The ongoing UDP leadership crisis has intensified just weeks after the United Democratic Party (UDP) suffered a crushing defeat in the general elections. Internal tensions have reached new heights as factions clash over leadership claims and the legitimacy of recent party meetings.
On April 7, 2025, the UDP released a press statement denouncing a meeting held by Tracy Panton and her supporters on Saturday, April 5. According to the release, that meeting was not sanctioned by the UDP and was not an official National Party Council session. The UDP accused Panton and the Alliance for Democracy Party of spreading false claims about party leadership and falsely holding meetings under the UDP banner.
Moreover, the party firmly rejected Panton’s assertion to leadership, which she has claimed since a disputed event held on October 20, 2024. During that event, she reportedly declared herself the leader of the UDP, a move the party dismissed as illegitimate.
This latest episode in the UDP leadership crisis comes following the UDP’s massive electoral loss to the People’s United Party. Critics within the party argue that a leadership change is essential to restore unity and direction.
The UDP maintains that until the High Court rules on the civil action challenging Panton’s leadership claims, the current Central Executive Committee remains the party’s only legitimate governing body.
In the meantime, UDP supporters and the Belizean public await clarity, as internal disputes continue to overshadow efforts to rebuild the party’s credibility and future.
