Category: Politics

The Organization of American States has praised Belize for conducting a peaceful and fair election on Wednesday. The OAS, which promotes cooperation and democracy in the Americas, often oversees elections in the region. This time, it sent a team to observe Belize’s election. Today, the OAS released a statement from Maricarmen Plata, the Chief of Electoral Mission in Belize, explaining the scope of their mission. News Five’s Marion Ali has the details.

 

Marion Ali, Reporting

Maricarmen Plata, the Chief of the OAS Electoral Observation Mission in Belize, led her team in a meeting with Governor-General Dame Froyla T’zalam. The team has been in Belize since Monday to observe the general election on Wednesday. Plata praised Belize for conducting a free and fair election.

 

Maricarmen Plata, Chief, Electoral Mission in Belize, O.A.S.

“I extend my heartfelt congratulations on your enthusiastic participation in the general elections held on Wednesday, March 12. We also commend the electoral authorities for the peaceful and successful conduct of the 2025 general elections.”

 

The OAS Mission included twelve experts and observers from seven different countries, and they were present in twelve constituencies across Belize. Plata explained what their role involved.

 

Maricarmen Plata

“We diligently followed the process from the opening of the polling stations through the secure transfer of ballot boxes to the counting stations, the meticulous tabulation of ballots, and the transparent transmission of results. Through our work, we engaged in constructive dialogues with electoral authorities, government officials, political parties and candidates, and civil society actors. This allowed us to gather diverse perspectives on the organization of the elections and the overall electoral framework.”

 

On Wednesday, a News Five team met up with the observers as they made their rounds in Belize City. Plata mentioned that the team has a lot of experience with the election process.

 

Maricarmen Plata

“We have technical specialists with vast experience in reviewing electoral justice issues, technology issues. We are also looking into campaign financing issues, different processes. So, it’s a team that’s quite knowledgeable and that’s able to look at the different areas.”

 

The elections took place before a redistricting exercise, which the OAS had recommended for Belize. Plata mentioned that they are keeping track of those earlier recommendations.

 

Maricarmen Plata

“We are reviewing the present situation of that, and that will be included also in our report. We’ve of course, uh, been asking and, and following up on our prior recommendations, and that will be included also in the report. We will issue a report at the, be at the end of the process, a preliminary report in the coming days and later on a full report. So definitely something that we’ll be looking into and reporting on.”

 

Plata’s team met with political leaders and other key authorities to discuss electoral processes. Their role is crucial in making sure everything runs fairly and smoothly.

 

Maricarmen Plata

“It’s important because it supports the electoral authorities as well as the different parties and the process itself. So we follow up on the different matters that can improve the democratic process in Belize and that can help people actually participate in an environment that is, um, truly attending to the needs of everybody so that everybody participates in the best way possible. We basically met with the parties that are participating in the election, the political leaders and different stakeholders, the authorities as well, so we’ve been looking at different aspects such as technology, electoral processes, different aspects of the election from the beginning.”

 

Marion Ali for News Five.

The 2025 general elections are over, and the people of Belize have decided to keep the People’s United Party in power for another five years. Among the twenty-six seats won by the PUP is the Belize Rural South constituency, where Andre Perez emerged victorious. News Five’s Britney Gordon has all the details on this exciting race.

 

Britney Gordon, Reporting

The race for the Belize Rural South constituency was intense, with four candidates battling it out to become the area representative. This year’s contenders included former area rep Manuel Heredia Jr. and Mahmoud Lagha, both of the UDP, Abner Bacab from the Belize Justice Movement, and incumbent PUP area rep, Andre Perez. Despite concerns that Heredia’s return might threaten the PUP; Perez emerged as the clear winner.

 

Anthony Mai, Returning Officer, Belize Rural South

“ Mr. Abner Bacab received one hundred and fifty-nine votes. Mr. Manuel Heredia Jr. received one thousand eight hundred and ninety-eight votes. Mr. Mahmoud Lagha received one hundred ten votes. And Mr. Andre Parez received three thousand, four hundred and eighteen votes.  And so I’d like to officially declare that Mr. Andre Perez has been elected by you all as the area representative for Belize Rural South.”

 

Candidates across the country noticed a low voter turnout. In Caye Caulker and San Pedro, the turnout was a moderate 56.82%. Perez mentioned that although the turnout was initially low, he was confident that his supporters would show up at the polls later in the day.

 

Andre Perez, Area Representative, Belize Rural South

“It’s always good to be confident, right? But that does not mean we take things for granted especially when it comes to the campaign. What we want to talk about is the work that has been done in the last four years. It speaks for itself. I know that my people have seen it, and that I’ve kept the campaign at all times. This campaign didn’t start two, three weeks, it has been over the past four years.”

 

Abner Bacab previously ran in the municipal elections and returned for the general elections to provide residents with an alternative to the mass parties.

 

Abner Bacab, B.J.M. Candidate, Belize Rural South

“A lot of people that I see, they don’t want to vote. They say, you know what, I’m tired. I don’t believe. And the UDP or PUP, they are corrupt. They haven’t done anything for our people. They forget you. After the voting, until five years it came, they come to see you, no? So, I try to understand their pain, their cry, their sorrow, their desperation in what they’re saying, you know, and they’re, they’re right because they feel hurt. They haven’t seen any, any progress. So I take my time to explain to them many things that none of the campaigners from both parties are doing.”

 

Over  32%  of votes cast went to the U.D.P.’s Manuel Heredia. At the start of the day, he was confident that he’d be taking home the win.

 

Manuel Heredia, U.D.P. Candidate, Belize Rural South

“The poor people are suffering, they’re suffering, and those ones that used to open their mouth big when we were in power, like they put a zipper in their mouth, no. Now they can destroy the permit, they can destroy the bonefish, everything, and nobody says anything now. So, thanks God, that the people have seen it. And then  by tonight, before 12, I can guarantee you that Mr. Heredia, let’s not put colors, Mr. Heredia will be victorious.”

 

Between Caye Caulker and San Pedro, six thousand, six hundred and ninety-one ballots were cast with 57.27% in favor of the P.U.P.

 

Andre Perez, Area Representative, Belize Rural South

“First of all, I want to thank everyone, the voters of Belize, but I also want to thank all those who have been working in the machinery all day. And not for many months now, right? The entire election machinery. I want to thank my family as well for the support that they give to me, right? But for the moment right now, it’s that I’m humbled.  The work has been done in the past four years. There’s much more work to do ahead in the next five years. The plan is set for Plan Belize 2.0. I’m committed. I’m inspired. I am motivated, and I also want to say I’m humbled for the people who believe in South Caye Caulker and San Pedro for giving me that opportunity to serve them a second time and be re elected. I’m truly grateful. Hasta la victoria.”

 

Britney Gordon for News Five.

 

The People’s United Party has scored a major victory in southern Belize. On Thursday, we reported that Doctor Osmond Martinez absolutely crushed it in Toledo East, winning by over four thousand votes. Meanwhile, in Toledo West, Oscar Requena also pulled off a huge win, racking up three thousand, eight hundred and nine votes compared to his opponent, Alfonso Sanchez Junior, who got one thousand, five hundred and twenty-three.

 

Oscar Requena, Area Representative, Toledo West

“ I want to say that I am indeed deeply humbled. In fact, feeling emotional at the level of support that I continue to receive from the beautiful people of Toledo West. The people have spoken.  It’s obvious that the people have given me another mandate. I must continue to work hard, to ensure that we deliver to the people of Toledo West. I am committed to continuing the work that we have started. I believe that in the last four and a half years in government, we have built a foundation and we need to now build on that foundation and to continue to strengthen that work that we have started. I want to thank each and every voter who voted for me today. Without you, i I could not do it. So I am humbled by that great love, by that great support that the people of Toledo West continue to give me. I also want to thank the voters who came out and did not vote for me. That is democracy. Belize has won today. Belize has won because, we’re a country of laws. We’re a country where we respect the will of the people. And the will of the people have spoken. And we want to acknowledge that. I want to thank them. And I want to say that we will continue to work together to build a stronger Toledo West, a stronger Toledo, along with my colleague, the Honorable Dr. Osmond Martinez. Together with our Prime Minister and all our colleagues who have been elected to government, we will continue to work hard. And to build a better Toledo and a better Belize for all.”

 

 

There are four constituencies in the Corozal District: Corozal Bay, North, Southeast, and Southwest. On Wednesday, ten candidates went head-to-head at the polls to see who would represent the people in these areas. After counting over twenty thousand ballots, the P.U.P. came out on top with three winners: Thea Garcia Ramirez in Corozal Bay, Florencio Marin in Corozal Northeast, and Ramiro Ramirez in Corozal Northwest. Amid this sea of blue, Hugo Patt stands as the lone red winner, holding onto his seat in Corozal North. News Five’s Britney Gordon has the details.

 

Selwyn Fuller, Returning Officer, Corozal Bay

“I hereby declare that the duly elected candidate for the Corozal Bay  is Garcia-Ramirez Thea.”

 

Britney Gordon, Reporting

The Corozal Bay constituency election results were highly anticipated by residents as three contenders battled at the polls. Vying for the post were Thea Garcia-Ramirez, UDP’s Hernan Riverol, and independent candidate Elvia Vega-Samos. Following the death of David Vega, his sister succeeded him after winning a by-election. Vega-Samos would later lose the post of PUP standard bearer to Garcia-Ramirez after a controversial standard bearer convention. Despite this, Vega-Samos was not deterred from the polls and ran as an independent candidate.

 

Elvia Vega-Samos, Independent Candidate, Corozal Bay

“If you passed by the seaside, you know, the lights are, there are no lights. And actually that was a project that I had to do, but funds were not released for that. But as an independent candidate, these funds have to be released. And there is so much that can be done.”

 

Vega-Samos received one thousand, one hundred and sixty votes, an impressive feat for an independent candidate. However, it was more than doubled by Thea Garcia-Ramirez, who accumulated three thousand, one hundred and twenty-two votes. UDP candidate, Hernan Riveral received three hundred and ninety-four votes.

 

Thea Garcia-Ramirez, Area Representative, Corozal Bay

“Thank you very

much, Corozal Bay. Thank you very much to my team. Thank you to every voter that came out, even if you didn’t vote for P.U.P. You came out. Thank you very much. We have democracy here. We respect the will of the people. And now it’s time to get to work.”

 

A similarly intense race went down in Corozal North with PUP candidate David Castillo garnering two thousand, three hundred and eighty-five votes. However, the constituency remains a UDP stronghold after Hugo Patt won with three thousand, four hundred and ninety-seven votes.

 

David Castillo, P.U.P. Candidate, Corozal North

“ I think it’s obvious, the feeling, the national feeling, the Peoples United Party will win strong once more,  throughout the country, but is important that Corozal North  elect a PUP era representative  to work with the central go a PUP central government for the benefit of the area. I think the villagers, the voters are testimony to the lack of,development in the area for the past years. But there is hope with David Castio and the People’s United Party.”

 

Corozal Southeast saw only two candidates on the ballot sheet; Florencio Marin, who accomplished a landslide victory with three thousand, six hundred eighty-three votes over UDP candidate Antonio Herrera’s one thousand, seven hundred and fifty-five votes. Over in Corozal Southwest, a closer match ensued between the candidates Ramiro Ramirez and Martin Rivera. After all, four thousand, four hundred and seventy-five votes, Ramirez emerged victorious with a six hundred eight-one vote lead.

 

Ramiro Ramirez, Area Representative, Corozal Southwest

“ I believe in God, and I know that will happen because of the good job that we’re doing. I think the people really want something else, and I can put it this way. There are many politicians that have already passed through Corozal Southwest. I strongly believe that they really appreciate and they will support me. I know have no fear.  I know we’re going to win.”

 

Britney Gordon for News Five.

In the wake of Belize’s 2025 general election, a fascinating demographic breakdown reveals the diverse voter base that shaped the outcome. From the bustling urban centers to the tranquil rural villages, each segment of the population played a pivotal role in determining the political landscape. This analysis delves into how age, gender, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status influenced voter turnout and preferences, offering a comprehensive look at the forces driving Belize’s democratic process.

 

The United Democratic Party took a beating at the polls on Wednesday. While they managed to hold onto five seats in the House of Representatives, they haven’t made much headway across the country. Despite this, the election marked a historic moment for Belize, as the first woman Leader of the Opposition will soon be appointed. Tracy Taegar-Panton held onto her seat in Albert, but her political rival Shyne Barrow suffered a shocking defeat in Mesopotamia. Unseating Shyne was a bittersweet victory for the Alliance for Democracy. The faction paid a heavy price, with Patrick Faber losing his seat in Collet and John Saldivar failing to reclaim his seat in Belmopan, making Panton’s win a costly one. Tonight, News Five’s Isani Cayetano delves into the battles in Albert and Mesop.

 

Isani Cayetano, Reporting

The United Democratic Party entered the 2025 elections in disarray. With constant infighting and a leadership dispute, voters in the Albert and Mesopotamia constituencies faced ballots with multiple UDP candidates for each division. In Albert, Area Representative Tracy Taegar Panton was challenged at the polls by fellow UDP member Jose Luis Uc Espat and People’s United Party candidate Kaya Cattouse.  Over in Mesop, incumbent Shyne Barrow faced off against Lee Mark Chang. Although both are from the UDP, they belong to different factions within the party.  PUP candidate Lawrence Ellis also contested that seat. These constituencies drew particular attention throughout the election due to the rift within the opposition party.

 

Tracy Taegar-Panton, Area Representative, Albert

“I have been here for the last four and a half years. I haven’t gone away, I didn’t go away, I didn’t come back, I didn’t leave.  I have been consistently working in the division every week for the last four and a half years.  They know, my voters know that I am accessible, they know that they can talk to me.  They have always, can come and talk to me, they can call me, they can email me.  So our conversation has been an ongoing conversation.  There’s nothing that they have to wait to tell me four and a half years later.”

 

Among the three candidates trying to unseat Taegar-Panton in Albert, Kaya Cattouse stood out as the most formidable. With her youthful energy and bold trash talk, the two-time city councilor brought a classic ‘hare and tortoise’ challenge to the race.  Meanwhile, Taegar-Panton’s party rival, Shyne Barrow, was just as confident about winning in his constituency.

 

Shyne Barrow, U.D.P. Candidate, Mesopotamia

“As far as here in Mesopotamia, I’m quite satisfied with the turnout thus far.  Everyone is coming in the office, checking in after they vote, and so we’re satisfied.  We’re at ten o’clock and I believe a significant amount of people have voted that have committed to us and so we look forward to getting our target number by the end of the day.”

 

You might wonder, why was this seat so crucial for Barrow? It all boils down to the leadership of the struggling party. Without winning a seat, Shyne can’t lead the UDP after the general election.

 

Isani Cayetano

“Do you believe, or do you feel, perhaps, that you’re probably in the fight of your political life here in Mesop, or perhaps as the leader of the United Democratic Party”

 

Shyne Barrow

“No, that’s the hype.  Dehn da lone hype.  Lee Mark [da] hype.  [Lawrence] Ellis [is] non-existent and at the end of the day, as I said earlier when speaking about my colleagues, we’re here to serve people.  I serve at the pleasure of the people, the people gave me one term and I’ve asked them to give me another and I am confident that they will.”

 

By nightfall, the tide had turned for Cattouse and Barrow, who seriously underestimated his opponent, taking jabs at Chang for his past defeats.

 

Shyne Barrow, UDP Candidate, Mesopotamia

“The people have spoken. Congratulations to Lee Mark Chang, he is now the new area representative for Mesopotamia and I wish him well.”

 

Lee Mark Chang, Winner, Mesopotamia

“I feel good, I feel humbled.  I just want to, again, thank the people of Mesopotamia for electing me and giving me the opportunity to serve with my sister right here, Tracy, cause I will work with her.”

 

Cattouse, on the other hand, ended up like the hare in Aesop’s classic fable, and those snarky comments from Independence a few weeks ago might have been her downfall.

 

Tracy Taegar-Panton

“I am so grateful. It’s awesome.  Change is a must and change is on its way and we will rebuild the United Democratic Party at full strength.”

 

Lee Mark Chang

“Thank you,sister. Thank you.”

 

Isani Cayetano for News Five.