BELIZE CITY, BELIZE – January 27, 2026 – In a dramatic escalation of political tensions, United Democratic Party (UDP) protesters breached the gates of Belize Telemedia Limited’s compound on St. Thomas Street earlier today. The demonstration commenced shortly after 10 a.m., fulfilling the group’s previously declared commitment to directly confront the telecommunications giant.
Opposition Leader Tracy Panton arrived at the scene and delivered impassioned remarks to assembled journalists, confirming her awareness that BTL’s anticipated board meeting had been unexpectedly postponed. The meeting was reportedly scheduled to consider provisional approval for a controversial acquisition deal that has become the center of political conflict.
Panton defended the protest as essential despite the meeting’s cancellation, stating: ‘We had to demonstrate our serious opposition to corruption. This Briceno administration will be remembered as the most corrupt in our nation’s history.’ The Opposition Leader explicitly condemned the proposed acquisition of SMART by BTL as ‘detrimental to Belize’s interests’ and vowed that her party would ‘persist in resistance’ against the arrangement.
In a show of political solidarity, Panton pledged UDP’s full support for any party members facing legal consequences from the protest action. Major labor organizations including the National Trade Union Congress of Belize (NTUCB) and the Belize National Teachers’ Union (BNTU) have joined the demonstration, significantly amplifying its impact.
Panton characterized the government’s approach to the acquisition as fundamentally undemocratic, noting: ‘Had our concerns been taken seriously during meetings with the Ashcroft Alliance and BTL’s board, this public action might have been unnecessary. Their apparent determination to force this deal through regardless of opposition left us no alternative.’