By Belize Live News Staff: The Belize Police Department has found itself in an unexpected and uncomfortable position, mediating a power struggle within the United Democratic Party (UDP). Commissioner of Police Chester Williams addressed the situation, highlighting the department’s unwilling involvement in the internal dispute between two rival factions of the UDP — one aligned with Shyne Barrow and the other with Tracy Panton.
The incident unfolded as members of the Tracy Panton faction arrived at the UDP headquarters, intent on taking over the premises, backed by documents that effectively transferred control of the building. According to Commissioner Williams, the handover stemmed from legal documents involving land trustee Phillipa Bailey, who reportedly shifted control of the building to the Panton faction. Bailey, a trustee for the UDP, signed the documents to finalize this transfer, causing tensions to peak between the two factions.
Commissioner Williams expressed concern over the situation, emphasizing that the police force does not intend to be used as a tool by either faction. “The police now find ourselves in the middle of an entanglement with the UDP,” he stated, adding that their role is strictly to maintain order and prevent any threat to property or life. He clarified that the department’s involvement is solely to uphold the law and not to take sides in the ongoing internal dispute.
