having not been established based on your alleged breach, then there can be no subsequent order to gag anyone where your application for injunctive relief is based on contempt. So essentially this morning, parts of the arguments really entailed freedom of speech and whether freedom of speech would be impeded by any injunctive relief, especially freedom of speech in a political space. And so having gone through the legal authorities, having listened to the arguments, the court concluded that the second application to injunct her restrained Honorable Panton and her associates and those persons I named before from exercising freedom of speech it could not, it cannot be obtained and the order as per it could not be granted. So, effectively, both applications by Barrow failed, and at the end the principle where cost follows the event, it meant that Honorable Panton and her learned attorneys are entitled to costs of the two unsuccessful applications.”

Court Decision Turns Barrow’s Position on Its Head

Earlier this week, News Five caught up with Opposition Leader Shyne Barrow after the election date was announced. During our interview, the Mesopotamia Area Rep didn’t hold back, criticizing us for letting Tracy Taegar-Panton call herself the leader of the United Democratic Party. Barrow was so sure of his stance that he outright dismissed any idea that she could or should be called the U.D.P. leader. However, Justice Hondora’s recent dismissal of Barrow’s contempt claims has turned that position on its head, along with his belief that we were complicit in allowing Panton to use the title. Here’s what he said on Tuesday.

Shyne “Moses” Barrow, Leader of the Opposition

“Certainly, I believe your media house has been somewhat irresponsible. I think that you have not followed the law as far as what the decision of the court has been and you have been willfully complicit in the confusion that we have out there in the public because, not because I say I am the prime minister, it doesn’t make me prime minister. So someone claiming to be leader of the UDP with a fake event that was not any sanctioned or authorized by the United Democratic Party, the people who were legitimately elected as the executive. The fact that Channel Five even gives any credence to that, when any lawyer will tell you that there is no way that any court will rule that October twentieth was in fact a legitimate event of the UDP. So it’s very, very irresponsible of Channel Five to even accept that there is any remote possibility of two leaders. There is one leader of the UDP and clearly when the judge in the High Court , Justice Hondora, returned the property of the UDP to the Central Executive of the UDP, that was deliberate and that was not Tracy Panton. So I don’t see how you will listen to her and not listen to the court.”

Shyne Barrow, “There are different layers here.”

King’s Counsel Peter Knox, representing Tracy Taegar-Panton, successfully argued that under freedom of speech, his client can call herself the party leader. However, Shyne Barrow insists that despite this decision, he and his Central Executive still have control over the party’s assets.

Shyne “Moses” Barrow, Leader of the Opposition

“There are different layers here. The application for restraining orders focused on her passing herself off as leader. So that was on a speech issue and with all respect to Justice Hondora, I don’t remember a defamation case, a case of speech lying or whatever, that has ever gotten an interim injunction. So that matter is not completely resolved, it’s just that we won’t get an interim restraining order, but there will still be damages at trial if we are victorious in our position, the main claim is that she should have been restrained and that there is only one leader and that October twentieth should have been invalid. Furthermore, the restraining order centered on her passing herself off as party leader; the issue as to assets of the UDP has not changed. The assets of the UDP, the Guardian, Wave, the UDP logo, that has not changed so I don’t see how she can say that she has now gotten permission to use our assets. If not, the judge would have amended the order and put her back in the headquarters and say, “Alright, you go upstairs and she goes downstairs.”