Yellowman Released as UDP Threatens Legal Action

The standoff eventually de-escalated by midday when news broke that Yellowman had been released. While police sources tell Love News that Audinett was detained for inciting violence via text messages, the UDP leadership maintains his arrest was an act of political intimidation. Before Audinett could even leave the station, Leader Tracy Panton and Chairman Sheena Pitts made it clear: they view him as a “UDP Soldier” and are ready to take the fight to the courts.

Tracy Panton, UDP Leader: “You see how they went for Yellowman ? Why haven’t they detained the officers who kidnapped Budna ? We’re going to target Yellowman because he is, not a soldier, he’s a general for the United Democratic Party. It is again a blatant attempt by John Briceño and his administration to stifle the voices of the people. They want what they want and they don’t mind being bullies to get what they want. I hope the Belizean people are taking notice. Free Yellowman. Don’t you find it laughable ? I certainly find it laughable.”

Patrick Faber, Senator: “I guess they’re deeming the UDP a gang now.”

Tracy Panton, UDP Leader: “That’s the only organized institution that Brian Yellowman is a member of, is the United Democratic Party. So I hope it’s not the message that the Briceño administration is trying to send that the UDP is a gang because that would be unfortunate and it would be a slap in the face of many Belizeans.”

Lee Mark Chang, Area Representative, Mesopotamia: “Locking down Yellowman is not the way to do it. We want to have a peaceful demonstration. You’re making people get angry out here. They’re going to use that as a catalyst locking down the voices of the people.”

By midday, after being interviewed in the presence of a Justice of the Peace, Audinett finally walked out of the station and straight to the microphones. Emboldened by the party’s promise of legal backing, he wasted no time in addressing the allegations that led to his detention.

Brian “Yellowman” Audinet: “I feel good. I appreciate what the people are doing out here for me but we must stand up for what is wrong and or BTL to want to acquire Smart is a bad deal for Belize. It is not healthy or Belize and we say no to Johnny Briceño. They charged me for nothing. The police picked me up and said they’re holding me for an investigation of being a member of a gang.”

Reporter: Were you enticing violence through text messages ? 

Brian “Yellowman” Audinet:  “Of course not.”

Reporter: That’s what the COMPOL told us this morning. 

Brian “Yellowman” Audinet:  “Absolute lie. Tell the COMPOL to bring the evidence that I was sending any text on Facebook that we were going to have any violence out here. We were going to be peaceful.”

Reporter: So they had you at Queen Street? 

Brian “Yellowman” Audinet: “Yes.”

Reporter: You think you were only arrested just to keep you away from this protest ? 

Brian “Yellowman” Audinet: “That is it. And we are going to sue the police department.”

Reporter: Are you a member or have you ever been a member of a gang ? 

Brian “Yellowman” Audinet:  “I am not a gangbanger, I am a member of the United Democratic Party.”