Politics - Channel 5 Belize

CompPol Urges U.D.P. Factions to Settle Headquarters Dispute in Court

The struggle for control of the U.D.P. headquarters stretched on for most of the day, with police maintaining a vigilant watch for any potential unrest. Amid the chaotic takeover, Tracy Panton and her supporters insisted they had full legal grounds to occupy the building, citing trustee Phillipa Bailey’s approval. However, Commissioner of Police Chester Williams suggested that the situation might not be so straightforward. We asked Williams which legal processes might be overlooked, and here’s what he had to say.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“I look at the situation from a legal standpoint. If you have a landlord and the landlord wishes to displace his tenant, the landlord cannot just bring a new tenant to the building and say to the current tenant, you need to leave. There is a legal process that you must follow. And the legal process cannot be circumvented by some other process. And it is sad to see that we have instances where people who are trained attorneys and should know better, um, that certain documents do not carry the force of law. And if it is that Philippa Bailey was the trustee of the property and she was holding on trust for the UDP, The question then lies as to who is a UDP? Shyne is a UDP, Panton is a UDP. And so there’s a dispute there. In order to resolve that dispute, the police must not be the arbitrator of that issue. That is an issue that ought to be resolved in a court of law. And so if the Panton fraction believe that They have all rights to the building. Then the proper thing for them to have done as to take the matter before the court, perhaps request Phillip Bailey, who is a trustee to issue shine with a notice to quit perhaps a month if after the one month period expires, he do not quit. And notice of quit simply means notice to leave. That’s a legal term. He did not leave within that time. Then they will then take that to the court and apply for an eviction order. If the court sees it fit after having heard all the evidence and then the court issue that eviction order, then the police can then act with them to forcefully evict him from the building.”

ComPol says Police Cannot Choose Sides in U.D.P. Dispute

While the police were actively working to stop Tracy Panton’s supporters from causing physical damage to the U.D.P. headquarters, Commissioner of Police. Chester Williams says that it was simply a matter of protecting the safety of the public and minimizing property damage. In an interview with Williams, he explains that the police will not choose sides in the matter and stresses the importance of the matter going before the court.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“In the absence of that, then the police do not have the legal authority. Now, we are in a very difficult situation because one fraction now occupies the lower flat of the building. I have again said to the police that we are not going to ask them, or we’re not going to force them out of the building. Yes, they can be asked by the police to leave, but if they don’t leave, we’re not going to force them out. At the end of the day, we do not want to have any sort of confrontation with anybody unnecessarily. So, I have since advised Shyne that he can go before the court and seek the court’s intervention to have the matter corrected. If the court were to find then that the actions of the alliance is wrong and that of Philippa Bailey, who I see, I saw a second document came out. The power of attorney. The power of attorney as far as the law is concerned has no effect for the simple fact that, she can only transfer or assign the power that is given to her as a trustee and nothing more than that and the power as a trustee is for her to hold the property on trust for the UDP. So she she cannot act outside of that or she cannot transfer more power than what she has. So then, again, this, the power of attorney would still not fully address the issue as to who da dih UDP, right? That has to be addressed. And I think that only the court could address that issue. Having looked at the convention that was held, if the court would see that it was a legally held convention or not. The truth be told, both sides can argue that they are,they are UDPs. So how can you displace one in favor of the other? That’s an issue that they will have to deal with. So we, we will just hold forth and be as neutral as we can. One might not like Shine, but the truth is he is the constitutionally elected leader of the opposition.”

P.U.P. Chairman Comments on UDP’s Messy Infighting

This morning, two conflicting press releases emerged under the United Democratic Party (U.D.P.) banner, one from Moses “Shyne” Barrow and the other from Tracy Taegar-Panton. Both figures rejected each other’s involvement in the party. Barrow insisted that Sunday’s convention was illegitimate and not officially linked to the U.D.P., while Panton dismissed Barrow’s leadership and criticism. As this internal dispute intensifies, questions are being raised about the opposition’s ability to effectively hold the government accountable. The P.U.P.’s Chairman, Henry Charles Usher, was asked to weigh in on the situation.

Henry Charles Usher, Chairman, P.U.P.

“I think looking at it from a governance perspective, it is unfortunate the way the opposition can’t seem to get their act together, the infighting that they’re having because They are part of the government. They are elected by the people they serve in the National Assembly. We’ve been arguing about this, or making a mention of it to the Speaker that you have a member of the opposition that has not appeared in the House of Representatives except for that first initial time and probably stayed for thirty minutes. That is a good governance issue. You are elected by the people to do a job and you just refuse to show up to do your job. So that is something. The motion last week to remove opposition members from House committees, making it almost impossible that the opposition will be able to be a part of all of these House committees. I think on Wednesday, yesterday, there were like six House committees. I’m not sure how many of them the opposition attended.”

ComPol Says Police Won’t Get in UDP “Love Affair”

On Sunday, the police were called out to the U.D.P. headquarters on Youth for the Future Drive when U.D.P. loyalist Brian “Yellow Man” Audinett allegedly hurled threats at the Leader of the Opposition, Moses “Shyne Barrow. The locks were reportedly changed on all the doors outside and inside the building to keep members of the Alliance for Democracy from claiming rights to the building. Today Commissioner of Police Chester Williams told reporters that he instructed the officers to stand down, as the police will not be used as pawns in the ongoings of the U.D.P. once it does not involve a crime.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“I had recalled the police from there. I said to them, I don’t want the police to be involved in the love affairs of the UDP. We’re not going to be used as a pawn by either side. That’s an entanglement that they are in, and they must find a way to solve that. If it is that there is a threat of damage to property or a threat to life, then the police is going to respond. But in the absence of that to be manning the UDP headquarters or the likes, the police is not going to do that. no.”

ComPol Says “Shyne” Needs to File a Report

Leader of the Opposition, Moses “Shyne” Barrow, has laid the matter at the feet of the police, saying that he feels that even if he filed a report against Audinett, he feels that it would be an exercise in futility since the police had not acted upon a previous report that he had made against Beverly Williams. Today ComPol Chester Williams responded to that comment and said that if Barrow wants the police to act, he needs to file a report.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“When you speak of the Leader of the Opposition, I would have to know which one of them you’re speaking about. I don’t know. I know there is – from what I’m told, there are two. I don’t know which of them you’re speaking of, so I can’t answer.”

Reporter

“Mr. Barrow, Sir.”

Chester Williams

“Oh, Mr Barrow, okay (laughter) – I had said to Shyne, the matter that he had reported in respect to Beverly Williams is one which is a class complaint. If Beverly is arrested then he needs to be arrested too. She also made a report against him. If it is that they wish to go to court and resolve the issue, then we have no issue doing that. In terms of the issue with Yellow Man, I’m not fully aware of the nature of that complaint. I have not seen it, so I cannot comment on that.”

Reporter

“No, he said he doesn’t want to make a complaint because he feels it might be futile and it should be up to the police to look into it, given that there’s a video online.”

Chester Williams

“No, no, it’s not up to the police. If a person made a threat against you, it’s your prerogative to come to the police and make a report. The police will not act if you don’t come to the police and give a report.”

With 12 Days to Go, Who Will Be the Next U.S. President?

With just 12 days until the U.S. presidential election, a new Wall Street Journal poll shows Donald Trump leading Kamala Harris by 2 percentage points nationally, 47% to 45%. This marks a shift from Harris’s previous 2-point lead in August. Despite the change, both figures are within the margins of error, indicating a neck-and-neck race.

The polls show that Harris holds a slim lead in Nevada and Wisconsin, while Trump leads in Arizona and Georgia. The competitive states include Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Michigan, where results are still very close.

Harris has been facing rising criticism for not clearly differentiating her policies from President Biden’s.

Meanwhile, Trump has focused on immigration and declared to supporters at a rally in Georgia, “We will stop illegal immigration once and for all.”

Both candidates are making aggressive efforts to sway voters in these crucial states as Election Day approaches.

Barrow Condemns Tracy Panton and AFD for Alleged Fraud

A press statement issued under the United Democratic Party (UDP) banner is condemning Tracy Taegar-Panton for allegedly deception and fraud.

Panton says she is the interim leader of the UDP following a convention on Sunday at CIVIC where delegates voted to recall Moses “Shyne” Barrow. Meanwhile, Barrow says he remains leader of the UDP.

The statement calls Panton to “cease and desist from this fraud which is damaging the good name of the UDP as there is established case law which protects against passing off as our political party.”

The statement also urged media outlets to refrain from disseminating what it says is false information about the UDP, warning that such actions could lead to legal consequences against Panton.

‘Boots’ Martinez Calls ‘Shyne’ a Dictator

Veteran U.D.P. member Anthony “Boots” Martinez is firing back at Moses “Shyne” Barrow tonight. Martinez, who supports Tracy Taegar-Panton, summoned the media this morning in front of the U.D.P. headquarters. He held his press conference in front of the building, in the parking lot, and NOT inside. Martinez chastised Barrow after Barrow’s interview with News Five on Tuesday night, during which Barrow accused Martinez and others of corruption. Well, the emotive Martinez is not having it, and he didn’t only throw shade at Barrow. He threw the entire tree! According to Martinez, he has a lot of problems with Barrow’s leader and accuses Barrow of ignoring the party’s constitution.

Anthony “Boots” Martinez, Former UDP Minister

“One thing I will say, that he don’t know nothing about me, Sso when you di try malign me in terms of what you believe or what you think of me. Let me say this, mister Barrow, the former, not even say Mister Barrow, Jamal, deh dah soh chancey and bully individual. And I got certain things that I will say relating to this party. I have been in this party since 1980 with the YPF, longest active member of the United Democratic Party, up to 2024. Tek mi lick fi this party, get mi eye buss. All kind of thing. And listen to me now, there’s nothing wrong with people making their choices. But I have a problem with Mister Barrow wanting to take this party into a dictatorship kind of leadership, It don’t work like that. They noh follow no part of the constitution. They don’t do nothing to follow the part of the constituition, including helping the party. See unu de dah party headquarters yah? There is no full-time secretarial chair coming here five and ten minutes. The last time because the secretary was on holiday, you kniw what happen? The supplement that was delivered from elections and boiundaries was carried back you know. Neva come back until the last day for onjections I just dih show you. They run this party like fi ney own business. And I have wa fundamental problem with that. Where is the voice of reasoning within this party? Where are the senior people within this party? Where is the voice of reasoning. We can’t just allow thing to happen. How you, there is a code of conduct for everybody you know. Including him. How you wa get on television and wah di call this one yah corrupt and this one yah woman beater?”

Reporter

“You dih talk about last night?”

Anthony “Boots” Martinez

“Yes. And then you have fi you own difficulty, memba you stamp yo wife inna ih back and that is recorded da police station. So who are you sir? Who are you sir to come to this nation and like you dih save this nation by getting rid of whatsoever the case may be. Yu see the tye of capable weh mi deh out deh? Deh da mi weh da mi doctorate in terms or birds and bees. Nenya da people weh had legitimate degrees. Denyah da people who have contributed to the development of this party. And you dih fling people like dat?”

‘Boots’ Says Shyne Is Not Capable to Run Belize

And Martinez did not stop there. Aside from saying he believes that Barrow isn’t a millionaire, Martinez brought up Barrow’s criminal past in the U.S. He accuses Barrow of deception and bullying and maintains that he is not acting in the best interest of the people. Martinez also likened Barrow to a scorpion, and it’s time for him to just go away.

Anthony “Boots” Martinez, Former UDP Minister

“Listen to me, I think that he tricked a lot of people in Belize by posing as this millionaire and I noh think it got ah at all. I noh think it got ah at all. I have some lee fundamental problems in terms of the main thing the structure the party. You wa got NPC meeting by WhatsApp. There is process for everything. I believe in due process and ney dig talk bout this and that and warough and tarough listen to me, when we were here fighting, he was a convicted. Convict serving his time in jail. So I’m sorry, when ney di talk bout you want to get rid of people to help people. Sorry, you cya dih bring yo criminal behavior back to this country. I am sorry. I think dat I da mih one weh think that everybody should be reformed, and everybody have second and third and fourth chances and soh, Byut ney always seh ah scorpion is scorpion noh care how you try, Ih only job da fi stin. And that is his modus operandi. He want to take over this party as a dictator. Inna my humble opinion, you noh respect the will of the people, you need fi give up breda. But I know and I said ti a person before, I knew. Seems like he wants to dead with the chair inna he hand. He noh want let ah go regardless ah what. Ney noh follow no kind of process at all. No knd of process and the minute there is disincentive voice, oh you da dah LGBTQ, you da dis, you da dat. Man you see di ting that he is saying about not only standard bearers, citizens of this country, He is very rude, bully, disingenuous, and disrespectful as far as I know. He noh have the capability to run this country, I am sorry.”

Anthony ‘Boots’ Martinez On the Future of the U.D.P.

During his extended press conference, Anthony “Boots” Martinez expressed skepticism on getting rid of Barrow. He says that the party’s success hinges on its leadership and insisted that, until constitutional reforms are implemented, individuals should be free to change their minds.

Anthony “Boots” Martinez, Former UDP Minister

“I know he no gwen easy. He wa hold on to that chair like I she. I was the first peopson whe come and seh dat he sleep with the chair under ih bed, And he sleep crossfoot with ih foot di mind da chair deh. And mek I tell yo something, things speak volume mein. Like this country need a viable opposition I noh care weh nobody seh. You quarrel with the speaker, you quarrel with yo memba, you quarrel with te PUP. You quarrel and noh conscious yo dupe into lotta thing. This country need a viable opposition with a reasonable leader. He is unfit, Michael Peyrefitte and Alberto August, they are the two most powerful people in the constitution of the United Democratic Party, so what people do now? So when yo seh the constitution she, one fourth delegate trigger a recall. Two thirds call a national convention. People have the right to change their mind, I noh care weh happen until you change that outta the constitution. This is where you need to have a constitutional reform. If you a she yo only could recall ah man within ine term ah ih leadership that is it, Nut you have a constitution there for a revolving door. Tomorrow somebody could start a petition and the whole thing start ova again. Them da di reform weh di party need fi look pan. And so at the end of the day, when you just ignore people in terms of the chairman and soh and no regard to what it is in the constitution that is dictatorship sir, So where is the party rules even for the party leader? He seh anything he want about anybody and nobody she nothing. I am sorry. I got family. I got friends too and so is he. And mek I tell yo something, one thing I could she that I was never charged abroad or here or even convicted inna any part of the world. I am sorry. Ney people get a bly.”