By Belize Live News Staff: In the latest development of the internal United Democratic Party (UDP) dispute, Commissioner of Police Chester Williams emphasized that the police have no legal authority to intervene without a court order. With two factions — one supporting Shyne Barrow and the other backing Tracy Panton — vying for control of the UDP headquarters, the Commissioner clarified the police’s role and legal limitations.
Commissioner Williams explained that if the Panton faction believes they are entitled to the building, they should have formally requested the current occupants to vacate and, if necessary, pursued an eviction order through the courts. “If they do not quit after being issued a notice to leave, that’s a legal term,” he stated, underscoring that without such a court-ordered eviction, the police cannot legally remove anyone from the premises.
He further advised Shyne Barrow to seek the court’s intervention to resolve the matter if his faction wishes to remain in the building. “In the absence of that, the police do not have the legal authority,” Williams noted, highlighting the difficult position law enforcement faces when drawn into political power struggles without judicial backing.
While police can request individuals to leave, they have no mandate to forcibly remove them in this case, Williams clarified. He stressed that the department seeks to avoid any form of confrontation that could escalate tensions.
