March, 2024 - Channel 5 Belize

City Administrator Gunned Down; Her Husband Takes His Own Life

On Saturday morning, many across the Old Capital were shocked upon learning of the deaths of city administrator Stephanie Lindo-Garbutt and her husband, Oswald “Wally Cat” Garbutt. The couple was well known, as Garbutt’s husband was the proprietor and manager of Blue Steel Sounds, an entertainment group that is popular on the music scene. Garbutt shot his wife, before turning the weapon on himself. It’s a tragedy that comes while International Women’s Month is being celebrated. It has rocked the People’s United Party, as well as the Belize City Council which is set to be sworn into office for a third term later this week. Here’s News Five’s Isani Cayetano with the following story.

Bernard Wagner, Belize City Mayor

“Shocked, frozen in time and I’m still shocked actually. This whole weekend has been a weekend where I am on the edge, always anticipating that something tragic would happen and so this continues. I know we will have to heal as a unit, group, and I know I have the support of my council. I am glad to have them along with me.”

The city administrator and her husband are dead and the couple leaves behind a thirteen-year-old son in the wake of a tragic murder/suicide over the weekend. It happened on Saturday morning at this residence on Freetown Road, on the second floor of Oswald Garbutt’s Glass Technology business.

ACP Hilberto Romero, Regional Commander, Eastern Division

“Investigations revealed that shots were heard inside the house and when police visited, they found the two bodies.”

Stephanie Lindo-Garbutt and her husband, Oswald “Wally Cat” Garbutt were reportedly involved in a domestic dispute prior to the deadly shootings. The incident is believed to have taken place sometime after seven a.m. Garbutt’s younger sibling, who goes by the professional handle Selectah Joe, made the grisly discovery when he realized that blood was dripping through the flooring of the upstairs residence.

Hilberto Romero

“The two bodies were found with gunshot injuries and thereafter the scene was processed and they were taken to the KHMH.”

Isani Cayetano

“From your investigation, your preliminary investigation, I should say, was there anything inside the residence that was of concern or that would have suggested otherwise?”

Hilberto Romero

“Not that I know of, but a thorough investigation is being carried out into the matter.”

The tragic ordeal has come as a shock to everyone at City Hall where a black blow has been placed at the entrance of the building. Eluide Miller worked closely with Stephanie Garbutt in the day-to-day administration prior to running for office.

Eluide Miller, Councilor-Elect

“I had the opportunity to work very closely with the city administrator, not at the policy level like the previous council member did, but at an administrative level, given that I was a staff member at the council and over time we also established, similar to the mayor and myself, we established a great working relationship. I would have to have discussions with her on a daily basis in order to get certain things done and she was always helpful.”

According to Mayor Wagner, at no time did Garbutt indicate to anyone at City Hall that she was experiencing marital issues at home.

Bernard Wagner

“To the best of my knowledge, she didn’t demonstrate any sort of signs. I have meetings with the city administrator every Monday morning and sometimes twice per week. I never saw any signs in respect to domestic violence. But we know that domestic violence is prevalent globally. Actually, it has become a sort of epidemic in itself.”

And that epidemic has reared its ugly head at the Belize City Council. Domestic violence can cause severe physical and emotional harm to family members and children who witness domestic violence may experience long-lasting emotional scars, affecting their development and well-being.

Stephanne Hamilton, Councilor-Elect

“When I received the news on Saturday, for me it was like a nightmare, I actually could not believe it. I had to make several calls to ensure that indeed we were going through this and for me it’s like a devastation. Actually on Wednesday Stephanie texted me on Monday to wish me all the best and when she received the results, again she was championing me and she said, “Councilor, you deserve it, you worked hard.”

Sadly, the city administrator won’t be around to see the Belize City Council be called to office later this week. Her husband, Wally Cat, was well-known on the entertainment scene as a popular disc jockey who owned and managed Blue Steel Sounds, a staple on local radio. He was also the proprietor of Glass Technologies Ltd.

Prime Minister John Briceño

“I’m still at a loss. I know Bill Lindo very well and I know he is hurting beyond words, him and his family, and we reached out to both families. I still don’t know what really transpired, but it’s tragic. And Stephanie was so full of life and hard-working, driven person.”

Isani Cayetano for News Five.

CitCo Suffers Massive Loss Following Death of City Administrator

The tragic loss at City Hall now leaves a vacancy that is yet to be filled. It also casts a dark shadow over the incoming council, as Stephanie Lindo-Garbutt was set to administer the oath of office for the new members.

Isani Cayetano

“It’s a significant void to fill, particularly at this juncture. You’re about to start another three-year term in office. What takes place next, in terms of, one, the swearing-in and, two, being able to fill this particular post?”

Bernard Wagner, Belize City Mayor

“In respect to filling the post, I haven’t had time to really think about filling the post because you are processing so much. Right now I noh even have time fi think who we would recommend for replacement. Currently, the Ministry of Local Government, given that the municipality falls under their jurisdiction, we have had discussions and so, in the interim, so as to continue the operations of the city, we have to have someone there responsible and we, along with the local government, have appointed Sharlene Rudon to fill this transition period for us so as to ensure that the operations of the city continue and that the swearing-in occurs without any hiccups.”

Edmund Kwan, Councilor-Elect

“I just want to express my condolences to the city on a whole because Mrs. Stephanie was really the head of our, basically the head of our city council, you know, and it’s really a tragic loss to the whole city. Words can’t express how I’m feeling right now.”

Alan Pollard, Councilor-Elect

“I’m really still trying to process it. It’s very unbelievable, shocking and it just feels like a bad dream. CA was a lot of things. CA was a hard worker, she was almost robotic in carrying out her tasks. Seamless, she worked very hard, long hours and one thing, like the mayor said, she was strong-willed.”

P.U.P. Municipal Seven in Belmopan Officially Sworn-In

The City of Belmopan officially has a new city council. This afternoon, Mayor Pablo Cawich and his team of councilors were sworn-in to office. Residents of Belmopan went to the polls on March sixth and the majority voted in favor of the People’s United Party’s mayoral candidate, Pablo Cawich and his six councilors. This is the second consecutive term that the P.U.P. will lead in the Capital City. We heard from the Mayor Cawich during the ceremony. Here is what he had to say.

Pablo Cawich, Mayor, City of Belmopan

“Today marks a pivotal moment in our city’s history as we inaugurate a new chapter with the installation of this city council. It is both an honor and a privilege to stand before you as mayor and I am filled with a profound sense of responsibility and enthusiasm for the journey that lies ahead. Our city is vibrant, it is full of dreams and aspirations and it is a testament to the strength of our community as we take on the mantle of leadership, let us recognize the unique character of this city. It has diversity that defines us, challenges that shape us and the collective spirit that unifies us. Our vision for the city is not just about improved infrastructure and services; it is about modernizing and enhancing the very essence of community life. Our goals are ambitious, yet it is a shared commitment and determination that will propel us forward as we face the complexities of modern governance let us remember that our decision impact the lives of each resident.”

Stevedores Are At Work, but On Go-Slow

Since the Christian Workers’ Union called a press briefing last week to state how very upset its members are, those employed by the Port of Belize, there has been little to no feedback from P.B.L. But while the stevedores have only threatened strike action and have reported to work, they have certainly made their discontent known to their employer. The waterfront workers are all on the job, but they have not been working to pace and it has had an effect on business. Today, Leonora Flowers, the President of the C.W.U., categorically told the media that there’s no strike action in place because the union has not informed the employer of such an action. News Five’s Marion Ali reports.

Leonora Flowers, President, Christian Workers’ Union

“There is a group of our members – our stevedores – who are very upset and unhappy with what’s happening at the moment. It’s been over a week that we sat with the – we sat in a meeting with the interim board’s chair and we said what was our final stance: Please do not touch our C.B.A. Please get to the sugar money or get to the C.B.A. We are prepared to dialogue on that right now. We’re not prepared to piecemeal any of our rights. We’re not prepared to give those away, not even for the sugar money.”

Marion Ali, Reporting

The tone was set publicly on March fifth and even from before then, when the Christian Workers’ Union wrote privately to the government, seeking a final settlement to the stevedores’ gripes. After not hearing a word on their behalf, stevedores are reportedly on the job, but have begun to show their discontent. While Leonora Flowers, President of the C.W.U., did not share openly what the stevedores have been advised to do, she gave an idea.

Leonora Flowers

“If you’re working and you’re unhappy, I’m sure it’s going to be felt in the effectiveness of what’s happening.”

Marion Ali

So what’s happening? Is it a go slow? What is happening on the ground?”

Leonora Flowers

“I will not seek to put any word to it. Suffice it to say, it’s not a strike. We’ve not issued any strike. We’ve not, told anybody to stay at home. Go to work.”

Marion Ali

“But whether or not they’re carrying on with the job, that’s a different story.”

Leonora Flowers

“(Nods head). You’d have to get what happens there from the Port. As we said, we tell our members, “show up for work.”

News Five did reach out to PBL C.E.O., Arturo Vasquez, who said that there was no protest happening, but that the actions of the stevedores has been having an impact on business. Cargo ships have been making calls to Belize since last week and have been unable to unload at the Port of Belize as a result of the actions of the stevedores. News Five also learned that on Saturday, a ship named Vanquish was sent back to Miami without unloading and that another ship, Aries, which provides a Caribbean feeder service will reportedly travel to the Port of Big Creek to be unloaded. There is another vessel, the Caribbean Mariner, which is also likely to be unloaded. And Flowers said the stevedores are prepared to stay the course until they hear from the government.

Marion Ali

“For how long will this be the case – that they report to work, but work is not happening?”

Leonora Flowers

“We’re anticipating a response from the government as we speak. It’s been more than a week that we’ve heard absolutely nothing from them.”

We left just as the C.W.U was starting a meeting with the foremen of the stevedore gangs. As Flowers explained, they are the ones who determine what steps they will take next.

Leonora Flowers

“These are the people who direct the union what happens. We take our orders from them.”

Marion Ali

“So they will inform what happens tomorrow and for the rest of the week?”

Leonora Flowers

“Yes.”

The stevedores want the government to pay them four point nine million dollars in compensation for the loss of wages when the decision was taken to have bulk sugar exported from the Big Creek Port instead. They also want to negotiate a new Collective Bargaining Agreement.

A Look at Briceno Administration 2024-2025 Budget

On Friday, Prime Minister John Briceño presented a review of the government’s fiscal performance for the year 2023 to 2024. He also put forward his administration’s budget for the upcoming fiscal year. On Friday, we showed you some highlights from his presentation. Tonight, News Five’s Paul Lopez takes a closer look at the 2024/2025 budget, looking at key investments proposed for infrastructure, education and health. And then, there is that ever increasing public sector wage bill. Here is that report.

Paul Lopez, Reporting

Prime Minister John Briceño projects one point five billion dollars in revenue and grants for fiscal year 2024-2025. Total projected expenditure stands at one point six billion dollars.

Prime Minister John Briceño

“Revenues are comprised of seven hundred and ninety-one million dollars from collections on goods and services, Three hundred and sixty-five million from collections on income and profits, two hundred and twenty-three million from collections on international trade and transactions accounting and seven point seventeen million from collections on property accounting. Let me put this into perspective, for Belizeans to better understand the purpose of each dollar Government spends. Thirty cents of every dollar will be for the wages of public officers; seven cents of every dollar for public officer pensions; eighteen cents of every dollars for operational costs to government, such as utilities and transportation; seven cents for interest on loans, and the remaining twenty-seven cents for capital expenditures, which includes the funding of all projects and programs undertaken by Government.”

That’s seventy-three percent of every dollar going to government’s recurrent expenditure and twenty-seven percent left for capital projects and programs. Among them, the Briceño Administration promises thirty-five million dollars more to fund the expansion of NHI, six million to construct low income houses, and a whopping forty-nine million to construct, repair and maintain streets and highways across the country. Two million dollars have been allocated for sports investments. In education, twelve high schools are being added to the Education Upliftment Project.

Prime Minister John Briceño

“In the budget 2024-2025, Government plans to add twelve additional secondary schools to the Program, increasing coverage to a target of six thousand additional students. The twelve additional schools include Belize Rural High, Ladyville Technical High, San Pedro High, Belmopan Comprehensive, Mopan Technical High, Valley of Peace SDA Academy, Chunox St. Viator Vocational High, Escuela Secundaria Tecnica Mexico, Belize High School of Agriculture, Orange Walk Technical, Bella Vista Government Secondary and Julian Cho Technical High Schools. In these schools the government is paying everyting for these students and there should be no reason why any of these kids should not remain in school.”

This morning, on the heels of his budget presentation, Prime Minister Briceño made an appearance on Open Your Eyes. He explained how his administration goes about ensuring financial prudence and accountability across all government ministries.

Prime Minister John Briceño

“You make enemies, some people get upset, some people get happy, ministries are constantly fighting for more resource, it is a constant battle. Joe Waight and Zeta are not the most popular people in government because they are the ones that has to make the hard decision to tell us, minister well this is the money, this is what we have, these are the commitments we have to meet and this is what is left. And even of what is left we have already committed to projects, so that gets even smaller. We have to take a hard look at to where the real needs are, education, housing, health, infrastructure works and then from there we start to look at where we can allocate the limited resources to try to have the biggest impact in our lives.”

With up to one point one billion dollars allocated to recurrent expenditure and just over half of that earmarked to pay wages and pension, Prime Minister Briceño says the government’s wage bill is too big. So, how does the Briceño administration plan to trim the fat? That’s what he was asked.

Isani Cayetano, Co-Host, OYE

“What can be done to either limit or sort of curtail that part of expenditure? You are looking at pensions, salaries and everything that falls in that category?”

Prime Minister John Briceño

“Isani you the try set me up? Because, of those advocates that I believe the government is too big. But, you are right, agree. That is why we are pushing for pension reform, pension continues to go up, and it is over a hundred million dollars. What has happened, when I think about it, when we got independence, when we became independent in 1981, we took what the British did and continued that road. The government pays every single penny of your pension and it continues to increase. There has been some instances in government that when you combine the pension from government and from social security you end up with the same salary you are earning when you worked. We are speaking with the public service and union about pension reform and they have been very clear it is a must. We cannot continue to afford it. Now this is hard decision we are making and it cut hurt us politically. We nuh wah benefit from it because what we are saying is all those in the system will continue to benefit but we need to have a cutoff date.”

Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.

PM Briceño on Caliber of Public Servants in Government Ministries

As we said, over fifty percent of the government’s revenue is being spent on public sector wages and pension. With the annual pension bill now exceeding one hundred million dollars, Prime Minister John Briceño says the need for pension reform is urgent. He further noted that the public sector begins to focus its efforts on hiring more employees that are better able to perform their duties.

Prime Minister John Briceño

“The problem we are having with governments, and successive governments and we throw the need to everybody that is to be blamed, for too long we do not have a public service that you set standards and if you meet the standards you could get into public service. For example in other countries, the elected representatives or the politicians can’t just go and say oh just hire this person. They have to meet certain standards. We have not done that so that government when you look at the workers, the employees the government has it is like a pear, small at the top and the bottom bog and a lot of times, no offense to anybody, a lot of times the people that come into the government system have limited ability to do the work. So now, when we try, we have to bring in somebody from outside the public service and those people will say well I nuh wah come work for government salary and the public service union start to cry foul. That is the challenge, we need more people that can help us to get the work done and I mean it as no disrespect to anybody, please.”

B.C.C.I. Agrees that B.S.I. Commission of Inquiry Would be Invasive

Last Friday, you heard from attorney for the American Sugar Refinery/Belize Sugar Industries Limited, Senior Counsel Godfrey Smith, who explained a court ruling that came against the government. It was the case of the Belize Sugar Industries Limited and the Corozal Sugar Cane Producers Association against the Attorney General, the Sugar Industry Control Board, the Minister of Agriculture and the Controller of Supplies. The claimants had filed an injunction to have the amended Sugar Industry Import/Export Regulation that was introduced in May of 2023 halted. And the court agreed with the basis of their argument: that the implications of the document, were it effected, would have been unreasonably invasive to the company. When he met with reporters, Smith also said that his view is that the Commission of Inquiry that the government has planned for B.S.I. would also unfairly delve into the company’s sensitive material that it has a right to keep private. And the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry, B.C.C.I. has weighed in on that Commission of Inquiry as well. In a letter addressed to Prime Minister John Briceño, President of the Chamber, Marcello Blake writes about the Chamber’s concern that the Inquiry would investigate the commercial arrangements between two private sector entities. Blake wrote that the government’s intention to conduct the inquiry indicated that the Commission would be convened to examine the modernization of the sugar industry and improve its viability. While the Chamber agrees that there is a need to modernize the sugar industry’s practices, it is of the view that any provision in the Commission’s Terms of Reference to empower it to investigate commercial arrangements between private entities risks setting an undesirable precedent. Quoting in part from Blake’s letter, it states, “Such an action may be seen as an overreach of executive power and is likely to impact any gains made in improving Belize’s viability as an investment destination. Furthermore, the practice of using public resources to resolve commercial disputes involving private entities is not sustainable and parties in dispute must be facilitated to settle using available mechanisms”. The letter ends by suggesting alternative dispute resolution mechanisms as the best methods to resolve commercial disputes fairly and that parties to any commercial dispute should be encouraged to pursue this route.

Jimmy Reyes Loses Life in Fatal RTA on Chan Pine Ridge Road

A motorist lost his life in the Orange Walk District on Sunday night while driving a vehicle along the Chan Pine Ridge Road. Police say that Jimmy Reyes, the driver of a van carrying two other passengers, lost control, crashed and overturned several times before coming to rest. Reyes suffered fatal injuries and died while being transported to the Northern Regional Hospital.

ACP Hilberto Romero, Regional Commander, Eastern Division

“On Sunday, March 10^th, 2024, around 7:30 p.m., police visited Chan Pine Ridge Road where they saw the body of a male person on the street. He was identified as Jimmy Reyes. Information is that Jimmy Reyes was driving an Astro Van when he lost control of the vehicle which crashed and overturned and he sustained fatal injuries. He was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. There were also two other persons along with him, Nasir Vasquez and Johann Valencia received minor injuries and were treated at the hospital.”

Reporter
“Did you guys get a statement from the two passengers?”

Hilberto Romero

“Yes, an investigation is being carried out.”

A Minor is Shot on Linda Vista Street

A minor was the victim of a lone gunman who took aim at him on Sunday night as he was walking along Linda Vista Street in the Lake Independence area. According to Assistant Commissioner of Police Hilberto Romero, the young man was the intended target of his assailant.

ACP Hilberto Romero, Regional Commander, Eastern Division

“On Sunday, March tenth, around 9:10 p.m., police responded to a shooting incident on Linda Vista Street in Belize City. Upon their arrival, they found Rojan Thomas with a gunshot injury. Information is that Thomas was walking on the street when he was approached by a male person who fired the shots towards him, causing the injury to him. Thomas is presently at the KHMH receiving treatment and is in a stable condition. Investigation continues into this report.”

Reporter

“Have police been able to determine whether he was targeted or not?”

Hilberto Romero

“Yes, the investigation revealed that he was the one that was targeted.”

Reporter

“Has anyone been detained as yet?”

Hilberto Romero

“No one is detained.”

Reporter

“[Is it] gang affiliated?”

Hilberto Romero

“We are looking at all the information to try to establish if there is any connection to any gang but so far that has not been determined.”

Government and NGO Agencies Take Part in Oil Spill Training

A four-day training on oil spill response began today at the Best Western Belize Biltmore Plaza Hotel in Belize City. The workshop is for all key responders to an oil spill in Belize, including government and non-government agencies. One of the major players in the training and in the event there is an oil spill is the Department of the Environment. Chief Environmental Officer at the Department of the Environment, Anthony Mai told News Five that Belize has adequate resources to deal with an oil spill, but there is still added equipment that can be acquired.

Anthony Mai, Chief Environmental Officer, Dept. Of Environment

“Belize has a National Oil Spill Contingency Plan that we updated in 2018. The plan has been endorsed by the Cabinet, so we have a responsibility to ensure that all agencies that are to respond are equipped and are able to respond effectively in the unfortunate event that we would have an oil spill.

Marion Ali

Do we have the resources? Do we have the equipment to deal with something of that magnitude if it – and I’m sure that it has happened in the past, but we have bigger and bigger container trucks now and –

Anthony Mai

“Sure, so in just before 2018 Belize undertook an exercise using a tool that is called a Retus tool. This tool basically informs a country of their position in terms of being able to respond to an oil spill. When we ran the tool informed us of some of the things that we needed to do to improve. And so the first thing that the tool said is from a foundational, or a basic level, we need to upgrade our National Oil Spill Contingency Plan, and so we did that. It also identified that we need to do a risk analysis, and so we have a risk analysis that we did. The risk analysis look at all the potential sources of oil spill in Belize and it classified the risk in terms of priorities, but it also identified areas along the Belize coast and inland that are significant and priority areas that need to be protected in the event of an oil spill. And so we have all the, I think, technical information that we need. The assessment also looked at all the resources, all the booms, the skimmers, all the equipment that we would have, including personnel, trained personnel. And we recognize then that we do have some equipment, right? But we need more.”