Leader of the Opposition responds to High Court ruling on unlawful SOE detentions

Published by [email protected] at May 20, 2025

Tracy Panton becomes first female Opposition Leader in Belize’s history

Posted: Tuesday, May 20, 2025. 6:29 am CST.

By Breaking Belize News Staff: The Leader of the Opposition has issued a strong response following the High Court’s recent ruling that declared the 2020 State of Emergency (SOE) detentions unconstitutional. The decision, seen as a landmark affirmation of citizens’ rights, found that sixteen Belizean men were unlawfully detained without judicial oversight and in violation of their constitutional protections.

In a statement shared on social media, the Opposition Leader welcomed the ruling as a powerful reminder that the rule of law must never be suspended without just cause. She emphasized that emergency powers are not a blank cheque and must be applied with caution, transparency, and full respect for human rights.

“The rule of law must never be suspended without just cause,” the statement read. “Emergency powers must be exercised with transparency, constitutional safeguards, and a full respect for citizens’ rights.”

The statement comes as the government continues to declare new SOEs in response to rising crime and public safety concerns. However, the Opposition Leader warned against the misuse of such powers, calling for strict constitutional adherence to ensure that arbitrary detention never becomes a tool of the State.

She further called on the Government to immediately settle the damages awarded by the Court to the unlawfully detained men and to ensure that the constitutional rights of all Belizeans are protected going forward.

The High Court ruling not only awarded monetary damages to the affected individuals but also reaffirmed the critical role of judicial oversight during any invocation of emergency powers.

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