BELIZE CITY, BELIZE – January 27, 2026 – Tensions erupted into outright chaos today at the Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL) compound as protesters breached security barriers in vehement opposition to a proposed $80 million corporate acquisition. The demonstration, initially organized by United Democratic Party (UDP) supporters and the National Trade Union Congress of Belize (NTUCB), rapidly escalated beyond control.
What began as a structured protest degenerated into pandemonium when UDP adherents, spearheaded by prominent member Brian ‘Yellow Man’ Audinett, forcefully bypassed the main entrance and overwhelmed police barricades. Law enforcement personnel deployed pepper spray in a largely unsuccessful attempt to stem the surging crowd, resulting in a tense, ten-minute standoff at the building’s entrance.
Amid the turmoil, Mesopotamia Area Representative Lee Mark Chang positioned himself between the advancing protesters and police lines, vocally advocating for calm and order. The situation only de-escalated when UDP Leader Tracy Panton intervened directly, urging her supporters to withdraw and declaring their protest objectives successfully achieved.
The core grievance driving today’s events centers on BTL’s impending provisional approval to acquire telecommunications competitor Speednet. As a publicly-owned entity, this proposed merger has sparked significant public outcry and allegations of governmental corruption.
In statements to the press, Leader Panton asserted that the demonstration successfully postponed the BTL board’s decision-making meeting, while simultaneously vowing continued resistance against the administration, which she labeled ‘the most corrupt.’ When questioned about potential legal consequences for her supporters’ actions, Panton unequivocally stated, ‘We got their back.’
The incident underscores deepening political and social fractures regarding corporate governance and public asset management in Belize, setting the stage for further confrontations.