Shyne has officially lost his reelection campaign for the Belizean House of Representatives to businessman Lee Mark Chang, who ran under the United Democratic Party (UDP). The election, held on March 12, concluded with Chang winning by a narrow margin of 98 votes. Following the announcement of the results shortly after 9:00 PM, Shyne conceded defeat, acknowledging the will of the voters. “The people have spoken; congratulations to Lee Mark Chang—he’s now the new area representative of Mesopotamia, and I wish him well,” he stated. Shyne expressed his respect for the voters’ decision, despite his initial confidence in the outcome.
Chang’s victory is notable as he becomes the first Belizean of Chinese descent to secure a seat in the House. Prior to the election, he had referred to Shyne as a “cancer” that needed to be removed from politics, claiming that voters were beginning to realize they had been misled.
In light of his defeat, Shyne announced his intention to resign from his leadership position within the UDP once a national convention is held to elect a new leader. He emphasized that it would be inappropriate to continue leading the party without a seat in the House of Representatives, stating, “I would not want to be appointed as a senator or anything to hold on to the leadership… The people have spoken here.”
Shyne’s journey in politics began with his election to the House in 2020, followed by his rise to Leader of the Opposition and eventually the leader of the UDP. His political career has been accompanied by significant media attention, including a Hulu documentary titled “The Honorable Shyne,” in which he discussed his past, including his time in prison following a high-profile nightclub shooting incident in 1999.
As Shyne navigates this unexpected turn in his political career, the future remains uncertain, both for him personally and for the UDP. The next steps for Shyne and the party will be closely watched as they unfold.
