Let’s take a closer look at women in politics for this year’s general election—one like no other. Historically, political power has been dominated by men, and it has taken decades, even centuries, for women to secure leadership roles. In recent years, the world has witnessed a powerful shift, with women stepping into the highest political offices.
Take Barbados, for example, where it took 52 years to elect its first female prime minister, Mia Mottley. In contrast, Mexico took over 200 years to elect its first female president.
In the case of Belize, a country that just recently celebrated its 43rd year of independence, the number of women in politics has steadily grown, especially over the last couple of elections. The steady rise suggests that their presence and contributions have consistently shown their ability to influence and shape key decisions, despite the ongoing challenge of under-representation.
For the first time in Belize’s history, the 2025 general election will see a female candidate leading a major political party in the race and vying for the office of Prime Minister.
Another 9 female candidates will also be contesting their respective constituencies. Which means that out of 90 nominations that were confirmed on Monday, February 24, only 11% or 10 candidates are women.
There will be 6 political bodies coming out on March 12, including the People’s United Party (PUP) with 31 candidates, the Belizean Justice Movement (BJM) with 7 candidates, and the General Opportunity Development Party (GODP) with 1 candidate. The People’s National Party (PNP) is bringing 2 candidates, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) 4 candidates, and finally 4 candidates running as independents. The United Democratic Party (UDP) entered the 2025 election with 41 candidates that are split between two leaders. Moses “Shyne” Barrow entered with 28 candidates, and Tracy Panton with 13 candidates.
Here’s a brief overview of these women candidates and the constituencies they will be vying for:
Tracy Panton
Panton is vying for the Albert constituency in Belize City for a third term as a UDP candidate. She has held the seat since 2015, after taking over from Herman Longsworth of the UDP. In the 2020 election, Panton won her second term by a narrow margin of just 41 votes. That election year, she received 1,271 votes, while her opponent, PUP’s Paul Thomson, was right behind her with 1,230 votes. In this year’s elections, Panton is also leading 13 candidates under the UDP banner, a major political party. While she is vying for the office of Prime Minister, her slate would have to secure the majority of the seats out of 31. A figure that would put great challenge against her slate of 13 candidates.
Her opponents in the 2025 general election are PUP’s Kaya Cattouse, PDM’s Cornelio Galvez, and Jose Espat, who is running under Moses “Shyne” Barrow’s UDP slate.
Kaya Cattouse
Cattouse is a first-time candidate vying for the Albert constituency in Belize City as a PUP candidate. She’s a well-known multi-sport athlete with a particular focus on cycling, track & field, and football. Over the years, she’s built a platform to empower women in sports. Cattouse is coming in strong for Albert with the backing of the blue machine.
Her opponents in the 2025 general election are the incumbent UDP candidate Tracy Panton, PDM’s Cornelio Galvez, and Jose Espat, who is running under Moses “Shyne” Barrow’s UDP slate.
Dr. Lorna Mckay
Dr. Mckay is a first-time candidate vying for the Queen Square constituency in Belize City as a PUP candidate. In the past 5 elections, Queen Square has remained a UDP stronghold. Former Prime Minister Dean Oliver Barrow secured the division for 4 consecutive terms, from 2003 until 2020, when Denise “Sista B” Barrow entered the race as UDP’s candidate and won. The career educator, Dr. Mckay, is putting her bid to turn Albert blue with the backing of the blue machine.
Her opponents in the 2025 general election are PDM’s Garry Matus, UDP’s Shane Williams under Moses “Shyne” Barrow’s leadership, and Godwin Haylock of the UDP faction led by Tracy Panton.
Dr. Nelma Mortis Jones
Dr. Nelma Mortis Jones is vying for the Belize City-based Port Loyola constituency as a UDP candidate in Moses “Shyne” Barrow’s slate. She is a former educator and a past Belize City mayoral aspirant who vied for the position in 2024. Jones will be going up against four other candidates, including 2 other UDP candidates—one that is running under Tracy Panton’s leadership and the other as a stand-alone UDP candidate. She is also aiming to unseat the incumbent PUP candidate Gilroy Usher and claim the constituency back under the UDP banner. Prior to Usher’s win in 2020, Port Loyola was under UDP’s Anthony “Boots” Martinez for four consecutive terms.
Her opponents in the 2025 general election are the incumbent PUP candidate Gilroy Usher, PDM’s Wilmore Tablada, UDP’s candidate Phillip Willoughby under Tracy Panton’s leadership, and UDP’s Anthony “Boots” Martinez. Martinez held the constituency from 2003 to 2020, four consecutive terms.
Dolores Balderamos-Garcia
Dolores Balderamos-Garcia is vying for the Belize Rural Central constituency as a PUP candidate for the fourth time. She is one of the longest-serving female politicians. Balderamos-Garcia is seeking re-election to add to her 2020 victory when she defeated UDP’s Beverly Williams with a voting turnout of 3,409 votes. Williams was left behind by a 1,243-vote difference, securing 2,166 votes. After her 2020 victory, Balderamos-Garcia served as the Minister of Human Development, Families & Indigenous People’s Affairs.
Her opponents in the 2025 general election are PDM’s Estevan Perera, BJM’s Aaron Wilson, and 2 UDP candidates—UDP’s David Almendarez as part of Moses “Shyne” Barrow’s slate and UDP’s Beverly Williams for a third time. Williams is a UDP candidate under Tracy Panton’s leadership.
Beverly “Ms. Bev” Williams
Beverly Williams is vying for the Belize Rural Central for a third time as a UDP candidate. Williams ran for the first time for the constituency in 2015 and won. She challenged 2 other opponents in that election year and secured the division by a very small margin of vote difference. She received 2,560 votes, only 57 votes ahead of her PUP opponent Dolores Balderamos-Garcia, who received 2,502 votes. During her term between 2015 and 2020, Williams served as a Minister of State in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Forestry, the Environment, Sustainable Development, and Immigration. In the 2020 elections, Williams lost the seat to Balderamos-Garcia by over 1,200 votes, securing 2,166 votes and her opponent 3,409 votes.
Her opponents in the 2025 general election are the incumbent PUP candidate Dolores Balderamos-Garcia, PDM’s Estevan Perera, and BJM’s Aaron Wilson. Williams will also be facing another UDP candidate, David Almendarez, who is running under Moses “Shyne” Barrow’s leadership.
Thea Garcia-Ramiez
Garcia-Ramirez is vying for the Corozal Bay constituency as a PUP candidate for the first time. Over the years, Garcia-Ramirez has built a strong platform to advocate for human rights. She’s also served as the General Manager of the Belize Airports Authority, the President of the National Women’s Commission, a Commissioner of the People’s Constitution Commission, and a member of the Board of Directors of the Social Development Fund. Gracia-Ramirez was also elected as the Corozal Bay’s PUP standard bearer in a July 2024 convention, defeating Elvia Vega-Samos. Since that convention, there have been a series of internal challenges within the two women. Despite the challenges, Garcia-Ramirez remains confident in her odds to secure the constituency.
Her opponents in the 2025 general election are UDP’s Hernan Riverol running in Tracy Panton’s slate and independent candidate Elvia “Elvie” Vega-Samos.
Elvia “Elvie” Vega-Samos
Elvia Vega-Samos is vying for the Corozal Bay constituency as an independent candidate for the first time. While she was serving as the PUP’s area representative for the division, Vega-Samos was not the candidate that ran in the 2020 election. In the 2020 election, her brother, the late David “Dido” Vega, was elected to the seat for the PUP. Following his passing, she was elected in a by-election to succeed her brother. Vega-Samos was then part of a July 2024 convention that she lost against her PUP opponent, Thea Garcia-Ramirez. After that convention, a series of challenges erupted within the PUP. This led to Vega-Samos announcing her candidacy as an independent candidate in the upcoming general election. In response, the PUP expelled her, citing the party’s constitution, which prohibits members from seeking public office outside of the party’s endorsement. Vega-Samos reaffirmed her decision to run as an independent candidate for the constituency the day after.
Her opponents in the 2025 general election are UDP’s Hernan Riverol running in Tracy Panton’s slate and PUP’s candidate Thea Garcia-Ramirez.
Condace “Lowe” Espedido
Condace Espedido is vying for the Corozal North constituency for the first time and as a candidate of a third party, the Belizean Justice Movement (BJM). The BJM is one of the few third parties in the race, although third parties in Belize historically struggle at the polls. Espedido will be challenging 2 candidates of the two largest political parties in Belize. This includes the incumbent UDP candidate that has had hold of the division for 3 consecutive terms and is seeking a fourth win.
Her opponents in the 2025 general election are the UDP’s incumbent Hugo Patt running as a candidate in Moses “Shyne” Barrow’s slate and PUP’s third-time runner David Castillo.
Yara Villeda
Villeda is vying for the Orange Walk Central for the first time as a UDP candidate in Moses “Shyne” Barrow’s slate. Villeda is a teacher by profession and also serves her community as a Justice of the Peace. Villeda is challenging two other candidates for the seat, including the PUP’s party leader, prime minister, and candidate for Orange Walk Central this year’s election, John Briceño. Villeda is aiming to turn this division red under the UDP banner and defeat the five-term winning candidate, Briceño. She will also be challenging a UDP candidate running in Tracy Panton’s slate.
Her opponents in the 2025 general election are the PUP’s incumbent 5-term winning candidate John Briceño and Tracy Panton’s UDP candidate Denni Grijalva Cruz.
Decision 2025: Show Out or Blowout
Channel 5 Belize is gearing up for comprehensive coverage of Belize’s general elections on March 12, 2025, with the theme “Decision 2025: Show Out or Blowout.” The programming will offer pre-election features, voter perspectives, expert commentary, and live updates during Election Day. Viewers can expect in-depth analysis of key issues like the economy, governance, and national security, as well as real-time election results and post-election breakdowns. Channel 5 promises to deliver the most trusted and engaging election coverage. Join us on Facebook and Youtube.
