Nearly a week after 32-year-old fisherman Samuel Chi was found dead off the coast of Belize following a failed voyage from Caye Caulker to the mainland, official autopsy results have finally confirmed the cause of his death: drowning. However, critical questions surrounding the circumstances of the incident remain unanswered, leaving Chi’s grieving family still searching for clarity. Chi and his traveling companion Albert Vaccaro were both reported missing during their cross-water trip, and while Chi’s body was recovered, Vaccaro survived the incident but has so far failed to provide a full, coherent account of what unfolded. On August 10, 2026, law enforcement offered an update on the ongoing probe, confirming that while forensic pathologists have ruled asphyxia by drowning as the official cause of death, toxicology test results are still pending to rule out any contributing factors. In a press briefing with local reporters, Staff Officer ASP Stacy Smith of the Belize Police Department addressed lingering public and family questions about the case. When asked whether Vaccaro has since given a formal, detailed statement to investigators, Smith acknowledged that immediately after the incident, Vaccaro was severely disoriented and unable to share any usable information. She added that she had not yet confirmed with lead investigators whether they have since been able to interview him to obtain a full statement, but committed to following up on that request. Reporters also pressed Smith for updates on two key pieces of evidence: the status of search operations for the missing vessel, which would serve as the core crime scene if foul play is later confirmed, and whether Chi’s body showed any signs of trauma or violence that could point to foul play. In response, Smith pushed back on framing the incident as a confirmed crime, noting that such a label is premature at this stage of the investigation. She confirmed that she did not have any current updates on whether the vessel has been located, and added that the official autopsy report did not note any signs of external trauma on Chi’s body, aligning with the conclusion that drowning was the cause of death. The investigation remains open as law enforcement continues to piece together the events that led to Chi’s death, with relatives still demanding answers about how the seasoned fisherman died while traveling with a companion who survived. This report is adapted from a transcript of an evening television newscast covering the incident.
标签： Belize
伯利兹
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Xue Liu’s Death Sparks Autism Safety Conversation
In August 2026, a devastating drowning incident along the Belize River claimed the life of 18-year-old Xue Liu, a young person on the autism spectrum, and sparked a much-needed national and international dialogue about the unaddressed safety risks facing neurodiverse communities and the relentless burdens shouldered by their caregivers.
According to initial reports, Liu broke free from her caregiver while fleeing a sudden bee attack and ran directly toward the river, where her body was later recovered. In the aftermath of the tragedy, public discussion quickly turned to criticism of caregiver Shisong Liu, who ran in the opposite direction during the chaotic emergency. But disability advocates argue that blaming the already grieving family misses the larger, systemic gaps in safety support that set the stage for this preventable loss.
Christy Almeida, founder of the Belize-based advocacy organization Autism Belize, pushed back against widespread condemnation of the Liu family, emphasizing that emergency situations trigger unpredictable instinctive responses even for the most prepared caregivers.
“I have a really hard time casting blame to any parent, especially parents who have children with special needs, children with disabilities,” Almeida shared in a recent televised interview. “You don’t know what they are dealing with on a daily basis. You don’t know the nights that we don’t sleep. You’re not gonna catch me blaming any family at all because we don’t know what they’re dealing with – their mental health, the toll it takes to be a caregiver.”
Almeida went on to note that even for neurotypical people, life-threatening crises like a swarm of bee attacks trigger the primal “fight or flight” response, and no one can accurately predict how they will react until they are in the moment. “If you are being chased by a swarm of bees and you’re trying to hold on and this person breaks free, what do you do in that situation? I would like to think if it was my own child, I would throw myself over him and never let go of his hand. But in reality, I don’t know how I would actually react,” she said.
Beyond the question of caregiver response, the tragedy has brought a little-discussed safety hazard to mainstream attention: the innate attraction many autistic and neurodiverse children have to water, which makes drowning the leading cause of death for young people on the autism spectrum globally. Unlike other common health threats, drowning does not cut life expectancy for neurodiverse people because of inherent disability – it stems from a combination of sensory attraction, limited risk perception, and lack of access to adaptive safety resources.
“For our neurodiverse community, water is a huge attraction,” Almeida explained. “The floating and the feeling of freedom in the water gives their body a sensation that it is not intellectually realizing that this is danger. When an emergency like a bee attack triggers a flight response, they’re not going to stop and think, ‘Wait a minute, I can’t swim. I can’t do this.’”
Data from autism advocacy organizations across the globe backs up Almeida’s claim: elopement – the tendency for an autistic person to wander away from a caregiver or safe space – is a common trait, and nearly 90% of deaths related to elopement are caused by drowning. Just in recent months, multiple similar incidents have been reported in the United States, where wandering autistic children have been found dead in nearby bodies of water.
In response to this tragedy, Almeida is calling for systemic changes to improve autism safety, starting with expanded access to adaptive swimming lessons for neurodiverse children. She is urging local communities, swimming coaches, lifeguard associations, and recreational organizations to develop specialized, accessible swimming programs tailored to the needs of autistic people, to reduce the risk of future fatalities. She also emphasized that constant, proactive safety planning is a non-negotiable necessity for families caring for neurodiverse children, a responsibility that most communities do not provide enough support for.
This incident has also opened a broader conversation about the lack of public understanding of the daily challenges facing caregiver families of children with disabilities. Advocates note that greater public empathy and systemic support for caregiver mental health are just as critical as safety programming to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
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Young Rescuers Carry the Weight of Belize River Tragedy
On a Friday in August 2026, a group of young, trained lifeguards from Belize’s 501 Lifeguard Rescue Team answered an urgent call that would leave a lasting emotional mark: a 13-year-old special needs teenager, identified as Xue Liu, had disappeared under the surface of the Belize River after fleeing an attacking swarm of bees. What followed was three and a half hours of grueling work against harsh conditions, as the team pushed through murky, fast-moving water in a desperate bid to bring the teen home alive. The search ultimately ended in tragedy, when the rescuers recovered Liu’s lifeless body, a outcome that still weighs heavily on the young team days later.
Even amid the danger and heartbreak, the dedication of the rescuers has stood out. Sixteen-year-old Shaun Eck, a high school student who joined the search, cut his foot on an underwater wire holding loose stones within minutes of entering the river. Instead of pulling out to seek treatment, Eck chose to stay and continue the search, saying his team needed extra support and his training prepared him for the challenge. “I didn’t feel the injury at the time, so I just had to push through and do my job,” Eck explained.
For these young men, rescue work is an extension of the community-focused swimming instruction they provide through Coach Andrew Swimming Club, where they spend their summers teaching children — including kids with special needs — how to be safe in the water. Eck himself learned to swim through the program, and now he works alongside the instructors who taught him: head coach Andrew Gentle and coach Tevon Conorque.
Gentle, who launched the club’s public classes in 2014, says his commitment to patient, inclusive teaching grew from watching his mother work for 18 years at Stella Maris School, a local institution serving students with disabilities. The club travels across Belize to partner with community organizations including the Hub and YWCA, operating on the core belief that every child, regardless of ability, can learn to swim. That philosophy has earned deep trust from families: Rhonisha Waight, aunt of 7-year-old autistic student Alistaire Gillett, says the instructors’ approach has helped her nephew make incredible progress. Learning to swim is not just a fun activity for children with disabilities, Waight notes, it is a critical life skill that empowers them when caregivers cannot be nearby.
Conorque, who has worked with the program from its early days, says the work is deeply rewarding. “Some of them might not learn right away for the first class, but due to muscle memory and the strength they gain as they get older, they learn,” he explained. “For me, by the fact that I could give a kid the skill of swimming that makes me feel happy, because probably in the future I save that kid’s life.”
That same drive to protect the community led the team to join the Belize Coast Guard for the search operation on the Belize River. Even with professional training and prior experience responding to drowning incidents, recovering the teenager’s body was an unprecedented emotional blow for the group. Conorque admitted he felt “a bit lost” in the immediate aftermath of the recovery; while he had prepared himself mentally for a potential negative outcome, the experience was still disorienting. For Eck, the tragedy hit especially close to home: “It hurts to think about because I also have a sister, siblings close to that age. So it really hurts me, especially since I saw it firsthand. But I am getting through it slowly, which is good.”
Despite the heavy grief the team carries from the incident, their commitment to serving Belize’s local community has not wavered. They have returned to their swimming lessons, continuing to teach young people critical water safety skills one class at a time, guided by the same compassion that pushed them into the dangerous river last Friday.
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Pomona Farmer Shot by Plainclothes Policemen
In a shocking encounter that has raised urgent questions about police conduct in rural Belize, a 46-year-old Pomona cattle farmer is calling for accountability after being shot by three plainclothes police officers who never identified themselves during an unannounced visit to his property on August 7, 2026.
The farmer, who spoke to reporters by phone from Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (K.H.M.H.) following emergency surgery, recounted that he was resting near an equipment shed on his land when he was alerted by the barking of his loyal guard dog. When he stood to investigate, he encountered three armed men pointing weapons at him and demanding he raise his hands. With no announcement that the men were law enforcement, the farmer—who previously served as a trained soldier—said he immediately assumed he was the target of an armed robbery.
Facing three armed attackers, the farmer made the split-second decision to run for safety, rather than drawing the licensed firearm he carried on his property. As he fled, the three men opened fire, striking him in the right knee. After falling to the ground wounded and fearing for his life, he pulled out his legally held weapon and returned fire, forcing the armed men to retreat from the property.
It was only after the gunfight ended and uniformed police officers arrived at the scene that the farmer learned the men who had shot him were plainclothes law enforcement. One of the plainclothes officers reportedly identified himself only after the shooting, when he approached the wounded farmer. His guard dog—who had accompanied him everywhere and first alerted him to the strangers—was killed in the crossfire.
The farmer was discharged from K.H.M.H. on August 10, 2026, following surgery to treat his gunshot wound. As of this report, no official explanation has been provided for why plainclothes officers arrived at the farmer’s property with weapons drawn, and no criminal charges have been filed against the farmer following the encounter. The farmer says he is demanding full justice and transparent answers for both the shooting that injured him and the death of his dog, calling the entire incident fundamentally unfair.
This report is based on a transcript of a televised newscast, with direct quotes preserved as rendered from regional Kriol speech.
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BTL Workers Push Back Against SMART Deal
A proposed corporate consolidation in Belize’s telecommunications sector is facing unexpected and growing pushback from frontline employees, just one week after company leadership gave the green light to move forward with the deal.
In August 2026, the Belize Communications Workers Union (BCWU) announced that 84% of its members who work at Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL) now oppose the company’s planned acquisition of competing telecom provider SMART. This marks a sharp reversal from January of the same year, when the majority of BTL staff initially voiced support for the merger.
Union representatives explain that this early backing was conditional: workers agreed to entertain the acquisition on the understanding that their core concerns – ranging from job security, future corporate governance structures, potential financial risks, and formal worker protection guarantees – would be thoroughly reviewed and addressed by BTL’s leadership before any final vote. After months of waiting for detailed disclosures and meaningful negotiations, the BCWU confirms that nearly all of these critical questions remain unanswered.
The opposition follows a recent split vote by BTL’s Board of Directors, which advanced the acquisition process with an 8-2 vote in favor of continuing the transaction. Despite the board’s formal approval to move ahead, the union has stressed that rushed action without full transparency and inclusive consultation is unacceptable.
In a statement, the BCWU emphasized that BTL’s employees are not just hourly or salaried staff – they are key stakeholders with direct, personal stakes in the deal’s outcome. The acquisition touches not only on their individual livelihoods but also on one of Belize’s most critical national infrastructure assets, making worker input a non-negotiable part of the process.
To amplify their call for accountability, the BCWU has announced it will partner with the National Trade Union Congress of Belize to map out next steps for the opposition movement. The union’s core demand remains unchanged: any final decision on the acquisition must be conducted through open, responsible processes that center the voices of the workers who will be most affected by the outcome.
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Did BTL Board of Directors Have the Full Picture?
Months of simmering political tension over the proposed BTL acquisition of Speednet boiled over this week, as a sitting union senator and top business leaders have raised sharp questions about the integrity of the board’s approval vote and the future of consumer protections in Belize’s reshaping telecommunications market.
Speaking publicly on the ongoing debate August 10, 2026, Union Senator Glenfield Dennison waded into the controversy, throwing his support behind BTL director Anissa Perdomo, who voted against the acquisition last Tuesday, and Allan Pollard, the People’s United Party (PUP) mayoral candidate who has publicly opposed the deal. According to Dennison, both figures have aligned with the public and union movement’s stance on the transaction, representing what he calls the will of ordinary Belizeans.
Dennison’s most critical line of attack targets the majority of BTL board members who backed the acquisition, questioning whether the voting bloc actually had access to complete, accurate information about Speednet’s financial position to make an informed, responsible decision. He argued that the board’s political makeup was structured to guarantee a preordained outcome, noting that most appointeed members hold political alignments that favor the acquisition, making the final vote a foregone conclusion.
“I don’t think they had enough information to make the decision that they made,” Dennison told reporters, adding that he is willing to reverse his position if full disclosure of the deal’s details proves the Speednet purchase is a strong investment for BTL and Belize. “If that information does prove that buying Speednet was such an excellent investment I will eat my words and take it back.”
The senator also defended the Senate walkout staged last week by opponents of the acquisition, pushing back against claims the action was unplanned or disorganized. He explained that social partners caucused during a legislative recess and collectively agreed to walk out in protest, with the movement unfolding organically amid rapidly shifting developments on the senate floor. Two separate walkouts were staged simultaneously, he confirmed, and coordination between opposition lawmakers and union representatives aligned to oppose the rushed vote.
Joining Dennison in calling for greater transparency is William Usher, Vice President of Industry at the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI), who is sounding the alarm over Speednet’s unclear financial standing and the risk of a new telecom monopoly that could leave Belizean consumers with no protections. Usher emphasized that the public has not been given access to sufficient financial records to build confidence in the transaction, pointing out that any standard commercial lender would require three to five years of audited financial data to approve an $80 million investment – yet only one year of Speednet’s financial records have been made available to stakeholders.
Usher drew on Belize’s past experience with consolidated telecom markets to warn of the risks ahead, noting that when BTL previously operated as a monopoly, consumers faced higher costs and limited options. He added that current Belizean regulation lacks the necessary legal safeguards to prevent price gouging and unfair practices if the market is consolidated under a single dominant provider, specifically referencing gaps in Section 424 of existing telecom law that leave consumer interests unprotected.
“If these things are not in place, who are you whether government or the people out here to say listen you are taking advantage of me,” Usher said, echoing widespread public concern over the lack of oversight.
In response to the growing controversy, the National Trade Union Congress of Belize and the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry have announced they will coordinate their efforts on the issue, presenting a united front to push for greater transparency and stronger consumer protections ahead of any finalization of the acquisition. This article is adapted from a transcribed August 10, 2026 evening television newscast.
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Could BTL Deal Threaten Press Freedom?
In a coordinated gathering with independent senators and civil society stakeholders on August 10, 2026, Belizean media owners have issued a stark warning that the proposed acquisition of Speednet by BTL poses an existential threat to the country’s foundational press freedom and democratic governance. What is being framed by proponents as a routine telecom industry consolidation, the leaders of independent media outlets argue, would ultimately create a state-aligned telecommunications monopoly that concentrates unprecedented control over national communication infrastructure in the hands of a single entity.
Senator Louis Wade, who owns local broadcaster Plus TV, explained that modern digital infrastructure has created new, undetectable avenues for interfering with independent media operations that did not exist in previous eras. “Decades ago, authorities seeking to silence critical reporting had to take overt actions like shutting down transmitters or revoking operating licenses,” Wade noted. “Today, through manipulation of IP addresses and digital network management, they can undermine media distribution without the public even noticing what is happening.”
Wade emphasized that the erosion of press freedom directly undermines the constitutional protections of expression Belize is built on. “Our constitution guarantees freedom of conscience, but that guarantee is meaningless if we cannot share our ideas openly,” he said. “A functioning democracy and a prosperous open market economy both depend on an open marketplace of ideas, where diverse independent perspectives can be heard. That is why we have come together to reject this acquisition.”Jules Vasquez, owner of Tropical Vision, echoed Wade’s concerns, noting that independent media in Belize has a long history of resisting efforts to narrow public discourse. “Our organizational identity is rooted in pushing back against systems that block pluralistic opinion,” Vasquez said. “Any state-controlled monopoly over telecommunications poses an inherent threat to independent journalism, and any restriction on free journalism directly threatens how democracy functions. If that line is crossed, we could see far-reaching consequences for the entire country.”
Mose Hyde, owner of XTV, confirmed that independent media’s opposition to the deal remains unchanged, more than a year after concerns were first raised. The meeting, called by independent senators to confirm the coalition’s stance, reaffirmed the unified opposition that formed in mid-2025. Hyde stressed that the risk is amplified by the fact that the monopoly would fall under partial state control, a structure that gives the government implicit power to penalize critical outlets. “We have already experienced punitive measures for the positions our outlets have taken,” Hyde said. “Today, almost all news distribution to audiences relies on digital telecom infrastructure. That makes us more vulnerable to interference than ever before. This concentration of power is simply unacceptable.”
Hyde declined to share specific details of the coalition’s next steps, saying only that the gathering was productive and the opposition coalition remains solid. The group has formally called on Belize’s Public Utilities Commission to intervene and block the merger, arguing it would create a dangerous concentration of power in the country’s telecom sector that threatens the public’s right to diverse, independent information.
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Vellos Wins Big, But PUP Corozal Faces Bigger Battle Within
On Sunday, August 10, 2026, the People’s United Party (PUP) held its highly anticipated Corozal Municipal Convention to select a mayoral candidate for upcoming local elections, delivering a decisive victory for three-time incumbent Rigoberto Vellos while laying bare deep, long-simmering divisions within the district’s party ranks.
Vellos, the party’s established favorite, defeated first-time candidate Shajarie Rogers by a staggering 624-vote margin, racking up 1,799 votes to Rogers’ 1,175, among the 3,425 registered PUP voters who turned out to cast ballots. The win not only cemented Vellos’ place as the party’s official mayoral nominee but also dealt a significant blow to Rogers’ campaign, which had received high-profile backing from Corozal Bay Area Representative Thea Garcia-Ramirez.
What was intended as a routine candidate selection process quickly devolved into a public display of internal friction, with heated exchanges, raised tempers, and open confrontation between supporters of the two rival camps. For Vellos, the contested convention was an unnecessary disruption from the start. The three-term incumbent argued that his proven track record of delivering for Corozal should have spared the party from a public intra-party battle, and he framed the lopsided voter turnout as a validation of his years of work.
“A hard one. A hard battle. Sometimes you get tested to the extreme and this was one time we were taken to the extreme,” Vellos told reporters following his win. “They know I have worked extremely hard for them, hence the reason why they did not agree to a convention. We went into a convention that was not necessary and I hope that after this they can join me, my team and I to work together. It is time for us to rebuild our own party and as young leaders people expect that from us. I am happy, a bit emotional. But it all comes with victory.”
Rogers, who entered voting day confident in her organized campaign and the political support of Garcia-Ramirez, struck a conciliatory tone after the results were finalized. She noted that Garcia-Ramirez had publicly committed to working with whichever candidate emerged victorious, a position Garcia-Ramirez reaffirmed to reporters as she left the voting venue, despite loud taunting chants from Vellos supporters surrounding her.
“Honorable Thea has a right. She is a voter in Corozal Bay and at the end of the day, she had also given you guys an interview where she rightly stated that she will work with any team. So, I believe that at the end of the day she will work with any team that wins,” Rogers said prior to the result.
When asked about the hostile crowd energy surrounding her after the result, Garcia-Ramirez deflected tension, emphasizing her unwavering loyalty to the PUP. “All I hear is PUP Paul,” she told reporter Paul Lopez of News Five.
PUP national chairman Henry Charles Usher framed the open contest as a healthy exercise in intra-party democracy, arguing that the convention would strengthen the party ahead of the general municipal elections. He acknowledged that the divide would need intentional repair, but emphasized that unification would be the party’s immediate priority.
“Well I think it is always good for the people to decide who they want to represent them. I think conventions are good, they are healthy. You know you will have this what you would call coming together after the convention. You have to come together and that is what we will do,” Usher stated.
In a secondary development that underscored the depth of the split, sitting Councilor Leslie Rodriguez abandoned Vellos’ slate to run alongside Rogers, a gamble that failed to pay off. Vellos’ replacement candidate Hugo Gonzalez went on to win the council seat by a clear margin.
While Team Rogers has formally conceded and pledged to collaborate with Vellos’ team ahead of the upcoming elections, political observers note that repairing fractured relationships and rebuilding trust between the rival PUP factions will be a months-long process. With municipal elections fast approaching, the PUP’s ability to unify its Corozal base could ultimately determine whether the party holds the mayoral seat in the upcoming general vote. This report was compiled from a broadcast transcript by News Five’s Paul Lopez.
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Vote-Buying Claims Surface at PUP Corozal Convention
On August 10, 2026, allegations of illicit vote-buying overshadowed the People’s United Party (PUP) convention held in Corozal over the preceding Sunday, opening a debate over democratic integrity in internal party processes that operate outside the strict regulatory frameworks of general or municipal elections. Local outlet News Five received multiple anonymous claims that backers of Shajarie Rogers’ Team Rogers had been compensating voters at a private property near the convention site. When reporters visited the location to verify the accusations, they observed moderate foot traffic but observed no suspicious activity and did not witness any direct exchange of cash for votes. The accusations were quickly met with counter-claims from Team Rogers, who levied identical vote-buying allegations against the opposing slate led by Rigoberto Vellos, the incumbent Mayor of Corozal Town. While internal party contests are not bound by the same electoral oversight rules that govern official government elections, political observers note that any verified vote-buying in these contests still erodes the foundation of intra-party democracy and undermines public trust in party processes. In direct interviews with both faction leaders, reporters pressed each side to respond to the allegations against their teams. Incumbent Corozal Town Mayor Rigoberto Vellos, who ultimately claimed the convention win, confirmed that he had heard widespread rumors of opposing leaders distributing cash to sway voters, but denied any wrongdoing on his own part. “I do believe that certain leaders are giving out money. I have heard it. Some of us have seen it,” Vellos told reporters. When pressed directly on whether he had personally funded vote-buying operations, Vellos pushed back firmly: “I don’t have money sir. I don’t have money. My money will be spent on me and who I can help and of course I will dedicate myself to my community. I don’t need to pay people to win a convention or an election.” Shajarie Rogers, Vellos’ opponent and PUP mayoral aspirant for Corozal Town, similarly denied all claims of vote-buying linked to his campaign. When asked about the allegations, Rogers stated that his campaign had only worked with voters who chose to support them of their own free will, adding “We are working with who comes to vote for us honestly. So I wouldn’t know.” When reporters clarified to confirm that Team Rogers had not compensated any voters, Rogers replied definitively: “Absolutely not. As far as Team Rogers is concerned, we are not paying anyone.” Reporters also reached out to Thea Garcia-Ramirez, the Corozal Bay Area Representative, to ask about her activity on convention day and her perspective on the allegations. Garcia-Ramirez shared that she had spent the day resting at home to prepare for the coming week’s work at her government ministry, noting that she was already focused on two ongoing public advocacy campaigns unrelated to the intra-party contest. “There is a lot of work that we do at the ministry. I am sure you know we have two campaigns moving forward. We have the Blue Teddy Bear Campaign and recently a campaign to end sexual violence against children and teenagers and young people,” she explained. Early the following morning, Belize Prime Minister John Briceño publicly congratulated Vellos and his campaign slate on their convention victory via the social platform X. This report is a transcribed excerpt from News Five’s evening television broadcast, with Kriol language content translated and transcribed using a standardized spelling system for public accessibility.
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UDP Unveils Municipal Candidates in Dangriga & Benque
As Belize prepares for its 2027 municipal elections, the United Democratic Party (UDP) has locked in its mayoral candidates for two key municipalities: Dangriga and Benque Viejo del Carmen, following internal party nomination contests held over the weekend.
In Dangriga’s mayoral nomination race, Dwayne Sampson secured a decisive victory over challenger Christalyn Castillo, with final vote counts putting Sampson at 687 votes against Castillo’s 195. Over in Benque Viejo del Carmen, Yusuf Guerra claimed the UDP mayoral nomination by defeating contender Danette Mendez; Mendez will remain on the party’s ticket as one of six candidates vying for municipal council seats in the upcoming 2027 vote.
Shortly after his nomination win, Sampson sat down for an interview with local outlet News Five to outline his policy platform and background as he prepares for the general municipal election. A community organizer with nearly 20 years of on-the-ground service in Dangriga, Sampson noted that his longstanding ties to the area have translated to strong grassroots support for his campaign.
The candidate, who previously sought office as an independent before joining the UDP, praised the party’s commitment to open democratic processes during the nomination contest. “One thing I can say about the United Democratic Party is that they deliver on democracy. They use the democratic process, and that is what is good — they give everybody a fair chance,” Sampson said, adding that the transition from independent politics to running under the UDP banner has been overwhelmingly positive, with full support from party leadership and members.
When outlining his policy priorities for Dangriga, Sampson highlighted two core goals that his full campaign slate, dubbed Team Sampson, will push forward if elected. First, the team plans to expand and revitalize the municipality’s tourism sector by centering its unique Garifuna cultural heritage. Sampson pointed to Marsha Mejia, one of his council candidates, who already has years of experience working to preserve and promote Garifuna culture in the region, as a key leader for this initiative. Second, the team aims to improve accessibility and accountability for local constituents: Sampson noted that many Dangriga residents report confusion over which councilor represents their district, and struggle to connect with elected officials to raise concerns. To fix this gap, Team Sampson plans to introduce regular scheduled “clinic days” where each councilor will be available to meet one-on-one with residents to address their needs.
Looking ahead to the 2027 general municipal election, Sampson expressed full confidence in his chances of victory, saying that Dangriga voters know him well, and understand the leadership style and values he brings to local government.