Moses “Shyne” Barrow is no longer “The Honourable” after losing his Mesopotamia seat in Belize’s March 12 general election. In a dramatic turn, Barrow was unseated by fellow United Democratic Party (UDP) member Lee Mark Chang, who earned 601 votes to Barrow’s 318. People’s United Party (PUP) candidate Lawrence Ellis followed with 503 votes. The constituency saw a turnout of 1,422 voters out of 2,253 registered.
According to Channel 5 Belize, Shortly after 9 p.m., Barrow conceded defeat, stating, “The people have spoken… and I wish [Chang] well.” He added, “I was confident… but they made a decision to go in another direction, and I respect that.”
Chang’s historic victory made him the first Belizean-Chinese elected to the House of Representatives. Though he ran under the UDP, Chang was part of Tracy Panton’s rival slate of candidates, stemming from a fractured unity convention in 2024 that split the party. Panton herself was re-elected in the Albert division for a third term.
Throughout the campaign, Chang criticized Barrow for unmet promises, even calling him a “cancer” during a televised interview. His message appeared to resonate with voters.
Barrow’s loss leaves the future of UDP leadership uncertain. He confirmed he would resign once a new national convention is called, saying, “Obviously you can’t be a leader of the United Democratic Party once you’re not a member of the House… The people have spoken here.”