A viral video capturing Port Loyola Area Representative Gilroy Usher dismantling a private fence amid a heated local land dispute has sparked internal party discussion and public scrutiny over appropriate conduct for elected officials in Belize, just weeks ahead of expected party convention activities.
The incident, which unfolded over the final weekend of August 2026, spread rapidly across social media platforms, drawing widespread attention to the long-running land conflict between two local parties. On September 1, People’s United Party (PUP) Chairman Henry Charles Usher shared the party’s preliminary stance on the controversy during a press interview, pushing back against calls for formal disciplinary action against the elected representative while still acknowledging that his actions fell below expected standards.
When asked whether the PUP would pursue internal sanctions against Gilroy Usher, the chairman declined to back punitive measures, but made clear that the representative owes a direct apology to the constituent whose fence was removed. “I think that if you ask Gilroy Usher, he will tell you that perhaps his actions were not in the best interest,” Henry Charles Usher told reporters. “He could have handled this in so many different ways. If there is a legal issue then let the matter go through the court, if it is a police issue then let the police deal with it. But for an area representative to be doing that, I think it is something you would want to take back.”
The chairman confirmed that he had not yet had the opportunity to speak directly with Gilroy Usher as he prioritized preparations for an upcoming party convention, but outlined clear guidance for the representative when they do connect. “My advice to him would be simple: apologize to the person and let’s see what the legal process is,” he explained. In response to questions about whether the incident had created lasting damage to the party’s public image that warranted disciplinary action, Henry Charles Usher reaffirmed that an apology and adherence to formal legal processes are sufficient for the moment.
Shortly after the PUP chairman’s comments were made public, Gilroy Usher released a statement acknowledging that his on-site actions were inappropriate, aligning with the party’s call for an apology. However, he remained steadfast in defending his decision to intervene directly in the dispute, explaining that he acted to protect a local family that had been blocked from accessing their legally titled property since 2024. The representative says he now hopes both sides can work with law enforcement and judicial authorities to move past confrontation and reach a peaceful, binding resolution.
In a development that some have viewed as a subtle rebuke of the incident, Belize’s Ministry of Home Affairs recently released a public advertisement reminding all citizens that land conflicts must be resolved through established legal and regulatory channels, rather than through direct personal intervention. The publication of the advertisement came just days after the video of Gilroy Usher’s actions went viral, though no official connection has been confirmed between the timing of the ad and the incident. Belizean media outlets will continue to follow the progression of this land dispute and any further developments related to the PUP’s internal handling of the controversy.