2025-04-29 - Channel 5 Belize

Faber Arrested, Says It Is Politically Motivated

This morning, former Collet Area Representative Patrick Faber stood alongside Opposition Leader Tracy Taegar-Panton at a UDP press conference in Belize City. Just as he finished his presentation, a team of officers swooped in and arrested him. Faber is accused of assaulting a police officer and obstructing the officer from performing his duties in the early hours this morning. The incident began when Faber allegedly sped through a checkpoint at the foot of BelChina Bridge, prompting a police pursuit. Upon stopping him, officers discovered his vehicle was unlicensed. When asked for his driver’s license, Faber claimed it was at home. The officers followed him to his Belize City residence where he produced the license. While issuing a violation ticket for operating an unlicensed vehicle and having a defective light, Faber began recording the officer and placing his phone close to the officer’s face. The officer reported feeling threatened and uncomfortable. Despite repeated warnings that he was obstructing police duties, Faber’s behavior persisted. After being detained at the Biltmore, Faber was escorted to Queen Street Police Station for questioning, and later to Belize City Magistrates Court for arraignment. This afternoon, he pleaded not guilty to both charges. Speaking outside the court, he claimed the charges are politically motivated.

Patrick Faber, U.D.P. Senator Designate

“I just think it is politically motivated, much of it. I did not do anything that would constitute any kind of aggravated assault. Nor did I try to stop the police or obstruct the police from doing his job. The police who gave me, they gave me two tickets by the way, one for my tail lights, that is the real reason why they claim they stopped me and they don’t show you all the video. I have not seen what they showed you, but from what people are telling me, they diced and spliced what they want, which is a matter itself. If the police recorded me, how can the video, because I did not share my version of the video as yet, but how can the police video be floating all around. What is their motivate? Clearly it is try to bring embarrassment and shame. I am saying for the record that I am not guilty of those charges and we will wait for the court, for us to have our day and for that to be determined?”

Reporter

“Do you believe this is casting a black eye on a party that is rebuilding, especially since today was your first press conference?”

Patrick Faber

“I think that is the intent. But we have long resisted this kind of thing. This week makes twenty years since I was last charged with aggravated assault against a police officer. Your member. So this is no the first time I have endured such a charge or targeted because of politics in this manner. I am not saying the police did not have a right to stop me and all of that. But I complied with all they asked me to do. I was just trying to make sure I had a version of what happened, for the very same reason. I know very well how they are able to use these things in a politically slanted way.”

Reporter

“Had you been driving under the influence?”

Patrick Faber

“Absolutely not, if the police felt that way, they stopped me in front of Blue Marlin where I came out and they asked me for my license, I told them I did not have my license on me and they insisted that the regulations that says, or what I thought to be the case, that you have twenty-four hours to produce your license, the officer said absolutely not. I told them that I was not too far away from where I need to be to get the license and he followed me there. If he allowed me to do that, as you heard my attorney say. In fact, those who know my I have completely stopped drinking and I only took a drink for my birthday and that was it.”

Is Patrick Faber’s Senate Appointment on the Line?

Notably, Faber has yet to be sworn in as the lead senator for the opposition. So, will his party leader have second thoughts about appointing him to the role after today’s events? That’s the question he’s facing, given public perception surrounding these charges. Here’s how he responded.

Patrick Faber, UDP Senator Designate

“That is ridiculous in my view for you to make the stretch all the way there. Have you heard that I am not guilty of the charges that they have put against me. It is important for us to put in the public that this is a witch hunt, political witch hunt, which wants to obtain the same thing you are asking me about, they want to say Patrick Faber won’t be a Senator, because they want to be eased in the Senate. They would not want me to be there. That is a perception we have to fight against.”

Orson “OJ” Elrington, Attorney-at-law

“You guys have dealt with the honorable Faber for decades and what he has not done is shy away from the media, because the media is third estate and as is allowed shape public perception. So, even though his advisors would say to just go and leave, he said no. I am telling you, he said no we will go out and talk to the media and answer their questions. We have nothing to hide and not only are we in a position or right. We are also the victims in this situation and therefore it is imperative we allow the media to carry that story as well. He has his video as well, which he will have to get the opportunity and he will make that determination on whether he wants to share. Though I think the video is clear, people will still create whatever perception they want, if they hate you, they will hate you, but the truth has to be out there.”

Faber’s Attorney Says He Had a Right to Record Police Officers

Patrick Faber was represented in court today by attorney Orson “OJ” Elrington. Elrington explained that his client tried to file a counter report to share his side of the story but was denied the opportunity. He noted that Faber is prepared to file a counterclaim against the officer involved in the incident. Regarding the actions described as obstruction, Elrington says that Faber was within his rights to record the encounter on his phone. He also questions the basis of the assault charge, expressing confidence that the case will not hold up in court.

Orson “OJ” Elrington, Attorney-at-law

“It is not the first nor the last time that the police officers will assault citizens who are doing nothing more than recording them, which they have a right to do. The case of Shamar Foster prove that police officers can assault you if they slap the phone out of your hand, which is the exact circumstances we are looking at right now. This is the exact pattern, except Shamar Foster is a young man.”

Hipolito Novelo

“Based on the officers interpretation of Faber’s action, he is accusing Faber of obstruction?”

Orson Elrington

“That is what I am saying. I don’t know what is the basis on which they will find that obstruction charge, because you have to be doing something for a person to obstruct. Recording under no law, recording and this is critically important for us to put on record, recording, because this is what the police consistently, over and over do, they violate the rights of citizens by being abusive. This is an assault. You have no authority to slap the phone out of somebody’s hands. If you are doing your duty, slap that phone out of your hand, I would be committing an assault. So what prevents a private citizen from recording what a police officer is doing in the middle of the night, what prevents them from being subject to assault charges?”

Reporter

“Have you guys tried to file a counter complaint?”

Orson Elrington

“We tried to which the police completely ignored and denied. We have it on record saying we want to make a complaint. That is why we were so late here. The police did not even do an investigation. Mr. Faber arrived at the police station to a charge sheet, without getting his side of the story.”

Barrow’s Leadership Bid Rejected; Panton Unveils New Vision as UDP Turmoil Continues

Despite the events following the 2025 general elections, turmoil continues to brew within the United Democratic Party (U.D.P). Former Area Representative “Shyne” Barrow stepped down as party leader after losing to Lee Mark Chang in Mesopotamia. However, just last week, Barrow claimed that he still has strong support, and his followers are calling for his return. He insists that until the court decides, he and the executive elected at the last convention will remain in place. In response, Opposition Leader Tracy Taegar-Panton has firmly rejected Barrow’s bid for leadership. At the U.D.P. press conference held earlier today, Panton laid out her new vision and path forward for the party, emphasizing a fresh direction and unity.

Tracy Taegar-Panton, Leader of the Opposition

“ The party is moving forward. The party, as I’ve said before, will have a National Party. Council will determine a date for a national convention to be held and will hold a legal convention that will set in motion a new mandate for its leadership team. We will not wait for decision to be made by Justice Hondora. For this reason only, whatever decision is taken by Justice Hondora, the leadership team still needs to be formally installed and still needs a fresh mandate. And so, we hope in the interest of leaving the media circus behind that we will be able to receive a judgment from Justice Hondora, which we have every intention to respect, but the party if you were in court, I know Channel Seven was in court that day, you would’ve heard the judge yourselves, that made a very strong recommendation that the party needs to sit down and sort itself out.”

Panton Alleges Election Fraud Ran Rampant at the General Elections

After a significant defeat in the 2025 General Election, Opposition Leader Tracy Taegar-Panton is promising a new path forward for the United Democratic Party. At today’s press conference, Panton outlined the party’s plan to step into leadership in 2025. However, she claims the loss wasn’t entirely fair, alleging several instances of election fraud on March twelfth. While the party isn’t requesting an election petition, these claims have been filed with the necessary authorities. Panton is determined to lead the U.D.P. with a fresh vision and renewed energy.

Tracy Taegar-Panton, Leader of the Opposition

“There was no accountability even by our judicial. System and no respect for the judiciary under this administration. And of course, we can’t forget the abuse of the election processes and mechanisms. So I will tell you my experience in Albert. Where almost all voters who showed up to the poll in blue shirts were disabled and needed assistance to mark their ex on the ballot. Able able-bodied men and women who I have interacted with on the campaign trail all of a sudden. Was not able to read, was not able to see, was not able to write for the promise of somewhere between 250 to $500. I witness that with my own two eyes. And had I not been stationary, literally at the pause on election day, no one could have guessed what my faith could have been. We cannot and we will not move forward as a nation without addressing the blatant election fraud that marred the March twelfth elections. While it can be said that over the years both political parties have made mistakes in raising the voters expectations during the election season, what we witness from the ruling People’s United party in these last elections, my friends, crossed every line, every line of decency, integrity, and respect for our electorate. Of course, there was expansion of fraud during the transfer period. We all know the case of Cayo North that has been fully documented and presented not only to the magistrate court, to the lower court, but to the high court. Let me tell you how blatant it got. Even a single bedroom starter home was used repeatedly to facilitate voucher padding. With the registration of dozens, and when I tell you dozens of voters at that address within three days, given that address verification is a requirement under the representation of a people’s act, this raises serious legal and procedural red flags. And then of course there was tampering with the voters list. Even though, as I said before, the matter of fraud, fraudulent voters was taken to the court. Many of these illegal registrations made it onto the voters list.”

Opposition Leader Criticizes Government’s Budget Delay Amid Rising Living Costs

It’s been eight weeks since the 2025 General Election, and the government still hasn’t debated Belize’s national budget. Earlier this month, the Briceño Administration faced heavy criticism for approving salary increases for CEOs and the Cabinet Secretary, especially with no budget presentation in sight. Today, at the U.D.P. press conference, Tracy Taegar-Panton slammed the government for the delay, highlighting how the cost of living continues to rise while the budget remains unaddressed.

Tracy Taegar-Panton, Leader of the Opposition

“ What is also very telling and troubling and speaks to the blatant disregard this administration has for Belizean people is that we still have no idea what the budget estimates. For the financial year are and what will be the government’s priorities. This from a government who won, knew when the elections would be called, and two who started the budget exercise in October of last year. Yet while the budget remains missing. They somehow found it quite urgent to quietly push through massive salary increases for the cabinet’s secretary and for CEOs. This at the time when food prices are rising, when fuel prices are climbing, when we are on the brink. Of an energy crisis and when our Belizean families are struggling to survive, not withstanding the cries of the teachers for salary adjustments and long overdue increments, notwithstanding the please of our public health, public health professionals. For pension considerations after years of service, not withstanding demands of our law enforcement officers for better working conditions, not standing the cries of our stevedores, who are now considered essential workers, not withstandin they express concerns of public servants for more accountability, more transparency, and more consultation in our decision-making process.”

U.D.P. Says Government Knew MCC Grant Loss was Coming

The Government of Belize is about to lose access to a hundred and twenty-five million dollars in a development grant from the United States. This loss comes after the Department of Government Efficiency decided to shut down the foreign aid agency, Millennium Challenge Corporation. With the closure of this five-year grant agreement, the government must now scramble to find alternative funding for the planned transformative educational and energy projects. U.D.P. Senator designate Patrick Faber, didn’t hold back in criticizing the government for not securing alternative funds sooner. He emphasized the urgency of finding new sources to keep these vital projects on track.

Patrick Faber, U.D.P. Senator Designate

“And one other issue that I will add to that list of things that they have been silent on is the MCC project withdrawal of funding by the US government. The government has demonstrated, in fact, that it is ill-prepared, or they have no plan. We are waiting patiently, of course, for the budget, which is all the more reason why I join with my party leader in sending the signal that it is intolerable, that the budget has not been read, because that would be a good space for the government to tell us what exactly they plan to do. When the Trump administration, the United States government, and it’s not just today, it happened. We got the warning. In fact, if you follow the US politics, you knew that this would’ve happened a long time ago. The minute Mr. Trump won the election, you knew that it was coming. So we need to be told as a nation, what is it that the government intends to do? You’ve heard about the trade wars, but you’ve heard about now, you’re hearing now about the withdrawal of these funds. This is serious money. This is a quarter of a billion dollars with a B that the MCC project would have brought for education, for energy, for agriculture. These things are important pillars of our economy. Yet we have not heard anything official from the government as to, in fact, we haven’t heard from them that it’s happening officially at all.”

U.D.P. Calls for G.O.B. to Address High Cost of Living

As the Trump Administration in the United States continues to shake up the global economy with increased tariffs, vulnerable nations that rely heavily on imports are feeling the heat. These tariffs threaten to spark an international trade war, which could have a ripple effect on investments, exports, and the overall cost of doing business. At today’s U.D.P. conference, Mesopotamia Area Representative Lee Mark Chang highlighted the looming challenges these tariffs pose to Belize. He emphasized the urgent need for the country to brace itself for the potential economic impact and find ways to mitigate these pressures.

Lee Mark Chang, Area Representative, Mesopotamia

“Despite these looming realities, our government remains silent. Silent on inflation, silent on the cost of doing business. Silent under the rising pressure that families and businesses are about to face. This is not leadership. This is reckless, and it’s the belief in people who will pay the price. The United Democratic Party is now sounding the alarm before the damage is done. We are calling on the government to act urgently and responsibly. There, there are solutions there are way forward. The UDP proposes the following immediate steps, diversify our trade partners. We must open new doors in the Caribbean, Latin America, and Europe. So we are not dependent on just a few countries. Support small businesses and medium businesses. Strengthen our local industries. Make capital easier to access for entrepreneurs the true drivers of our Blue economy. Boost agriculture, tourism, and manufacturing. The more we produce and sell ourselves, the stronger our independent we become. Simplify doing business, slash unnecessary custom delay, lower the cost of moving goods across the borders. And create real incentives for export. Police cannot afford to stand still while the world shifts around us. We must be proactive, not reactive. We must lead with vision, not panic. We must protect our people, all workers, all business, and our families from the storm that is coming.”

U.D.P. Faces Resource Challenges for Village Council Elections Amid Budget Delay

With no budget presented or debated at the National Assembly, the U.D.P. has yet to receive all the resources needed for the village council elections. Over the weekend, Tracy Taegar-Panton visited Toledo to start preparations for the elections. At today’s U.D.P. conference, she addressed whether she is financially ready to present a slate at the village council elections. Here’s what she had to say.

Tracy Taegar-Panton, Leader of the Opposition

“We are extremely busy with the work of rebuilding the party. And we have made a commitment that we’re going to rebuild this party from the ground up. We have scheduled destination visits to all thirty-one constituencies. So that we can meet with our executive committees, we can meet with our constituency committees, so we can look critically of what needs to be done in each constituency to restart or to start the building rebuilding process. So it differs in constituencies. For example, there are two constituencies, in the south that don’t currently have caretakers, those persons did not show up on nomination day. So the first order of business for Toledo East and for Dangriga is for us to find appropriate caretakers to help us deal with the issue of village councils elections for example. We are going to contest the village council elections and we will, as we did for the general elections, lean on our friends to support the effort to ensure that we maintain a healthy, a robust, and a functioning democracy.”

U.D.P. Commits to Protecting Cayo Rosario Island

Earlier this month, the Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Housing issued a stop order to halt construction on Cayo Rosario near Ambergris Caye. This action came after San Pedro residents raised concerns about the potential harm to marine life and the integrity of the seabed. The stop order will remain in effect until all necessary permits are obtained from the Central Building Authority and other relevant agencies. U.D.P. Senator Designate Gabriel Zetina, who is a resident of San Pedro, expressed his commitment to protecting the area. He criticized the government for allowing such developments to continue in Belize without proper oversight. Zetina emphasized the importance of safeguarding the environment and ensuring that all construction projects comply with regulations.

Gabriel Zetina, U.D.P. Senator Designate

“The government believes that destroying these flats will go unnoticed or unchallenge, they’re mistaken. The people of San Pedro, the people of Ambergis Caye and I invite all Belizeans everywhere. We will push back. Against the government if they allow this to happen because we’re seeing a government, this government that listens to developers or should I say, they listen to a public of one and not to its people, the people that elected them. We see a government that says one thing to the public, but does another behind closed doors. We see a government that is willing to risk our future for short-term gains, and we see a government that stays silent. They have no, they have given us no accountability, no answers whatsoever, and this is simply unacceptable. We demand transparency. We demand a government that will release all the documents, all the contracts, and all the environmental assessments related to this project. They asked me to write a proposal. I’m not gonna be kind to this government.”