While the residents of the community are concerned about the project that they believe will cause significant environmental damage to the sea and marine life in their residential community, they are probably right. The Chief Environmental Officer at the Department of the Environment, Anthony Mai told News Five that they have given the owner no permission to build the jetty, which sits in the Corozal Bay Wildlife Sanctuary. Mai says the department had issued a stop order on the project and that order was violated.
On the phone: Anthony Mai
On the phone: Anthony Mai, Chief Environmental Officer
“The Department of Environment is aware of the construction of the jetty the Corozal Bay Wildlife Sanctuary. In fact, we had received an application for the construction of the jetty. The owner of the jetty started the jetty, in terms of construction a few months ago, and so, a cessation order was issued for the activities to stop in terms of the construction. So we were in communication with the owner of the property on the jetty and we were looking towards settling violation. And then we informed the owner that he would have had to go through a process before the DOE considers whether to grant clearance for the jetty or not. It is unfortunate that during the discussion in terms of settling the matter, the owner went ahead and continued with the construction. So, there has been no permit from the Department of Environment that allowed the construction of the jetty.”
Marion Ali
“What would have to be done now? Obviously, the work has already begun and it extends into the sea.”
Voice of: Anthony Mai
“Yes, so currently, the activity is a violation under the environmental laws, and so the owner will be held responsible for that violation.”
When Jane Ifeanyichineke died of stage four colon cancer a few years ago, her husband applied to the Social Security Board for widower’s pension, believing that he was eligible to collect those benefits. His application was denied and he subsequently sought the counsel of attorney Orson Elrington in a claim against the S.S.B. According to Dozieh Ifeanyichineke, he hired a lawyer to pursue the matter with a view to collect what was due to him under the Benefits Regulations. But instead of resolving the matter in the court, a settlement was reached between the Social Security Board and the widower’s lawyer, one that he says he never agreed to. Ifeanyichineke also contends that the sum that was settled upon was far below what he could have received had they taken the matter to court. Tonight, he is suing Elrington & Company. Here is what the disgruntled widower explained to News Five happened when S.S.B. deposited the settlement funds into his lawyer’s account.
Dozieh Ifeanyichineke
Dozieh Ifeanyichineke, Disgruntled Widower
“On March 22nd, 2022, I submitted a letter of application to the Social Security Board for my wife’s pension to assist us in these, to put it in street language, hard times, tough economic times. On April twenty-ninth, I received a letter from the Social Security Board denying me of my claim. Being convinced, based on my conviction and the legal opinions that I received, I made the decision to challenge the decision of the Social Security Board at the Supreme Court of Belize. That was a decision that I took. And then on May 17th, 2022, I obtained the legal of services of a Belize City attorney to represent me at the Supreme Court in my case against the Social Security Board. What he did was that in that conversation, he explained the provisions of the SSB Act unlawfully discriminates against me because of my sex which is a violation of my rights under Section 16 of the Constitution of Belize. We all know the constitution is the highest law in the land. I think we all know that. Now having explained what my options are he asked what recourse I would take. I explicitly, there was no if and but, I explicitly instructed him to file a constitutional lawsuit at the Supreme Court against the Social Security Board. In that way, by way of a legal victory, I would then seek relief in respect of my wife‘s pension and vindicatory damages. It was on October 18th, 2023, at about 2:24 p.m., I received a telephone call from the attorney informing me that he accepted the settlement from the Social Security Board. To be honest with you, when he mentioned that I had absolutely no idea what he was talking about.”
Isani Cayetano
“Kindly pause for a minute and let me ask you the following question. When you said he received the settlement, what quantum are we looking at? What are we talking about in terms of the actual dollar amount?”
Dozieh Ifeanyichineke
“Well what I saw was a draft and I want to emphasize that it was a draft, that’s just it, a draft, and on it was written forty-six thousand, five hundred, eighty-eight dollars. That was what I was shown on a draft.”
Attorney Says Claim Against Him is Driven by Greed
News Five contacted attorney Orson Elrington for a response to the claim being brought against him. While Elrington told us that the matter is before the court, he did mention that the matter was initially taken on as a pro bono case which he believed was a landmark case for gender equality. He explains what created the disagreement with his former client.
On the phone: Orson “OJ” Elrington, Attorney-at-law
“We effectively did the matter almost on a pro bono basis, on a contingent basis because the person said they essentially had no money to bring this claim. But I often tell people that I went to law school not to gain any money but because I want to do what is just and what is right for people. So what it is essentially is that we brought a claim on behalf of Dozieh [Ifeanyichineke] based on the fact that a provision in the Social Security Act discriminated against men. Effectively, a provision in the Social Security Act treated men differently than it treated women. It had a higher threshold where there were persons where their wife would have died, were treated differently than a woman if their husband had died. And so, we thought that the matter had very good merit and therefore we took the matter to the court on behalf of Dozieh. However, when the date that the matter was supposed to go before the court, Dozieh contacted us and effectively said that how he no longer wants to accept what he had already accepted because he discussed with his family. That is the crux of it. We informed Mr. Dozieh that that is simply not something that we can do. We informed him that the matter was completed, that we had entered into a consent agreement based on his instructions and, therefore, we could not simply just go back and say we no longer want to accept what he had already accepted. And so, that is where the issue lies. We thereafter told him that he could provide us with his banking information and he subsequently said that he wanted not only the sums which the Social Security had settled on, but he also wanted for us to surrender what would have been our agreed portion and so for me it seems and I believe it is nothing more than greed.”
On February second, the Belize City Council issued a letter to the Christian Workers Union informing them of the implementation of a Consensual Workplace Agreement. The Belize City Council claims that it was created to avoid discrimination, exploitation, favoritism, and harassment. The document is to be signed by both parties involved in the relationship, as well as a witness, and it states that, “while a social relationship continues between them, neither of them will request, apply for, seek in any way, or accept a direct supervisor or reporting relationship with the other”. Here’s what president of the CWU, Leonora Flowers, had to say on the matter.
Leonora Flowers
Leonora Flowers, President, Christian Worker’s Union
“The feedback from the union has to be that our members were never consulted on that. It was never brought to CWU. All we got was the document that said, this is a consensual relationship agreement. At first glance, and I’m no lawyer, but at first glance for the common man, the reasonable man will look at that and say, we cannot go ahead, I cannot sign on to this. So we’ve indicated to our members, give us your feedback, did you have any input, and there has been no input from our members to the council. So we’re at a loss as to why or where that originated from. But, CWU will not have any of our members signing on to such an agreement.”
Reporter
“So you expect that, having sent that letter to the union, at some meeting, it’s going to be raised by the council?”
Leonora Flowers
“We don’t know what to expect. To me, it should be a dead issue because that, that is something illegal to me. You cannot go ahead asking people to sign away their rights when a CBA exists. The most the council can do is to create a policy to say we will not allow fraternizing, and if fraternizing has happened, these are the pitfalls and this is what the council will do. But you cannot say you can sign on to a consensual relationship agreement between persons working under this establishment. We cannot bring like that.”
Reporter
“When you say sign away their rights, you are talking about privacy rights, for one.”
Leonora Flowers
“Privacy rights, and you may be in a relationship, so you’re going to make it, put it in an agreement for the council to, to do what? You cannot have people sign away that kind of rights.”
On March sixth, the electorate will go to the polls to vote for a municipalgovernment in their respective city or town. Until then, the political parties are visiting with voters in their area and presenting their platforms on which they seek office. The U.D.P. team consists of mayoral candidate, Hubert Lucas and councillor candidates: Frank Caliz, Adlene Estero, Cindy Fajardo, Anthony Garbutt, Stephen Laurie, and Dwayne Sampson. The P.U.P. team consists of Mayor Robert Mariano and councillor candidates Martha Robinson, Gilroy Flores, Liberato Teul, Howard Flores, Howard Melendrez, and Hilberto Bernardez. In tonight’s episode of Meet the Candidates, we speak with the mayoral candidates and their teams from both major political parties.
“My name is Hubert Alexander Lucas. I’m the UDP male candidate for Dangriga.”
Marion Ali
“Yes, Sir. What are the issues that you are campaigning on?”
Hubert Lucas
“Some of the issues that we are campaigning on are proper drainage in Dangriga, proper streets, employment and more activities for the youths. I will go and solicit funds from Central Government and from other countries. I will become a partner with sister cities around the world so that Dangriga can be the envy of the nation.”
Robert Mariano
Robert Mariano, P.U.P. Mayoral Candidate, Dangriga
“The main accomplishment has to do with the amount of roads that we have paved. We have paved at least 18 streets around Dangriga during this short period of time. We have also opened 15 new roads around Dangriga, especially in the Rivas Estate, New Site and Wagierale area. Those were important to the people of Dangriga because the past administration had given out lots in those areas but the people didn’t have access to their own properties. So what we did was to open the lot so that they have access. We have dealt with the playgrounds.”
“I run up as a third party [candidate] with the Belize People Front.”
Marion Ali
“Why have you joined the UDP in this round?”
Dwayne Sampson
“I decided to join the UDP in this round because when I look at the UDP visionand mission it shared the same sentiment as the philosophy that I carry for the people? We work for the people and that is why I decided that I will join the UDP.”
“I have years of leadership working with youth groups. I’m working with women’s groups. I work with the diaspora. I’m a past president for National Garifuna Council, Dangriga Branch.”
Marion Ali
And what would you like to see get done if you’re elected term?
Martha Robinson
“I need to work a little bit more when it comes to empowering women, women’s groups as well. I will work with them and make sure that they have more opportunities when it comes to entrepreneurship and so that’s why I’m looking at that.”
The campaign efforts were as vibrant in Dangriga on Sunday as they probably are in all other cities and towns, with the municipal teams for the various political parties making their rounds. In the blue corner are the incumbents, Mayor Robert Mariano and his team and in the red corner are the hopefuls, led my Hubert Lucas. Mariano feels that, as mayor, he has done enough in his first term to be re-elected. The U.D.P.’s Hubert Lucas says that Dangriga needs and deserves much more and he is willing to seek help from the central Government and international donors in order to deliver. In the middle are the voters, who have also listed what they want to see happen within the next three years. News Five’s Marion Ali reports.
Marion Ali, Reporting
Dangriga Mayor, Robert Mariano is seeking re-election for another term. He believes that while there is much more that needs to be done in Dangriga, he and his team have delivered on quite a few accomplishments to seek another term at town hall.
Robert Mariano
Robert Mariano, P.U.P. Mayoral Candidate, Dangriga
“We have paved at least 18 streets around Dangriga during this short period of time. We have also opened 15 new roads around Dangriga, especially in the Rivas Estate area, New Site and Wagierale area. We have assisted with tuition in relation to schooling for some students. We had a center where we had people who have jobs can call what we refer to as the employment center, and we also have people who are looking for employment who can come, they apply at the Dangriga Town Council and then whenever people say that they need somebody to be employed, then we would call them and tell them and they can go to a certain area and you can get a job.”
The incumbent mayor is banking on his successes; however, his political opponent says that he and his team have been listening to the people. Hubert Lucas shared that plan should the UDP team be voted in.
Hubert Lucas
Hubert Lucas, U.D.P. Mayoral Candidate, Dangriga
“The first a hundred days we will look at drainage because when it rains in Dangriga, the kids cannot go to school or the parents got to carry the kids on their back. We going to create an employment center at the Town Council so that people who don’t have a job can get jobs. Say you have an opportunity for somebody to come and work at your house, we’re going to create a center where they can come to the office – where you can call the office and we can call someone that qualifies for the position that you have.”
While both mayoral candidates have their own ideas of what Dangriga needs, a few of the voters shared with us what issues are affecting them in Dangriga.
Daytha Rodriguez
Daytha Rodriguez, Dangriga Voter
“My son da friend with the youths them and they come the full up my yard. So I try help them fi mek they would ah do wa lee – I mek drums, so I would ah use them fi mek they like bark the log, help me – give them jobs, yes, give them jobs.”
Zane McLaughlin
Zane McLaughlin, Dangriga Voter
“The main thing da the road how the road deh soh look, because it kinda rough, and the dust and the thing deh always di affect when wi wash and deh thing deh soh a lot of dust will raise up, and lotta hole. And then the next thing, the drain, because when it rain, all the water run off of the road and we get flood out. One or two times they come and they fix it up, but ih need like more maintenance, the drain and the thing deh.”
Rachel Ramirez
Rachel Ramirez, Dangriga Voter
“Sometimes for a whole month we don’t have garbage collection and then the dog come along and the, even the horses now, they lift up the barrel top and they just take all the garbage. My kids with the drain again, the drain. They can’t go to school, sometime they go to school, in the water. I have to make me one bridge, make the cross. And that’s not right.”
Mayor Mariano says that if he is re-elected, he wants to buy more heavy-duty equipment for sanitation and infrastructural work. He wants to introduce a low-income housing program collaboration from the DFC. He wants to improve the drainage system and partner with private businesses to open a jetty pier to cater to small cruise tourism from Honduras to Dangriga. Meanwhile, Hubert Lucas said that a municipal government under his stewardship will lobby locally and internationally for funds to carry out the necessary infrastructural projects. He said he will reach out to the Central Government through the Dangriga Area Representative for whatever assistance they need. And while he was campaigning, Area Representative, Dr Louis Zabaneh stopped by to greet Lucas. We took that opportunity to ask Zabaneh about his willingness to work with either team that is elected.
Dr. Louis Zabaneh
Dr. Louis Zabaneh, Area Representative, Dangriga
“My doors have always been open and will continue to be open, and I look forward to the visit of our friend to come in and discuss whatever it is we need to discuss. It’s all about the people at the end of the day.They are the ones who decide who they want to serve them. And whoever gets in there needs to come with a level of humility and a level of service. And I think that’s characteristic of Dangriga, of the people of Dangriga. We work together and we try to do the best that we can. I have to, work with whoever is there, absolutely. That goes without saying.”
Come March sixth, the people will decide. Marion Ali for News Five.
Earlier this week, we told you that Commissioner of Police, Chester Williams brought charges against his own brother, Arthur Williams, under the Cybercrime Act. Arthur Williams was charged with two counts of using a computer system to disseminate false information with the intent to cause another person to be subjected to public ridicule or embarrassment and one count of using a computer system to intimidate a person. Arthur Williams was fined ten thousand dollars for the offense. Today, reporters caught up with ComPol Williams and asked him about his decision.
Chester Williams
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“During my mother’s ailing time before she passed, my brother went to social media and referred to my mother with the W and B word. No man should refer to a woman, especially his mother, using the W or B word. I took offense to it and went after him and told him he ought not to refer to our mother in such a way. Because I did that, I became the bad one. He and I had always had a very good relationship. Every time he reached out to me for help I always helped him, but since that particular incident he turned against me and almost every day he was on social media posting negative comments about me trying to belittle me in every way possible. I reached out to our older brother to reach out to him to discontinue. My older brother spoke to him and he did not stop. I reached out to our uncle to speak to him and he did not stop. I reached out to the Ombudsman, because he is a driver for the Ombudsman, and sent him the screen shot of what he posted on social media and asked the Ombudsman to please speak to him to discontinue because he is out there doing what he can to have the public see me in a light I am not. The Ombudsman spoke to him and he still continued. I guess as a person there is nothing much you can do with all efforts made to have him stop doing what he was doing, he did not. So I am hoping now with the matter before the court, the court will be able to get him to discontinue. It is sad that it reached to this. He is my brother. I don’t dislike him. I love him. We share the same mother and father and I wish that he would have taken my advice in the light which I had given him when he referred to my mother with the W and B words.”
The Belize Police Department and the Human Trafficking Institute has solidified their efforts in the fight against human trafficking and smuggling. On Thursday, the department and the institute signed a Memorandum of Understanding. Through the partnership, the Human Trafficking Institute will provided needed support to the Belize Police Department to decimate human trafficking in Belize. ComPol Williams told us more.
Chester Williams
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“Yesterday we signed a memorandum of understanding with the Human Trafficking Institute. That MOU has to do with enhancing the capabilities of the Anti-Trafficking Unit in Belize. When we talk about enhancing the capacity we are looking at training as well as other resources we need to be able to carry out our duties properly. You would know that human trafficking is a crime against humanity so as democratic nations we must do our best to ensure we rid ourselves of the scourge. That is why we are partnering with the Human Trafficking Institute to see how they can enhance our capabilities to be able to discharge that very important function. We also discussed expanding the Unit. About two years ago I expanded the unit with additional personnel and I am expanding it again whenever the next recruit squad graduates we are putting an additional three officers there. With that we are also ensuring we have the capabilities to address human smuggling.”
On Thursday night, police captured a suspected murderer that has been on the run since October twenty-fourth, 2023. Twenty-two-year-old Lewis Blake was wanted for questioning in connection with the murder of Joel Andrews and Martin Sho in Hattieville. Well, after months in hiding, it appears that Lewis was spotted in the village and an off-duty officer pursued him. Commissioner Williams gave us more details.
Chester Williams
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“You would know that for some time now we have been looking for Blake Lewis, and again Blake Lewis is wanted in respect of two incidents. The double murder that took place in the back of Hatieville and a recent shooting where a person was shot and survived. Since then he has been eluding the police. We try to work as best as we can to do Ops and surveillance and these kinds of things to capture him but he has always been able to stay one step ahead of the police. Last night the Gi3 committed themselves to conduct investigation and go into the area and do certain work and the work that last night they were able to flush out Blake Lewis. He was spotted by the team riding a motorcycle and he practically rode into the police vehicle and fell off the motorcycle. He ran and the police pursued him he escaped. A couple minutes later he was encountered by a police officer from Hatieville CIB. He fired two shots at the police and the police returned fire and he dropped his weapon and ran. He was able to escape. We found the weapon he had, it was picked up and proceed and sent to the lab. Today the GI3 and CIB went back into the area, determined to locate him and we knew that he was injured following the fall. They were able to locate him across the river so he is now in custody. “
Joseph Budna is once again making the news, and, as has been the case in the past, it is not for good reasons. He is wanted by police in connection with a cybercrime allegation. Reports are that Ramon “Monchi” Cervantes filed a police report against Budna for cyber bullying. ComPol Williams says a warrant is out for Budna’s arrest.
Chester Williams
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“The Cybercrime Unit in Belmopan has been extremely busy. People are becoming more familiar with the law and are making these reports as they occur. The unit is tasked with making sure they do follow up on these reports as they occur. The unit is tasked with making sure they do follow up. Yes I am aware that Minister Cervantes has filed a report against Joseph Budna in respect to cyber bullying. Police is again looking for Budna to follow through with that report to see if there is anything there he can be charged for.”
