Belize Election 2025: Another Term Under A BLU Wave

Belize remains under the BLU wave for the next five years—let’s unpack the March 12 general election. Leading up to election day, there were several experts dissecting the possible outcomes, with a few of them landing as expected.

Before midnight, 26 candidates of the People’s United Party (PUP) were celebrating their victory. Out of 31 constituencies, 26 went blue for the PUP and 5 went red for the United Democratic Party (UDP).

Although the UDP remains in opposition, the party’s internal battles may have cost the party’s return in this year’s general election.

UDP’s Pyrrhic Victory in the 2025 General Election

The United Democratic Party (UDP) entered the 2025 general election fractured after the October 2024 “unity convention,” which was held to elect a new party leader. The convention was organised by the Alliance for Democracy, led by Tracy Panton, despite Panton and other key UDP figures being labelled as “constructively resigned” from the party by the then UDP leader, Moses “Shyne” Barrow.

In a statement issued the following day, and branding the official UDP’s press release header, it said that the UDP was “proud to announce that Hon. Tracy Panton has been elected as the Interim Leader of the UDP, making history as the first female to lead a mass political party in Belize.” The aftermath of the convention is what led to the months-long power struggle between Moses “Shyne” Barrow and Tracy Panton over who is the legitimate leader of the UDP.

This internal conflict ended with Barrow and Panton leading their separate slate of candidates under the UDP banner in the 2025 general election.

On election night, as polling stations closed and results began to trickle in, Barrow’s defeat was confirmed—not by a PUP opponent but by Lee Mark Chang, a candidate from Panton’s faction within the UDP. Barrow lost his seat in Mesopotamia to Chang, who garnered 601 votes to Barrow’s 318.

Barrow conceded defeat shortly after 9 p.m., stating, “The people have spoken; congratulations to Lee Mark Chang—he’s now the new area representative of Mesopotamia, and I wish him well.” He added that the voter turnout was a clear reflection of the public’s sentiment. “I was confident; that was the interaction I was having with the people, but they made a decision to go in another direction, and I respect that,” he added.

Chang’s victory marks a historic moment for the constituency and Belize as a whole. His win against Barrow makes him the first Belizean-Chinese to secure a seat in the House of Representatives.

For those wondering why winning this seat was important for Barrow, it’s simple: it was the key to continuing his leadership of the UDP.

In another blow to Barrow, Panton secured her third term in the Albert constituency, while another key Panton ally, Godwin Haylock, also triumphed in Queen Square—a stronghold previously held by Barrow’s father, Dean Oliver Barrow, and aunt, Denise ‘Sista B’ Barrow.

Meanwhile, Barrow’s faction was only able to secure two victories: Hugo Patt in Corozal North and first-time candidate Miguel Guerra in Cayo West.

With only 5 seats in the House of Representatives, and Barrow not being one, who is the new Leader of the Opposition?

Tracy Panton is the first female candidate leading a major political party. She will be sworn in later today as the first female Leader of the Opposition.

While Panton’s victory marks an important moment in Belize’s political history, it comes with a bittersweet reality. After all, her defeated UDP brothers, Patrick Faber and John Saldivar, will not be treading the same path she’s to face now. Faber lost his seat in Collet, while Saldivar failed to reclaim his seat in Belmopan.

Voter Turnout: A “Boring” Election or Just Peaceful?

Whether you followed #Decision2025 on Channel 5, kept up with News 5 Live on social media, or experienced it firsthand, it was hard to ignore the sense that this election felt ‘slow’—or as many on social media put it, it just felt “boring.” Was it a sign of voter apathy, or was it simply a reflection of a peaceful election where citizens quietly exercised their democratic rights?

According to the Belize Election and Boundaries, the voter turnout was noticeably lower this election compared to previous elections. Only 64.97% of registered electors participated, a significant drop from the 81.86% turnout in the 2020 election. Out of 197,018 registered voters, only 128,002 ballots were cast. Of those, 125,299 were valid, while 2,703 ballots were spoilt.

Corozal North boasted the highest turnout at 80.22%, while Dangriga recorded the lowest at 47.08%. Corozal North’s area representative is Hugo Patt for a fourth consecutive time. He won the division with a total of 3,497 votes, his PUP opponent received 2,385, and the Belize Justice Movement’s candidate received 44 votes.

Voter engagement in Dangriga was particularly low, with only 2,925 ballots cast out of 6,213 registered voters. For a second time, Louis Zabaneh of the PUP won the Dangriga seat by a wide margin, with 2,237 votes, while independent candidate Cyril Garcia garnered 628 votes.

A Fresh Face in Collet

One of the most surprising victories of the 2025 election was Patrick Faber’s loss of Collet, a position he had held for 22 years. Faber, a veteran UDP and long-time fixture in the constituency since 2003, was unseated on March 12 by PUP’s Devin Daly. Daly narrowly triumphed, winning by just 163 votes—1,271 to Faber’s 1,108.

Faber’s bitter defeat was nothing short of shocking. Throughout the campaign, he appeared confident, dismissing Daly’s challenge. He believed that his extensive five-term track record gave him the edge. He had said in an interview, “People are telling me that they know the relationship we’ve shared for many years, and they have no intention of changing course.”

But the results of the voter count showed otherwise. In a social media statement, Faber conceded defeat on election night, saying, “Tonight, while the election results were not what we hoped for, I respect the will of the people. Congratulations to the new area representative—I pray that he serves with integrity and puts the people of Collet first.”

Now, Collet will see both the passing of the mantle from a “once-young” leader and the shift in power from the UDP’s red to the PUP’s blue. Faber, who first won the seat at 25, has seen his reign end, handing it over to 29-year-old Devin Daly—another “young, fresh, and energetic” leader.

What can be learnt from Collet, a constituency that has produced two young leaders who have both risen to prominence and built a connection so deeply with their community?

 

Surviving Scandals, Losing Battles

While politics can bring breakthroughs and moments of inspiration, it is also a field often marked by its messiness. Scandals, power struggles, and bitter battles are all part of the terrain. This is especially the case as election day draws near and tensions rise.

One of the most notable controversies was the fracture within the UDP, but the PUP was not without its own scandals. Alex Balona, the PUP candidate for Cayo Central, found himself at the centre of two viral incidents that sparked intense scrutiny.

The first scandal occurred in 2020 when a video surfaced showing Balona spitting at his UDP opponent. Balona defended his actions during an appearance on the Open Your Eyes morning show, explaining that he had been provoked by an assault in the form of a phone being thrown at him.

Just days before election day, Balona was captured again in a separate video where he appeared mocking a local journalist’s speech impediment during a campaign rally in San Antonio Village. In response, Balona posted an apology video on social media, saying, “I, Alex Balona, deeply regret what occurred on Thursday night at the public function. I sincerely apologise to everyone.” He continued, “I want to extend my heartfelt apologies to all members of our community, especially to those who live with impairments or challenges, including Mr. Kent Pandy.”

Despite the controversies, Balona’s support in Cayo Central remained strong. Out of 5,514 votes cast, Balona received 3,031, winning the division by 721 votes over his opponent, UDP candidate Mark O’Brien. Experts questioned whether the scandals would impact his electoral chances, but Balona’s victory demonstrated that his support base remained intact.

In contrast, Kaya Cattouse, another PUP candidate, faced a different fate. Cattouse contested the Albert constituency against the prominent UDP incumbent Tracy Panton. Cattouse earned 1,014 votes out of 2,340 cast, while Panton received 1,243. The 229-vote difference is a reminder of just how some factors can ultimately sway an election result.

Some argue that Cattouse’s downfall may have stemmed from the snarky remarks she made during a campaign event in Independence Village, Stann Creek. Confident that the PUP would win across the country, Cattouse boldly declared, “Because the PUP will win across the north, the south, the west, and in Belize District. We will win, Albert, and do you know why? Because Tracy’s time has come, and Tracy’s time is done.”

It was her follow-up comment that raised eyebrows. Cattouse added, “Because mek we be real, she can’t keep up with me—nuh pan the bike, worse on the campaign trail—and nuh mek we talk bout we ina the mirror.” Panton condemned the remarks as “body shaming” and labelled them as “poor, poor taste.” Cattouse defended her comments, explaining they were taken out of context, stating, “This is a competition… And for anybody who took my comments to be other than that, definitely got my message wrong.” Cattouse called her statements an “introspection,” adding, “Take a book out of Michael Jackson’s page—The Man in the Mirror. When I look in the mirror, I see a young, fresh, new politician. One that no opponent can keep up with. And that is what I was referring to.”

Though the Prime Minister himself, John Briceño, walked shoulder to shoulder with Cattouse in support during a campaign walk in the constituency, Cattouse was defeated. Some political panellists wonder: will Kaya Cattouse return to the ballot for the next general election?

Top 10 Constituencies to Watch in Belize’s March 12 Election

 

Tensions were also high in Corozal Bay, where a bitter feud between PUP candidate Thea Garcia-Ramirez and former PUP area representative Elvia Vega-Samos dominated the division. The conflict traces back to a July 2024 convention, where Garcia-Ramirez defeated Vega-Samos to become the PUP’s standard bearer. Vega-Samos accused the party of electoral malpractice, alleging that her supporters were removed from the delegates’ list and that coercion was used to ensure Garcia-Ramirez’s victory.

Vega-Samos responded by declaring herself an independent candidate for the general election. In turn, the PUP expelled her from the party, citing the constitution’s prohibition against running for public office without the party’s endorsement. Vega-Samos stood firm in her candidacy. 

On March 12, the results were clear: Garcia-Ramirez emerged victorious with a massive 3,122 votes, while Vega-Samos received 1,160 votes. Garcia-Ramirez’s victory was a testament to her strong support, despite the internal party conflict.

Caught in the middle of this feud was UDP candidate Hernan Riverol. Running under Tracy Panton’s slate, Riverol was accused of “betraying” his party. Barrow dismissed Riverol’s chances of winning, calling his candidacy a “betrayal,” adding that Riverol “has no chances of winning.”

2025’s General Election Women Leaders

As mentioned earlier, UDP’s Tracy Panton, who led 13 candidates under her slate, secured her seat in the House of Representatives. Also victorious was Thea Garcia-Ramirez of the PUP, who won the Corozal Bay constituency.

Another notable victory was Dolores Balderamos-Garcia of the PUP, who won Belize Rural Central for the fourth time. A long-serving female politician, Balderamos-Garcia secured 2,895 votes, defeating two UDP candidates—Beverly Williams, who ran on Tracy Panton’s slate with 1,367 votes, and David Almendarez, who received 142 votes under Moses “Shyne” Barrow’s faction. Even when combining the votes of the two UDP candidates, Balderamos-Garcia’s margin of victory was overwhelming.

Of the 10 women candidates running in this year’s election, only three managed to secure seats—two from the PUP and one from the UDP.

OAS Observes Belize’s 2025 Election Process

As part of its commitment to promoting election transparency, the Organization of American States (OAS) deployed a 12-member observation team to monitor the election process in Belize. The team was led by Chief of Mission Maricarmen Plata as they tracked the election from start to finish and ensured its fairness and transparency.

Plata noted that the election day was peaceful and orderly, with a good turnout. “We have seen a very calm election… good turnout,” she said. Plata also encouraged more people to come out and vote in the afternoon.

One issue raised by the OAS was the lack of campaign finance regulations in Belize. Plata pointed out the need for stronger laws governing campaign spending. “We will issue a report at the end of the process… that will include recommendations on these issues,” she added.

This is the fourth OAS electoral observer mission in Belize.

After the Election High: What’s Next for Belize?

For many, the election excitement has come and gone, and just like that, March 13 rolled in, certainly quiet. There are still remnants of the campaign—red and blue banners clinging to light poles and campaign t-shirts thrown to the corner of some people’s closets. What now? What comes between now and 2030?

The winning party wasted no time in outlining his government’s next steps, which they call Plan Belize 2.0. A second phase to the transformative era of Belize, Prime Minister John Briceño said in his victory address on Wednesday night. Briceño was re-elected for a second term.

Today, Briceño was sworn in for his second term, following the decisive victory of the People’s United Party in the recent general elections. In his formal swearing-in ceremony, Briceño expressed his gratitude. “It is an honour and privilege to be re-elected in Orange Walk Central,” he said. “But also, to have the support of my colleagues in the National Assembly to be appointed Prime Minister.” He acknowledged the challenges ahead and declared his commitment to adapting to the evolving global landscape while prioritising the well-being of Belizeans.

The ceremony also featured a wreath-laying tribute at Lord Ridge Cemetery to honour the late George Price, marking the 75th anniversary of the PUP.