March 25, 2024 - Channel 5 Belize

Immigration Officer Arraigned for Extortion

This morning, a junior immigration officer from Corozal Town was arraigned for extortion. Allegations are that on Friday, March fifteenth, thirty-one-year-old Monique Escalante demanded three thousand U.S. dollars from Jamaican national Janhoi Richards while he was at the Philip Goldson International Airport. Escalante claims she was legally authorized to do so as an immigration officer. Escalante was offered bail in the sum of eight thousand dollars and a surety of the same amount, which she met. As a part of Escalante’s bail conditions, she is to surrender her travel documents to the court, abstain from contacting Richards, and report to the Racoon Street Police Station every Friday, effective this week. In an interview with Escalante’s attorney, Audrey Matura, she claimed that the arrest of her client is merely a scapegoat for other immigration officers taking advantage of their position, but she also maintained that her client is innocent.

Audrey Matura, Attorney For Defendant

“The first thing I’ll say is that it’s interesting what is happening. If the department believes there’s a problem up at the airport, They need to locate it beyond trying to use my client as a scapegoat and I say that because the second thing is that, the facts as is being stated is very questionable because according to the records that they will have there is that Mister Richards who’s making these allegations, came into the country of the fifteenth of March. And I saw the report gave the impression that as this. alleged incident happened; he ran to the police to get help. That’s not true. He went to the police the twentieth of March and what the department and people who are concerned are not saying is that he only made a report after he tried to leave Belize through the Belize Mexico border and the immigration officers there stopped him and then he came up with this story. A very important thing on the point of this person, mister Richards, that made the allegations, when he came into this country, he said that he would be staying at Belcove Hotel, that he would leave Belize the twenty-second of March via the same airline going to Panama. He attempts to leave Belize to Mexico border, Belize Mexico border. What the senior officials need to tell us the public is where is he? Where’s the record that he left? Because the real scam is not what they’re accusing my client of doing. The real scam is who in the department is running the rocket to help people to get through to the border, to leave this country and transit to Mexico. That’s where the real issue is. Like I said, my client is just the scapegoat. So I think they need to account and give proof if this man has left the jurisdiction And if he hasn’t based on what he declared as the reason he’s coming in where are the charges against him?”

Trial Against Bladen 12 Adjourned, Again

The men accused of facilitating the landing of a drug plane in the south in 2021 appeared in court today. They are known as the Bladden Twelve, and today the trial judge adjourned the proceedings. That’s because the attorney for some of the accused, Oscar Selgado, is incarcerated and unable to represent them. Attorney Richard Bradley explained.

Richard “Dickie” Bradley, Attorney for Defendants

“We are a bit taken aback, but it is unavoidable, at least for this morning, if not for the rest of the day. Four of the accused in the Bladden drug plane, drug trafficking, landing of a plane without permission case, those four persons had the illustrious Oscar Selgado as their attorney. He is unable to make it this morning because he doesn’t control his time. So, the four persons have asked and one of our colleagues attorney is going to represent them. And of course that only came up this morning when they all came to court. So, the Magistrate quite rightly said that they are entitled to be properly represented and so she agreed to the request for adjournment in relation to that matter. Hoping that we would then come bright and early on Holy Thursday to try and get a full morning but like bad luck Mr. Jones has also received a last minute notice that he has been appointed by the high court to represent a person in a murder trial so he’s going to try and see how he could get that sorted out this afternoon. And in relation to Thursday that is not going to work. So we are going, God willing, on the third day of April to get a full day and thereafter if things remain on track, I repeat on track, then the 8th of April we will continue and between myself and the others we’ll try and see how far we could get before a day advanced by the 9th day of April.”

Ashton Myers Shot in Belize City

Two men survived separate shooting incidents over the weekend in Belize City. One of them was Ashton Myers. He was shot at on Sunday evening while at his residence on Freedom Street. Investigators say that Myers was shot several times. The victim was rushed to the K.H.M.H., where he remains in a stable condition. ACP Hilberto Romero shared more details.

A.C.P Hilberto Romero, Regional Commander, Eastern Division

“Information is that he was sitting in front of his yard when a vehicle came in the area and a person came out and fired several shots towards his direction. Again, several persons are detained and are being interviewed in regards to this report.

Hipolito Novelo

The person’s being interviewed and in detention, they know the victim?

A.C.P Hilberto Romero

“We have information that, it is over some rival that they have in that area. And yes, they know each other.”

Hipolito Novelo

The victim has provided an official statement to police.

A.C.P Hilberto Romero

“Not as yet. He receiving treatment as soon as he recovers, that will be done.”

Someone Wants Fredrick Garbutt Dead

Later that Sunday night, Belize City police were called out to an area near Jane Usher Boulevard. There they found Fredrick Garbutt, suffering from several gunshot injuries. He was rushed to the K.H.M.H., where he is in a stable condition. ACP Hilberto Romero says that several persons have been detained.

A.C.P. Hilberto Romero, Regional Commander, Eastern Division

“His presently still listed in a stable condition at KHMH. Several persons have been detained and are being interviewed in regards to this report. Yes, he’s from that area.”

Reporter

“That area seems to have been heating up recently. We had the Troy Hyde area not to far from where this happened. Are you guys taking any special focus on the genocide?”

ACP Hilberto Romero

“Yes, there are several patrols and specialized units in that area, uh, covering the various gang bases. This person was walking on Jane Oshawa Boulevard and he was targeted.”

PM Briceño Says Budget is Designed to Help Everyone

The budget debate concluded late on Friday evening. During his closing statements, Prime Minister John Briceño pointed out that the National Budget is designed to help people, not based on party politics, but everyone, based on need. And the assistance, he said, spreads across the various ministries that deal with education and scholarships, natural resources and land, and other areas of need.

Prime Minister John Briceño

“The broad reach of the budget also exposes the failure of those on the other side. Year after year, they have mostly nothing good to say about the budget, nothing but criticize, criticize and complain. I want to say to the voters of Mesopotamia, in Albert, in Queen’s Square, in Collet, in Corozal North, that you should not accept excuses from your area representatives for what is their own failure to identify and to source assistance for you, where such programs are a part of the National Budget. The National Budget is not designed to assist only the P.U.Ps. When increments are given to the public officers deh nuh give deh because this one da U.D.P and this one da P.U.P. We give that based on merit.

Our budget is working for all the people. The Ministry of Education supports students with scholarships. Dehn nuh ask dehn if dehn da P.U.P or U.D.P. They look at what you need and give them a scholarship. The Ministry of Natural Resources, when they’re holding their clinics, dehn nuh goh and tell the people, “You have to bring a note.” Dehn tend to everybody weh show up.”

PM Points to Minimum Wage Increase and Inflation Decrease

The Prime Minister also summarized some of the accomplishments that his government has realized over the time they have been in government. He spoke of the benefits raising the minimum wage has brought to Belizeans who were earning just over three dollars an hour when they got in office, to how they have been able to see the rate of inflation decrease over the past year.

Prime Minister John Briceño

“How could you not celebrate the fact that when you raise from – where was it per month – when the minimum wage was at $3.30 and went up to $5, over 40,000 Belizeans benefitted. And the honourable member from Belize Rural Central said it best: “A rising tide raises all boats,” because what has happened, I was talking to Michael Bowen a few months ago and he was telling me, “I can’t hire anybody at minimum wage anymore. I have to increase my salaries to $8 and $9. The call centres (interruption). The point I’m trying to make is that salaries have gone up all over this country, and yes, when we spoke to the I.M.F they said that it has affected inflation a little bit. But what do you want? Do you want to continue to have high unemployment and paying the people on pittance? Well, I rather we raise the salaries to the people even if we have to deal with wa lee bit ah inflation, which is what we’re doing because now it’s going down. People are making more money, and that’s something to be proud of, my brother. You’re supposed to be celebrating that fact. They have more money. When you have more money you could buy more and when you buy more, the businesses do more and they could hire more people, and have more jobs and more jobs and this is how you grow the economy.”

The 33rd Women’s Cross Country Cycling Classic

Goodnight, and welcome to another edition of Sports Monday, I am Paul Lopez. As we near the end of Women’s Month, we begin tonight’s coverage with highlights from the thirty-third running of the Women’s Cross Country Cycling Classic. Eleven riders lined up at the starting line in San Ignacio. Among them were three Belizeans, including defending champion Kaya Cattouse, four American riders, two Mexicans, a Trinidadian, and a Jamaican rider.

Paul Lopez, Reporting

Heading into Central Farm, its Jamaican rider, Lory Sharp, setting the pace. Twenty minutes later, Sharp is still in the lead, followed closely by Trinidadian rider Alexis Ramirez in second place. At this point in the race, Kaya Cattouse is the only Belizean rider keeping up with the main field of lead riders. The other two have fallen behind. In Camalote Village, Sharp has displayed a great deal of endurance and stamina as she continues to lead the charge. LA Sweat’s Elizabeth Stevenson in hot pursuit. These riders have created a gap between themselves and the other riders.They maintained their lead until mile forty, when the chase group caught up with them, led by LA Sweat’s Mia Scarleto.

Mexican rider Julie Aguilar launched an attack just outside of St. Mathews Village. LA Sweat’s Regina Doty immediately rose from her seat in hot pursuit. Well, folks, that was the last the other riders would see of Aguilar and Doty. Here is the main field of riders, two minutes behind the two lead riders. Kaya Cattouse, the only Belizean rider still in the pack, is among this group. Heading into Belize City, it is all Doty and Julin Aguila. With less than half a mile to the finish line, Doty and Aguila turn up the heat for an all-out sprint. And here it is folks, the sprint to the finish line. Regina Doty followed by Julin Aguia.

Regina Doty, Champion, 33rd Women’s Cross Country

“If you race fearful, you are never going to win.You cant race with fear. I was willing to give it all I have. I attacked to see what she had. I attacked and attacked quickly, even after seventy miles. I know what my body is capable of. I was trying to see if she was strong enough, but she didnt want it and I was there to take it.”

Kaya Cattouse, LA Sweat Rider

“Going into it, our game plan was to bring it down to the line for me. We quickly realized that the other team’s focus was on me. Our back up plan was to get one of our other stronger pacers on the road and hopefully they could deliver that W. That is exactly what happened today when we realized we couldn’t get away from them for third place, i launched Liz down the road for that third spot. Belizeans wanted a Belizean win but we came for an LA Sweat win and that is exactly what we got today.”

Kaya Cattouse came in sixth place. From cycling, we move into some basketball action. The San Pedro Tiger Sharks took on the Belize City Defenders. The Sharks had something to prove after being defeated by the Defenders the last time they faced off inside the Belize City Civic Center. The San Pedro Tiger Sharks are on a roll. After defeating the number one seed in the BEBL, Benny’s Belize Hurricanes, last week inside the Civic, on Saturday night they went up against the number two seed, the Belize City Defenders. It is safe to say that this is a new Tiger Sharks team we are seeing after also winning their game against the Defenders one hundred and four to seventy points.

The Shark’s number seven, Bobby Athur Williams, played thirty-seven minutes and put up an impressive thirty-three points. That includes three of four from the three-point line and five of eleven two pointers. Williams also banked fourteen of his sixteen free throw attempts. Francis Arana followed behind with eighteen points off the bench, scoring five of his ten two-point attempts and two of his six three-point attempts. He ended the game with eleven assists. Arana was also big on the defensive end, securing five steals for his team on Saturday night. Jihad Wright and Daniel Conorque both finished the game with fifteen points each. What Wright lacked from the arch he made up for with his two-point shots and free throws. Conorque was forty-four percent efficient from the field on Saturday night. We heard from coach Rico Black and Francis Arana following their victory.

Rico Black, Coach, San Pedro Tiger Sharks

“The beginning of the season, it was very difficult to get my players together. We had to transition from San Pedro and come here and we couldn’t get the Civic to work out. So it was very difficult. The opening night you saw we weren’t playing, we weren’t really then we gave our game to the Defenders, the second game. But now that we are working out, odd hours, ten to twelve at nights, but we are making the sacrifice. So we are getting together, the team is believing in themselves. I am letting my bench believe that they can play at this level.”

Francis Arana, San Pedro Tiger Sharks

“Well as the season goes on we are gradually getting our chemistry together. SO now we are learning to play together much better. And we are seeing the chemistry everytime we come out and put in the work together and it is showing on the court now.”

The Tiger Sharks are now second in the league’s standings. Well folks, that’s all we have for you in tonight’s coverage of Sports Monday. Catch you in the next one.

US Funding Bill Bans U.S. Embassies from Flying Pride

Embedded within the extensive government funding package signed by President Biden on Saturday is a provision prohibiting the flying of LGBTQ Pride flags at U.S. embassies. Despite this inclusion, the White House immediately expressed its intention to overturn the ban.

The provision was just one of numerous ancillary issues included in the $1.2 trillion funding package aimed at financing the government until September. Its passage saw Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson reportedly leverage the Pride flag ban to secure support from his party members.

The White House says it will repeal the ban, citing concerns over the exploitation of the legislative process to target LGBTQI+ Americans.

Immigration Officer Charged with Extortion

Immigration officer Monique Escalante is being accused of extortion. Investigators say that she extorted Jamaican, Jahnoi Shaun Dhee Richards last week. Richards claims that she extorted him of three thousand US dollars while he was at the Philip Goldson International Airport. Prime Minister John Briceño, who is also the Minister of Immigration said that if the immigration officer is found guilty, she will have to face the music.

Escalante was charged with extortion.

Defenders in Haiti Fight Gang Assaults with Determination

In Haiti’s capital, where violence is rampant and death is a daily occurrence, residents are taking a stand against gang attacks. They are determined to safeguard their neighborhoods at any cost.

Each day in Port-au-Prince begins with updates on the ongoing clashes plaguing the city. Bodies litter the streets, ignored by passersby due to financial constraints preventing proper burials. Scenes of violence, from shootings to charred remains, have become commonplace, desensitizing the populace to the horrors unfolding around them.

The city’s atmosphere is tense and perilous, with roads once bustling now deserted, signaling danger. Even the route to the international airport, guarded by the military, is treacherous, reflecting the city’s isolation from the outside world. Port-au-Prince feels like a besieged enclave, its residents trapped within its confines.

France will provide special flights for its “most vulnerable” citizens to leave Haiti, the French foreign ministry said Sunday, after air links with Port-au-Prince were cut during political chaos.