Donald J. Trump has won the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election, securing a second non-consecutive term in the White House. Trump, running as the Republican nominee, defeated the Democratic nominee, Kamala Harris, in a closely contested race that has captivated the nation and the world. Trump is projected to have secured at least the 270 Electoral College votes he needs to return to the White House for a second time after his 2017-2021 term, The Associated Press says.
Trump’s win came after a nail-biting election night, with key battleground states like Pennsylvania, Michigan, Georgia, and Arizona playing decisive roles. As the final votes were tallied, Trump surpassed the necessary 270 electoral votes, claiming victory despite strong challenges from the Harris campaign and a highly polarised political landscape
She was the U.D.P.’s mayoral candidate for the March sixth municipal elections, with Moses ‘Shyne’ Barrow as the undisputed leader at the time. But what a difference eight months can make! Now, there’s confusion over who the real U.D.P. leader is—Barrow or Albert Area Representative Tracy Taegar-Panton. The big question is, who will be the standard bearers in the next general elections? Each leader wants their own executive and their own set of candidates to go up against the P.U.P.’s thirty-one. It’s been a week since Panton took over the party’s headquarters, along with the radio station and newspaper at the Youth for the Future Drive location. Today, News Five’s Marion Ali sat down with Doctor Nelma Mortis, the U.D.P.’s former mayoral candidate, who candidly shared that she has suspended her campaign as the Caribbean Shores Standard Bearer under the ‘Shyne’ Barrow banner until a court decides who the true U.D.P. leader is.
Marion Ali, Reporting
Many of you will recall Dr. Nelma Mortis, the UDP mayoral candidate from the March elections. She was appointed as the party’s standard bearer for Caribbean Shores in August, under the leadership of Moses ‘Shyne’ Barrow. However, a lot has changed since then. Now, Mortis has announced that she is suspending her campaign until there is a clear decision on who is the true UDP leader.
Nelma Mortis
Dr. Nelma Mortis, U.D.P. Standard Bearer, Caribbean Shores
“People are asking what is happening. People that you don’t even know that they know you. What is happening with the party? Where are we going? I mean, it has affected all of us. I got endorsed the same day, boots Martinez got endorsed.”
Marion Ali
“So you’re still campaigning?”
Dr. Nelma Mortis
“I suspended until the clouds are clear.”
Mortis has two relatives, including a nephew, Ian Jones, who were at one point close to Collet Area Representative, Patrick Faber. They supported Barrow when he became leader and continue to support him. While the chaos has been embarrassing to the U.D.P., Mortis believes that it is something good for the party and all the disputing factions need to do is to take transformative actions to realign with the party’s ideologies.
Dr. Nelma Mortis
“That internal force that is causing all this chaos and confusion is not something bad at all. If the force would have occurred from outside, then we know it would have been an end of the United Democratic Party. But when change occur, and we are in a modern democracy, so change comes upon us. And when we do not accept it, things like this happen. So that internal force that is occurring within the UDP, should make us evolve. And that would be the beginning of reform or growth. Whoever takes the lead.”
Mortis says she will be guided by the court’s decision on who is leader. Until then, she agrees with Jamaican attorney, Dr. Christopher Malcolm on who is the present leader.
Dr. Nelma Mortis
“Professor Malcolm just solidified my position that I have been observing for very long in terms of saying by the constitution, by the law, that “Shyne” Barrow is the leader of the United Democratic Party.”
Marion Ali
“So what’s your take on the convention that was held?”
Dr. Nelma Mortis
“I did not know that section of the constitution that says that a convention should be held every odd year. And so the odd year was last 2023, this is 24. So the next convention should have been 2025. According to the U.D.P Constitution.”
Marion Ali
“But it also states that a special convention can be called if delegates.”
Dr. Nelma Mortis
“It says the special convention can be called in the case of an emergency. What is an emergency? Now, I will openly confess just like Professor Malcolm, that the constitution has room for interpretation and that is what is happening. They interpret it accordingly. And that is the first reform that should occur once the U.D.P. gets back its stability.”
The big day is here! Americans are heading to the polls to choose their next leader. This election isn’t just about the U.S.—its outcome will ripple across smaller developing countries and those with diplomatic ties. To see how Belizeans think the results will affect Belize, News Five’s Britney Gordon hit the streets of Belize City. Here’s what she found out.
Britney Gordon, Reporting
For many Belizeans, today might feel like just another Tuesday in November. But for Americans everywhere, it’s a pivotal day that will shape their country’s future for the next four years and beyond. It’s the final chance for Americans to vote and decide who will be the next president of the United States. This year’s contenders are Kamala Harris from the Democratic Party and Donald Trump from the Republican Party. Earlier today, we chatted with some Belizeans to see if they’re following the election. Some were very keen on the outcome, while others weren’t as concerned.
Tony Anthony
Tony Anthony, Belizean
“Yes, I’m keeping up with it and what really happened, I ride from Lemonal village, where I live, with my son-in-law. And all that we was talking about is the US election. But he say, man, if you tell me that Trump is in the lead, you go piss me off. I go crash this vehicle. I don’t want Trump in the lead. He want Kamala Harris win.”
Britney Gordon
“So what do you think is the best way to stay informed right now?”
Tony Anthony
“The best way to stay informed, if you have a phone, you click onto YouTube and hit the news about election.”
MIK
MIK, Belizean
“We right here, we keeping up to the elections.”
Britney Gordon
“How are you staying informed?”
MIK
“Well, I’m on the news logging in every day. I’m watching all the election go pass and everything that’s moving. So you know that right now we just want somebody strong coming to power. And get back we Belizeans ney home. Ney one weh need fi come home.”
Leah Myers
Leah Myers, Belizean
“To be completely honest, I’m not. That’s not really much of my business, but I do have family across there. I’m not sure if they’re keeping up to date with it either because we haven’t discussed or spoke about it. But I’ve seen, a couple of videos and people voting and I’ve seen that people are voting for the female to come in. But I’m not sure, I’m not really looking into it like that.”
While the political climate in the U.S. might not be a top concern for some Belizeans, it’s a different story for the estimated one hundred thousand Belizeans living there. Many are anxious about the wellbeing of their family and friends who now call America home.
Tony Anthony
“I’m concerned about it because some people say that Trump is a nonsense man and Kamala Harris has got a little black blood, Haitian blood, going up against a white man. The last time Trump been in, he mi di deal with a lot of immigrants. And you can’t stop immigrants. People got to live. You know a lot of Belizeans weh deh ova soh and a lot of other countries we deh dah America. They take America as their savior country, U.S. dollars, yeah.”
Britney Gordon
“So do you have family in the states that you’re worried about?”
Tony Anthony
“I got a lot of family. A lot of family I got. Sisters, nephews, aunts.”
Mark Peyrefitte
Mark Peyrefitte, Belizean
“The candidates, when they speak, certain things come out of their mouths. The first thing they will do when they come to office, Trump say what, what he will be the biggest. deportation of migrants and Belizean people, so Belizean people or whoever over America, they need to take this serious. Because if they choose that guy again, they’re going backwards. And to make it better, worse for them, they’re going home.”
The election also sets the stage for diplomatic relations between Belize and the United States. During Trump’s presidency, he didn’t appoint a U.S. ambassador to Belize. It wasn’t until the Biden administration that Michelle Kwan took on the role as the current ambassador to Belize. Belize and the U.S. collaborations have also increased through the Central America Regional Security Initiative Economic Support Fund (CARSI-ESF). CARSI annually supports civil society and good governance initiatives in Belize with funding from the United States government.
Gary Matus
Gary Matus, Belizean
“The election is be the same thing. I all want the world. Everybody have to suffer. If Trump come inna power, everybody have to cry. You know, they are legalize everybody, deport everybody back da ney country. Everybody have to work for for surviving. Can’t survive. We can’t even eat. I have to pray for God and everything to give the strength of Jesus Christ and everybody have to start to believe in Jesus.”
Police were at the home of independent legislator Asot Michael, who wastragically found dead this morning in a pool of blood at his Saint John’s, Antigua residence. Authorities have yet to release a statement about the discovery of the Member of Parliament for Saint Peter, but his death has sent shockwaves throughout the nation. Crowds gathered outside his Dry Hill home on the outskirts of the capital. Born on December twenty-first, 1969, in Guadeloupe, Michael had previously served as a minister under Prime Minister Gaston Browne. He ran as an independent candidate in the January 2023 general election after parting ways with the ruling Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party. Here’s a report from our colleagues at ABS News.
News Five is following a disturbing incident that happened late this afternoon at the Phillip Goldson International Airport. Two young men, both working for Aero Dispatch Service, got into a heated argument that quickly turned physical. Things took a violent turn when a knife was pulled, and one of the men was stabbed in the eye. He was bleeding heavily and was rushed to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital for urgent treatment. The police have yet to release an official report on the incident. We’ll keep you updated as more details emerge.
Tonight, Vincent Scott, the Chairman of Santa Cruz Village, is in hot water with the law. His ex-common-law wife, Dalia Cabral, claims that he pulled a gun on her Monday night inside her home. She says they had an argument earlier in the day about a man who was at her house when Scott visited. Later that evening, Scott allegedly came back, pointed a gun at her, and tried to shoot, but the firearm jammed. News Five briefly spoke with Scott over the phone this morning after talking to Cabral. He told us he was heading to the police station. We tried to reach him again this afternoon but couldn’t get a hold of him. Here’s what Cabral shared with us over the phone.
On the Phone: Dalia Cabral, Santa Cruz Resident
“To be honest, I had a friend of mine fixing a radio and I thought it was not a problem, because I am not going to bring anyone in this house. I respect this house, because it is my kid’s house. He came and saw the guy inside. Mr. Scott looked for a machete and said, “I hear somebody the inside. I said, nobody the yah. The person jumps out the window and Mr. Scott goes downstairs like he then gets a gun and started chase ah round the village. I told him that is unnecessary, you moved on. Maybe dah mih the wrong fih take somebody at the house, but we weren’t doing anything. And I still could do anything because you gave the house to me and the kids. I didn’t see any problem with it. I didn’t see any problem with it. I went to do a report in Santa Cruz the same day and police say they have the guy to was breaking the house, because Mr. Scott said it is burglarized. How can it be burglarized when I let him inside. Mr. Scott comes after eight with the gun. The door was locked. He had a broken window. He entered with the gun, and it jammed. I had a break to run and jump off the verandah. Right now, my ankle is sprained. I don’t have anything to eat and nothing. I told him go hide, because if Scott would have found him there it would have been a big trouble. I was avoiding it. Everybody thinks it is my fault. I almost caused this guy’s death, but I was not doing anything with the guy.”
Paul Lopez
“Have you filed a police report against him?”
On the Phone: Dalia Cabral,
“Yes I did, but it was transferred to Mango Creek. I was suppose to reach there for eight, but I am unable to reach.”
Back in September, Inspector of Police Christopher Martinez was handed a five-month prison sentence after admitting to wounding detainee Aaron Flowers. Fast forward to now, he’s already served one month, three weeks, and three days. Tonight, his bid to pause his sentence was shot down by the Magistrate’s Court. If it had been approved, he would have been out and about while waiting for his appeal date. Instead, he’s stuck behind bars. His lawyer, Hubert Errington, argues that by the time the appeal is heard, Martinez will have already served his full sentence. So, they’re gearing up to take this fight to the High Court.
Hubert Errington, Attorney-At-Law
“Christopgher Martinez applied to the Chief Magistrate to grant a stay of the sentence, because if he was to remain in prison until the appeal he filed against the sentence to be heard, the time would long expire before his appeal is heard and this would mean that his constitutional right for a fair trial within a reasonable time, as is guaranteed to every Belizean, would be seriously violated. Apparently, the Magistrate believes that there is still time within the Court of Appeal might hear the appeal right away. Therefore, there is still time that his constitutional and legal right is preserved. Mr. Martinez is therefore left with no option but to go right away to the High Court to ask for a stay or that his appeal be heard immediately.”
The High Court has called for a detailed psychiatric evaluation of Elvira Mulholland, the woman who shot her husband on the Coastal Plain Highway. On Saturday, October twenty-sixth, Elvira and her husband, Jeffrey Mulholland, got into a heated argument. Jefrey left the house in his car, but Elvira allegedly chased him down in her own vehicle and shot him in the head. She then reportedly robbed him of an iPhone 16 worth four thousand and nine thousand dollars in cash. Miraculously, Jeffrey lived to tell the tale. Elvira was arraigned on Monday, October twenty eighth, and tonight, she remains behind bars because her bail application wasn’t heard. The judge, after reviewing the case details, ordered a thorough psychiatric evaluation to determine if she’s fit to be in society. As a result, the bail hearing has been postponed to November twenty-fifth. We’ll keep you updated as this story unfolds.
Today, the People’s Constitution Commission (P.C.C.) gathered for the second day of their plenary session to dive into the first draft of their recommendations. They’re going through the draft line by line, making sure every recommendation is thoroughly reviewed by the commission. To put this draft together, the P.C.C. split into six thematic committees, covering areas like finance and governance, and used the collected data to shape their recommendations. Now, all these recommendations are compiled into one document that needs a thorough analysis and discussion by all stakeholders. As we’ve mentioned before, the P.C.C. has fallen behind their original timeline and is now asking for an extension to finalize the draft. We had a quick chat with Anthony Chanona, the Chair of the P.C.C., about this extension request.
Anthony Chanona
Anthony Chanona, Chair, People’s Constitution Commission
“The timeline, or the application for an extension to the timeline, by statute the commission ceases on the sixteenth of November. And there can be no further extension. unless there is a legislative amendment to the act that takes an act of parliament. So I’m in conversation with the attorney general to look at what happens next given the timeline. But this document because it’s such a tedious exercise, we’re dealing with the soul of our nation. A constitutional exercise should not be horrid and it should have full scrutiny and transparency as to its contents by the PCC plenary. The plenary is the voice of the PCC and so we cannot advance a document into any other space than the plenary for them to validate the contents and then it moves on. So the timeline now is at least we should allow all of them to take back this draft for at least three weeks. to give them sufficient time to share it with their stakeholders. But when we look at the timeline between now and the 16th, we can’t fit three weeks into that. And so we feel that to do a proper process of consultation with the stakeholders, there should be additional time to allow the document to face scrutiny, consultation to continue and to validate ownership. And that is why we’re asking for the extension of time.”
The deadline for the People’s Constitution Commission (P.C.C.) to submit their final draft of recommendations is looming. However, Anthony Chanona, the Chair of the P.C.C., says they need more time to wrap up all the necessary work and are seeking an extension. Earlier today, a draft of the P.C.C.’s recommendations started making the rounds, but Chanona is not happy about it. He claims this draft doesn’t accurately reflect the commission’s final product. Some commission members, like Caleb Orosco, have voiced their disappointment, with Orosco posting on social media that several key recommendations were left out. Chanona assures that today’s discussions will address any oversights, emphasizing that the recommendations are based on data collected from the public. He also mentioned that the commission is pushing for more public consultations after the report is submitted to ensure everyone’s voice is heard. Stay tuned for more updates as this story develops!
Anthony Chanona, Chair, People’s Constitution Commission
“In the Trinidad and Tobago experience, they just went through this process. One of the expectations and we would hold the same expectation is that first of all just for clarification we do not present this document to the public. The law is very clear. We present an only to the prime minister of Belize. He gets a document. But one of the expectations that we are proposing in the draft of the final report is to encourage the government of Belize to set up a secondary tier, a secondary process to take the document into the public space by a separate process and procedure to allow the people of Belize to see the contents of the report it to debate it. Perhaps this can be led by the University of Belize, the Belize Chamber of Commerce, or whatever other civil society group, so that when the people of Belize go to a referendum, they can make an informed decision. And that’s why this process takes time. But that is not for us to do. Our remit is talk to the people, take a record of their views, put it into a report and give it to the prime minister. That’s easier said than done. We’re now two years at it And we think we need another two months to finish.”
