Court Rules UDP Expulsions of Panton and Others Were Unlawful

The High Court of Belize has declared the expulsions of Tracy Panton and Friends from the United Democratic Party, as being unlawful.  In response to an application brought by Tracy Panton, the Court unequivocally reaffirmed the legal principle that any action taken unlawfully is void and holds no legal effect.  This ruling directly applies to the alleged expulsions of Panton, Patrick Faber, Beverly Williams, and John Saldivar.  The Court declared that all these expulsions were unlawful and, consequently, void from their inception.  The immediate implication of this decision is that these senior figures were never legally expelled from the United Democratic Party, and that they remain full members of the Party, retaining all their rights and privileges as if no such expulsion had ever occurred.  Love News spoke with UDP’s Attorney, Sheena Pitts, on the ruling. 

Sheena Pitts, Attorney at Law: “That decision that says the expulsion was unlawful identified the reasons why the expulsions were unlawful. So the court identified that the expulsion was done by the Central Executive Committee which is not the body to decide and determine expulsions and that that was ultra vires. The court opined that the Central Executive Committee is not an impartial body to determine the expulsions and the court identified that in keeping with the articles of the constitution that the Ethics and Integrity Committee is the committee to deal with expulsions and so for all those things that didn’t happen it meant that the expulsion was unlawful. And then there is a part in the judgement where the judge was clear in that the court will not interfere in political matters and the court will not make a pronouncement on the membership if you want to say. And so because of that Mr.Alberto August being the vice chairman left standing to steer the ship after Jamal Barrow had resigned, Jamal Shyne Barrow, he decided that he would proceed with organizing the party and between May 16th and May 18th 2025 he had a Central Executive Committee meeting and therefrom issued a press release. And in that press release the parties were able to realize that Mr. August understood the unlawful expulsion in a different way than what the judgment was saying and he interpreted it if I can be fair to him that because the judge said it will not interfere and declare Honorable Panton’s membership it meant that she is not a member. And so he was proceeding on the footing that she is not a member and that’s what the court ruled. And so quickly by May 22nd, 2025 Honorable Panton gave instructions to her attorney to apply to the court to clarify it’s ruling.”

Panton issued a release today, indicating, quote, “The decision is a powerful reminder that our Constitution must be respected and upheld at all times. No one is above the rules, and no act done contrary to law can stand.”  End of quote.  The purported expulsions occurred between the late 2021 and early 2023.  The expulsions were ordered by the Party Leader, Moses Shyne Barrow, due to internal disagreements, and as forms of disciplinary actions.  The ruling comes on the heels of Michael Peyrefitte reclaiming the UDP Chairman seat with a goal to bring the Panton and Barrow factions to the table, and to move the party ahead as one group.  Yesterday, a release from the UDP Secretariat noted that the rescission of Peyrefitte’s March 18 resignation letter has been accepted and that this return is an exciting event for the UDP.  The release went on to thank Alberto August, who acted as the Chairman in Peyrefitte’s absence.