By Belize Live News Staff: In a rare and emotional reflection, former Prime Minister Dean Barrow has broken his silence on the current state of the United Democratic Party (UDP), calling its decline “almost more than a man’s soul can bear.”
Barrow, who led the UDP for over two decades and steered the party through three general election victories, says he has tried repeatedly to intervene in the party’s ongoing crisis. But despite his efforts, he believes the party is stuck in paralysis.
“I’ve tried. I’ve spoken with key figures. I’ve done what I could,” Barrow told reporters. “But it’s like hitting a wall of stasis. The acting chairman of the party has refused to fix a date for a national party council meeting. It’s outrageous and disheartening.”
The UDP is reportedly organizing a unification NPC meeting next week, but Barrow is not hopeful. “The party’s inability to move forward is not just a tragedy for the UDP—it’s a tragedy for democracy,” he added.
Even as his son, Shyne Barrow, maintains his leadership, the elder Barrow’s remarks reflect a deeper disappointment not just in the personalities involved, but in the party’s failure to fulfill its democratic role.
“I’m not going to point fingers,” Barrow said, “but hopelessness has set in. The UDP used to be a force in Belizean politics, a credible opposition. Now, it’s barely functioning.”
Barrow’s candid remarks underscore the urgency of the moment for the UDP, as supporters and critics alike question whether the party can recover—or if its best days are truly behind it.
