Shyne Threatens FB Blog Hot Off The Press with Legal Action

Moses “Shyne” Barrow, former Leader of the Opposition has taken legal steps against Hot Off The Press – Belize, a Facebok blog, for defamation. The law firm Pitts Pitts & Associates, representing Barrow, issued a cease and desist letter on March 27, 2025, demanding the immediate removal of a defamatory article published on March 26, 2025, on Hot Off The Press’s Facebook and Instagram pages.

According to the letter, the article, titled “Shyne’s Diplomatic Days Numbered,” falsely alleged that Barrow refused to return his diplomatic passport, suggesting dishonesty and non-compliance with government directives. The letter says these claims are entirely baseless. It added that Barrow had voluntarily returned the passport to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs prior to the publication of the article.

The law firm has demanded the removal of the defamatory statements, a public apology, and compensation for damages to Barrow’s reputation. They have requested an undertaking from Hot Off The Press to refrain from publishing further defamatory content. The letter warns that failure to comply within 14 days will result in legal proceedings in the High Court of Belize.