By Belize Live News Staff: The political career of Moses “Shyne” Barrow took a dramatic hit on election night as he was unseated in the Mesopotamia division by his own United Democratic Party (UDP) rival, Lee Mark Chang. The bitter defeat saw Chang secure 601 votes, while Barrow only managed 318, marking a rejection of his leadership in the constituency.
Meanwhile, People’s United Party (PUP) candidate Lawrence Ellis finished with 503 votes, demonstrating that Mesopotamia was no longer an easy win for the UDP. The total voter turnout stood at 1,422 out of 2,253 registered voters, signaling that discontent and division within the party may have influenced the results.
Barrow, who has led the UDP since 2022, conceded defeat shortly after 9 p.m., acknowledging that the people had spoken. “Congratulations to Lee Mark Chang—he’s now the new area representative of Mesopotamia, and I wish him well,” Barrow stated. He also admitted that his confidence did not match the reality of voter sentiment, saying, “I was confident… but they made a decision to go in another direction, and I respect that.”
Chang’s victory carries historic significance, as he now becomes the first Belizean-Chinese representative in the House of Representatives. However, his win also highlights the fractures within the UDP, as Chang had been a staunch opponent of Barrow’s leadership, aligning himself with Tracy Panton’s faction of the party.
The UDP’s internal battles appear to have played a major role in this defeat. The fallout from the October 2024 “unity convention”—which saw both Barrow and Panton claim to be the rightful UDP leader—led to legal disputes, party divisions, and voter disillusionment.
Barrow’s loss raises serious questions about the future of his political career and the UDP as a whole. He has already stated that he will resign as UDP leader once a national convention is held to elect his replacement. “Obviously, you can’t be the leader of the United Democratic Party once you’re not a member of the House,” he admitted.
With Barrow gone and the UDP deeply divided, the party now faces an uncertain future as it struggles to rebuild ahead of the next election cycle.
