Is UDP Rally Flex Enough To Frighten The PUP?

For the past five weeks - politics has been in dynamic flux - and the Briceno administration has been reeling from the revelations of an avalanche of screenshots leaks of the government's computer ledger - known as Smart Stream.

With the PUP on the ropes and the Prime Minister getting ready to throw his own baby brother under the bus, the UDP was hoping for a popularity bounce. They held the "Stand for Belize" Protest March and Rally today. Jaleeza Roberts was there to see how they flexed - here's her report:

This morning, just after 10:00, about 750 United Democratic Party supporters left its headquarters on Youth for the Future Drive and headed for Battlefield Park on Albert Street. They marched under the theme "Stand For Belize" and deliberately tried to avoid party branding-using Belizean flags to pitch this as a nationalist event.

But, we saw almost exclusively party supporters and a few unionists. With a few handfuls of not very full buses coming in, they had representation from constituencies countrywide.

Tracy Panton, Leader of the Opposition
"I am energized and it is time that this country comes together, irrespective of our political ideologies, irrespective of the platforms we stand on to stand up for Belize."

"The government must get a loud and clear message that Belize will stand together and we're standing against corruption on steroids what has been placed in the public domain so far is just the tip of the iceberg."

And when it comes to the steady succession of SmartStream leaks which is subjecting the Briceno administration to a kind of Chinese Water Torture, National Campaign Manager Juliet Thimbriel praised the whistleblowers:

Juliet Thimbriel, National Campaign Manager - UDP
"I don't only commend them, they are heroes, they are heroes of this nation. They are taking risks that I don't even know that I would take if I was in their positions. You have no idea the amount of information that we have that we have not release because we are trying to protect public officers because if we release from a certain area, the focus will in that area and so we have to time our releases to protect them."

"I want to ask the People's United Party, do you think they can stay in government after we release everything that we have to release?"

And while that ominous question hangs, with 2 Ministers now on leave because of the leaks, the UDP hopes it will lead to a momentum swing in their favour.

The UDP was joined by the President of the PSU and the Union Senator who both shared some words:

Dean Flowers, PSU President
"Silence protects corruption. Complacency enables corruption and indifference guarantees more corruption. The Public Service Union will continue to fight. We will continue to demand accountability. We will continue to seek truth to power, but we need every Belizean who believes in justice, fairness and the rule of law to stand with us."

Glenfield Dennison, Union Senator
"I see a Belize where people go to work and know that if you work hard, you will achieve success and be promoted through the ranks. I see a Belize where somebody like me might make it to be chief justice, but unfortunately this is not the Belize we have right now. Unfortunately, the Belize we have day after the day the generalist are showing us that corruption is real and corruption is hurting every single person."

And the gratitude is to the real heroes, the public servants turned whistleblowers:

Tracy Panton, Leader of the Opposition
"And the one that is most pressing is the blatant and rampant corruption that is now on full national display. Corruption my friends will be the hallmark of the People's United Party and that is why it is time for them to go."

"I want to also thank our public officers, the president of the public service union did a good job at that but I join my voice with him to thank them for stepping out of their comfort zone, risking their jobs to stand up for Belize, you are our everyday heroes."

And when it was all over, Panton posted on Facebook 2,000 strong, even though we counted less than 500 at the Battlefield Park.

Was it enough to send a message? For Panton, that is her earnest hope:

Tracy Panton, Leader of the Opposition
"My heart is really full, I think that today is indicative of what is possible when we all come together to highlight the things that bring us together not the things that divide us and so I'm very pleased that we have the support of the unions at this rally and I'm pleased that we had the support of our constituency leaders at this rally."

Reporter:
"We are estimating it's about 500 persons, will that be enough to send a message to the PUP?"

Tracy Panton:
"Well you have not seen the situation report from the police who says that they have accounted for 2,000 people so your information is definitely not correct, you check with the police."

Reporter:
"But still is that enough to send a message to the current administration?"

Tracy Panton:
"Why wouldn't it be? You know what a difference one voice can make, on voice can make a difference. It took one public officer to release the report for Mira."

But one voice cannot win an election-and the UDP has to hope this is the start of a rising public chorus. Jaleeza Roberts, 7 News.

Police counted nearly one thousand persons in the march when it reached Orange Street.

The UDP Is Waiting For Damning Audit Of Ministry Of Defense

But with the UDP trying to flex on the Briceno administration, what happens if the audit concludes and the PM says they found nothing? Well, Panton says that is - in her view - an impossibility:

Tracy Panton, Leader of the Opposition
"Now we have written to the Prime Minister, we have asked for an audience, we have some proposals to present to him as it relates to corruption but also crime in particular. We feel that the issue of crime should not be politicized. We've written the prime minister about 5 letters, he has not responded but we will insist."

Reporter:
"So what happens if when the audit comes out, the Prime Minister simply says that well, nothing was found, these ministers will be reinstated, what happens then?"

Tracy Panton:
"That's not going to happen do you think the Belizean people will sit back, he can say that if he wishes but I think he has a little bit more intelligence than that, I don't think the Prime Minister can get away with telling the Belizean people nothing Is happening."

UDP's Political Leaders In Belmopan Admit They're Not Ready For Municipals

But even with Panton beating her chest, her Belmopan Caretaker Khalid Belisle and aspiring mayor Richie Galvez have admitted that the UDP in Garden City is not ready for the Municipal elections. They say a lot of work needs to be done to bring the UDP back to where it once was:

Reporter:
"Going to the elections, is Belmopan ready?"

Khalid Belisle, Former Mayor Of Belmopan
"No no, I'm not even going to try to pretend otherwise. We have a lot of work to do ahead of us, we are the opposition party but by the time March the 3rd, 2027 comes around we will be."

Isidoro Richie Galvez, Belmopan Mayoral Aspirant
"I agree, we are way behind we have a lot of work to do, not just UDP but Belmopan on a whole and you know my strategy, the young people that's my main objective to push the young people to empower young people and I believe right now young people have been abandoned, they're trapped right now, they feel insecure so we must do our best to ensure that our young people are good to go"

UDP Campaign Manager Under Attack For Real Estate Largesse, She Denies It

And in other news from the mix of UDP personalities out there today, it seems like new political ads surface every day. One of the latest ones from the PUP focuses on UDP National Campaign Manager, Juliet Thimbriel.

It alleges that under the Barrow administration, Thimbriel was able to acquire 20 houses and get a sizable grant from the Ministry of housing. Today, Thimbriel responded by saying the only thing she has, is a mortgage for her home:

Juliet Thimbriel, National Campaign Manager - UDP
"They can say anything they want against me. It does not matter. If they can't find a father that takes care of them, I have my father that takes care of me."

Reporter:
"So none of it is true. You're categorically denying all the claims."

Juliet Thimbriel:
"I'll be honest with you. I don't have 20 houses. I don't have anything close to 20 houses."

Reporter:
"15 maybe?"

Juliet Thimbriel:
"I don't have 10 houses. I have a mortgage at Belize Bank that none of them want to pay. It's over $6,000 a month. I am telling you that is on record. You all can do your investigation, but I am not the problem. The problem is the Prime Minister and the People's United Party that continue to pressure the Belizean people and take advantage of them. It's not me."

A & Y Fresh Vegetables From Former Defense Minister's Constituency Was A Top Provider Of BDF Rations

Tonight we have screenshots showing some of the payments to another of the BDF's top suppliers during Florencio Marin Junior's tenure as Defence Minister from 2020 - 2025.
That's A & Y Fresh Vegetables, a company registered in 2021 by Antonio Patt & Yolanda Patt from Chunox (SHUNUSH) Village, Corozal. They are believed to be connected to their area rep in Corozal Southeast and Former Defence Minister Florencio Marin Jr.
Based on tender documents we have seen, we know they earned millions from supplying rations to the BDF - and for at least one year they were the number 1 vendor with 3.6 million dollars in sales.
But, we only have 10 screenshots - which show about 120 of the 1,157 Smart Stream entries between January of 2023 and April of 2026. And they show the same, now familiar pattern.
Most of the payments are between $8,000 and $10,000 - while one single record is for exactly 10,000 dollars.
The 96 legible records in this leak show payments of $840,596.28 to the Chunox-based company, which, again, is only a fraction of the business they did with the Government of Belize.

We'll have a closer look on Monday.

Why Was A Construction Company Selling BDF Meat? Because It Was Owned By The PM's Baby Bro?

And while A & Y was one of the top suppliers to the BDF, a company named Hugo Engineering and Construction Services was so minor that it hardly merited mention. That is until last night when we became aware that this construction company is partly owned by the Prime Minister's little brother. So how did it end up supplying meat to the BDF? Well, that remains a mystery tonight. Jules Vasquez reports:

Weeks ago when I reviewed the leaked BDF tender documents for 2023 - 2024, looking at all the company names what jumped out at me was this: Hugo Engineering and Construction Services Limited.

Now, what was a construction company doing supplying beef, pork and chicken to the BDF? Odd.

In a 12 million dollar budget, Hugo Engineering was one of the smaller suppliers so we didn't follow up on it.

It didn't come together until yesterday evening when I received this leak, telling me who the owners of that company are: two of them are the Prime Minister's brother, Javier Briceno and his girlfriend Addy Ku.

And then it made sense - even if it doesn't make sense to have an engineering company supplying meat to soldiers.

A BDF whistleblower who has stepped forward is the ex-commanding officer for the services and support battalion, which is in charge of processing BDF supplies. He told us his experience.

Jules Vasquez:
"Because I'm saying why is an engineering company providing rations? Is this indicative of the type of malaise?"

BDF Whistleblower, Ex Commanding Officer - Services and Support battalion
"Jules, I could tell you from my experience that, this hasn't changed. You would find out that companies that, has nothing to do with a particular item find themselves providing you that item."

"One time I could recall, viewing a purchase requisition from a vendor who provided base oil, and they bake bread. Provided stationery, and they bake bread! Provided engine parts, and they bake bread!"

"That is pretty much what they have somewhat gotten accustomed to: buying things from people who don't really and truly provide it, simply because, listen, man, as I mentioned initially, there's some level of, corruption as it relates, so I'll give you the opportunity to provide this item if you probably, maybe use your butter and butter my hand, just to put it lightly."

And while we stress that this is a general observation made first-hand by this soldier, between November 2023 and August 2025 - in their own names, not the company name-Briceno and Ku received just under a quarter million dollars in payments from the Ministry of Defence.

Of the 33 payments only two were above the ten thousand dollar threshold.

The Prime Minister denied any involvement in getting the supply contracts for his brother:

Voice of: John Briceno, Minister of Defence
"Now, if you want to ask me if I know about the details of what you got or what you don't got, I really don't know. You need to speak with Javier."

Jules Vasquez:
"But were youâ€¦ did you facilitate him, or had you indicated to Minister Mira or Minister Marin?"

John Briceno:
"How much did he get? How much did he get? Do you have an idea?"

Jules Vasquez:
"For a total of about $18,000, $21,000."

John Briceno:
"So you think if I facilitated, that is what you are going to get? No, I did not facilitate it."

John Briceno:
"I don't know what they got, and the investigation will show if they did any wrong they will have to answer."

Jules Vasquez:
"So she got $225,000?"

John Briceno:
"Jules, can we stop the speculations? Let us be real here, let us stop the speculations. I have told you that I don't know what it is that they got or what they didn't get. I am telling you that they are doing an investigation, and I am repeating: if anybody did anything wrong, they will have to answer. Period."

Jules Vasquez:
"Right, but you are the Prime Minister. Did you...?"

John Briceno:
"I have always taken responsibility for the entire government. If something goes wrong, at the end of the day, the buck stops with me."

Jules Vasquez:
"Did you ask Mr. Mira to help your brother? To help out Javi?"

John Briceno:
"No."

BDF's Procurement Power Went To Belmopan After 2020

And the former Commanding Officer of the Services and Support Battalion also explained the effect of a change we have been hearing about for years: the BDF command has been stripped of the power and financial resources to make its own procurements. From its inception the army had been set up for that with specialized personnel.

But, since 2020 that authority has gone back to the Ministry in Belmopan. Our whistleblower - who we stress has extensive experience in procurements - discussed the effect of that change:

BDF Whistleblower, Ex-Commanding Officer - Services and Support Battalion
"Well, in the past, as you rightfully put it, the BDF used to be the sole manager of its resources, procurement of them. I found out that that's not the case. And that's where we are seeing a number of complaints as it relates to the quality, quantity, and time lapse as it relates to the BDF receiving their items."

"Why is it that the CEO or the minister would want to go through the process of finding out how many pounds of cabbage, carrots, how many pounds of ration we might need, when the BDF would have known exactly who to go to because the BDF would have already had a relationship with different vendors? As it relates to items that they've been receiving historically, quite frankly. And the end users of these products are the soldiers. And no person better to know what you want is those that are receiving it, but now you're seeing that the ministry now has control of that particular function of that process there. It only begs the question, why?"

"So it's... I don't know how to put it, Jules, honestly speaking. It just points directly to corruption as far as I'm concerned because the minister nor the CEO needs to do this. The Commander Belize Defence Force, he would be maybe the ideal person to... and then he is the ideal person to supervise his department. But that power is taken away from him. It's like now all he got to focus on is just what? Training and running operations. He doesn't have the power to purchase his own stuff?"

BDF Whistleblower Came Forward Because BDF Management Has Been Going Steeply Downhill

And so, why is this soldier taking the extraordinary and courageous step of coming forward to speak as a whistleblower? That's what Jules asked him.

Jules Vasquez:
"Why are you choosing to speak out?"

BDF Whistleblower, Ex-Commanding Officer - Services and Support Battalion
"I love the Belize Defence Force. The Belize Defence Force is an institution that you will not find anywhere in Belize. It's way better than any other institution. But what I have learned by, while I was in the Belize Defense Force is the fact that political heads, political heads tend to get involve. If you would remove politics from the military, you would have a perfect institution. But when you get political heads placing their hands into military matters, it's something that will deteriorate the institution, the professionalism of the institution, the integrity of the institution itself, the standard of the institution. I came forward because I was heartbroken to know that we have all ex military personnel at the ministry at the time. You had the minister who was, a lieutenant in the Belize Defence Force, Minister Florencio Marin. You have Minister Oscar Mira, who retired as a major. You had the next higher rank, Brigadier General Dario Tapia. He was the commander of the Defence Force. He was the CEO at the Ministry of Defence at the time."

"And you thought to yourself that you know what? BDF running the entire Ministry and so forth. That means things will become much better because, you know, they know what it is."

"That they would want better for the BDF, but we're seeing now that from the time they were there, that things have been just going downhill. And, if we don't change that now Jules, I 'seh dog eat wi suppa.'"

"Our Prime Minister needs to find a solution. The people of Belize need to understand that what is going on in the BDF, needs to stop."

With Municipals Coming Next Year, E&B Reminds Voters Of Transfer Period

Municipal Elections are 7 months away but if you're planning to transfer your vote to another constituency, now is the time. It's also the time for you to get registered if you haven't, or if you didn't re-register. And if you have objections to the voters list, the Chief Elections Officer explained that you shouldn't wait until election time is near. She gave some reminders for voters as the Elections and Boundaries department prepares for municipals.

Josephine Tamai, Chief Elections and Boundaries Officer
"We know that the transfer of electors period is a period whereby persons who are currently registered are able to transfer their are able to transfer from one electoral division to another electoral division."

"And this happens every year from the 1st of July to the 31st of August. And so this is the only time throughout the year that persons who are registered electors can transfer from one electoral division to another."

"This exercise is extremely important because many times we hear people complain about persons actually voting where they no longer reside. And I want to encourage the public and specifically registered electors, if you have moved, then go into the election and boundaries registration office in the division where you now reside."

"The law provides and it states that those persons shall inform the election and boundaries department. One of the things that we find that sometimes persons go to the offices, apply for a transfer, not realizing that since the 2nd of July 2018, they did not re-register."

"And so they might apply for a transfer, but in reality, those persons need to apply to be registered. And so again, I want to encourage persons who have not yet registered to come into the offices and get registered."

"I want to advise persons to, and like I said, specifically those persons who are registered elected in a specific constituency, because they can make objections when the list is published. You have to provide proof."

"And many times that is where there's always an issue because sometimes persons sit back and it's unfortunate that what we normally do as citizens, until when it's an election period, you hear all the complaints."

"And we all know that we have municipal elections coming up. It's scheduled for the 3rd of March 2027, which is just a couple months away. And so this is the time that persons will pay attention to the list."

"But this is a cycle election and boundaries department operate on every single month. And so persons have this opportunity on a monthly basis to peruse the lists, make objections where they have proof otherwise."

Summer Camp Empowers Students to Build and Program Their Own Robots

Sixteen students are wrapping up a week of high-tech hands-on learning at St. Catherine's Academy. The campers came in with different ages and skill levels, but they are all leaving with the know-how to build a robot and program it from scratch. Courtney Menzies was at today's showcase and has the story.

If you or your children are interested in next summer's robotics camp, organizers say to keep an eye on the SCA Facebook page for registration details.

Sargassum Mats Smother Turtle Hatchlings Before They Can Reach The Sea

The worsening sargassum crisis on our beaches is taking a devastating toll on local marine life. On the north side of Ambergris Caye, seventeen endangered Loggerhead sea turtle hatchlings were found dead on the shore. They are believed to have gotten tangled in the thick mats of sargassum. The discovery is raising major concerns about the growing threat sargassum poses to the survival of these endangered species. We will bring you more on this developing story on Monday.

Home | Archives | Downloads/Podcasts | Advertise | Contact Us

ADVERTISEMENTS: