By Belize Live News Staff: Tracy Panton and her Alliance for Democracy have taken full control of the United Democratic Party (UDP) headquarters, including key areas like the secretariat, conference hall, and leadership offices upstairs. The takeover by the Alliance is considered ‘illegal’ by the UDP executive led by Michael Peyrefitte and Party Leader Shyne Barrow.
Supporters of Panton’s faction reportedly sawed off the locks on the building’s main gate to reach the stairwell leading to the upper offices. Although police were initially on the scene and blocked their entry, they eventually left, and Panton’s team seized the opportunity. They quickly moved upstairs, secured the doors, and changed the locks.
Panton’s faction wasted no time asserting their new control, whether legal or not. “Having acted on the authority of the Trustee, we are now exercising full management and control of the entire UDP headquarters,” their statement reads. They also announced a takeover of the UDP’s media arms, including the Guardian newspaper and Wave Radio, signaling a sweeping change in the party’s operations.
With both sides now firmly entrenched, UDP supporters and the public are left watching as the party navigates an internal conflict unlike any seen in recent years. As the dust settles, it remains to be seen how this standoff will shape the future of the UDP and its leadership.
