Also present at the presser this afternoon was Collet Area Representative Patrick Faber. Of note is that U.D.P. mayoral candidate Doctor Nelma Jones Mortis hails from that constituency. Faber began by acknowledging his twenty-first year as a parliamentarian before speaking about Collet and the campaign trail.
Patrick Faber, Area Representative, Collet
“Today, March fifth, makes twenty-one years that I’ve been in the House of Representatives and, of course, under my watch we have never lost the Collet constituency at no level, municipal or general. And, of course, tomorrow, I can assure you, party leader, will be no different. I can assure the country that we will bring victory once again in Collet, but I want to say as well because of my work with the team, I am confident also of a victory citywide. We might not win all constituencies, but cumulatively we will definitely make what it takes to deliver City Hall to the UDP once again. I sit at this table today to have people understand that as we move into the elections tomorrow, we are one united force. The UDP has a record of division, as many would know, and it also has a record of coming together when the country needs us and it is no doubt that if the country ever needed us, that time is now. And so, we have put differences aside in order to make sure that tomorrow we will enter those elections one unified front and bring victory in all nine of our municipalities across the country.”
As far as tomorrow’s municipal elections, Faber says he is optimistic that the United Democratic Party will make inroads across various cities and towns, ahead of a victory at the polls during the 2025 general elections.
Patrick Faber, Area Representative, Collet
“I have had the opportunity to visit with some of the teams across the country. I’ve not gone north but I’ve certainly been south and west and I feel as optimistic as I do about the Belize City team with those teams as well. I feel that we have, in those areas as well, excellent slates and I am looking forward to an early count. I think that the fact that they are counting boxes simultaneously should produce an early result in most of these elections and it’s not going to be, hopefully, like those years gone by where dawn is breaking and we still don’t know who is the winner in some of these municipalities. I think it will be early tomorrow and I look forward to celebrating with my UDP colleagues that victory and to mark the improvement, if you will, but the steps forward in bringing back the United Democratic Party to the government, the national government of Belize. I hope that the results tomorrow will be an impetus for Prime Minister Briceño to call the elections.”
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at is inviting all women to join them in celebrating International Women’s Day. The day, which is observed on March eighth, is meant to promote women’s rights and acknowledge their achievements globally. To participate in the fest ivies, the Muslim community of Belize will be offering an array of services at the Masjid Noor on Saturday. We stopped by today to hear what the event will entail. News Five’s Britney Gordon reports.
Britney Gordon, Reporting
Every year, on March eighth, millions of people across the globe participate in the observation of International Women’s Day. The holiday was declared in 1975 by the United Nations as a day for Women’s Rights and World Peace. As part of this celebration, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at hosts an annual International Women’s Day Expo, which is meant to foster a sense of community and provide an array of services for women in Belize. The president of the Women’s Jama’at spoke to us about these activities.
Maham Warraich
Maham Warraich, President, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Women’s Group,
“This is the third year that we’re having this. And it’s basically celebrating International Women’s Day. It is the month that we’re celebrating women. And we’re offering the same free services that we’ve offered in the previous years as well. And a lot of our locals obviously enjoy that. So some of the services are henna, paint, henna, and hair braiding, and nail painting, and eyebrow OUT 0:46 threading.”
As the holiday is meant to be a reflection of women’s achievements and a day to prioritize the progression of their rights and wellbeing, the Jama’at stated that this event will be an opportunity to offer health and wellness services.
Deshawn Ellis
Deshawn Ellis, Member, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at
“It’s more than just an event. We want it to be an experience for the women. I think that one of the themes for this year’s Women’s Month is Invest in Women. And that’s what we want to do with this expo. You know, we’re gonna have the free services, we’re gonna even have free vital screening, so that you can prioritize your health. And so it’s really investing in women.”
As part of the goal to elevate and empower women, several small female-owned businesses will be given the opportunity to showcase their products and services as well.
Maham Warraich
“So our main goal for this event was also to support our local Belizean ladies and to have a platform where they can come and they can obviously expose their business to other people. And so we have obviously food stalls that people are selling their baked goods and their food. And then we also have an individual who’s selling skincare, bracelets, and then we also have pre loved clothing that they’re trying to sell. And then we also, as It’s for us to have the knowledge of Islam, that if anybody’s interested in learning about Islam, they can come and we’ll have a book stall, and we also have the try on a hijab. That’s a huge hit. A lot of ladies come and they try it on and it’s a loving experience for everyone.”
Member of the Jama’at, Khadija Hassan, spoke on the importance of helping others as a part of the Islam beliefs.
Khadija Hassan
Khadija Hassan, Member, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at
“You know, so we introduce ourself to the community. We integrate ourself in the community by helping the community. We are not separatist. We’re not isolationist. We are here to help and to serve. The promised Messiah, peace be upon him, said that his advent was to bring people back to God and to bring them back to respecting and helping each other. Service is a big part of her community.”
Hassan informed us that the event will not only serve to uplift women in Belize, but will also assist families suffering from the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Maham Warraich
“So as we know that there’s a huge crisis happening in Gaza, and it’s been going on for almost six months, and we thought that it was something that needs to be brought to attention. And so all the proceeds that are going to be from this event, they’re going to be donated to Gaza to help with aid there, because it’s really, really needed. As a Muslim, it is our job to give service to the community, but a huge part is also giving charity as well”
Britney Gordon for News Five.
The event will be hosted on Saturday, 9th of March, from ten a.m. to four p.m. at the Masjid Noor.
Eight years ago, MasterCard created Girls4Tech, a STEM program that inspires girls to build technology skills that will help them to become leaders of technology in the future. Today, that program is being introduced in Belize for the first time through a partnership between the Belize Bank, MasterCard and the Ministry of Education. This morning, at the Matalon Building, a brief ceremony was held to unveil the interactive, hands-on curriculum that connects the foundations of business to STEM principles.
Agata Ruta
Agata Ruta, COO, Belize Bank
“This the first time that we have Girls 4 Tech in Belize. This is teach girls about different parts of technology. So today and for the entire week, they are learning about algorithms, all digital, cryptology and fraud. They have a lot of different activities to bring those topics to light, so they are learning how to write their names in binary code. In the Navajo code and MasterCard is teaching them when the Navajo code was used and how the US was using the code in World War II so they can really see how to encrypt messages. They are finding secret messages different tasks. They are learning about fraud and how to recognize fraud in daily transactions. So it‘s a program that‘s full of activities and we hope that this is just a beginning. This is the first time in Belize, but we hope that theywill be coming [back] and having the program with us on an annual basis.”
Francis Fonseca
Francis Fonseca, Minister of Education
“The Ministry of Education is very, very pleased to partner with the Belize Bank and MasterCard International to have this workshop, Girls 4 Tech. It‘s one of the priority areas for us at the Ministry of Education, making sure that our girls are included in the science and technology revolution that‘s taking place across the world. So we don‘t want our girls to be left out. You know, traditionally, girls have not been a part of science and technology. Science and technology have been viewed traditionally as areas for men and boys. So there is a global effort and Belize certainly wants to be a part of that effort and the Ministry of Education is working to ensure that girls are included, that they have the opportunity to develop the skills that are important to science and technology. So I think it‘s an absolutely important initiative, we have been doing this work at the Ministry of Education for the past two years as well. So we were happy when they called us and asked us to collaborate with them.”
Mahiba Sharp
Mahiba Sharp, Principal, Belize Elementary School
“I think it’s an absolutely amazing opportunity for our girls to be a part of this program. Technology is male dominated and based on what we heard here today, the gender gap probably won‘t close until 2095, so that‘s far away from our lifetime and that‘s a shame. So I think that starting to pique their interest at this age, very young, our students are here from Standard One to Standard Six. So that is between age seven to age thirteen, so I think opening up the horizons for them and letting them know that from now they can be a part of technology. I think it‘s very important. The CEO of YouTube is a female. Before that, she was a marketing manager of Google. So they are female role models in technology, things that these girls can aspire to. So I think it‘s very important that programs like this, thanks to Belize Bank and MasterCard, are held for them so that they can get the exposure.”
Today, Belize participated in its first ever Seaweed Aquaculture Symposium. The event was organized by the Nature Conservancy in collaboration with the Ministry of Blue Economy and Civil Aviation and the Belize Fisheries Department in order to transfer knowledge of the works in the industry that is being done in other parts of the countries and develop relationships with colleagues from other parts of the world. We attended the event earlier today for more information. News Five’s Britney Gordon reports.
Britney Gordon, reporting
Today, several stakeholders from various countries gathered in Belize City to exchange valuable information about the growing seaweed industry in hopes of fostering partnerships and gaining knowledge that would aid in the industry’s development. Saleem Chan, of the Nature Conservancy, spoke with us about the event and its participants.
Saleem Chan
Saleem Chan, Mariculture Specialist and Safety Officer, The Nature Conservancy
“Today is quite a day. We’ve been working towards organizing the symposium jointly with the Belize Fisheries Department and the Ministry of Blue Economy and Civil really to bring our partners from other parts of the world to Belize in sharing their work into seaweed farming. So we have people from Tanzania, Indonesia, people as far as Puerto Rico in Belize and as well as seaweed, local seaweed farmers in Belize sharing our journey with our guests.”
Also partnering in the event was the Ministry of Blue Economy and Civil Aviation. Director Felicia Cruz expressed the ministry’s desire to expand the industry for Belizean fishers and farmers.
Felicia Cruz
Felicia Cruz, Director, Ministry of Blue Economy & Civil Aviation
“It is a very momentous occasion for the Government of Belize because it really signals an opportunity to showcase all of the excellent work that has been happening within the seaweed mariculture industry. From a ministerial perspective, our ministry is very proud of achieving this milestone. The seaweed industry is still immature. There’s still a lot yet to be done to help the industry elevate at a level in which we can derive the requisite socioeconomic and environmental benefits that we know the seaweed industry can contribute.”
Chief Executive Officer, Kennedy Carrillo further affirmed the necessity of providing opportunities in the industry.
Kennedy Carrillo
Kennedy Carrillo, Chief Executive Officer for the Ministry of Blue Economy & Civil Aviation
“We work very closely with the Nature Conservancy and obviously our fisheries department is involved in the seaweed working group as well as other activities that are related to the seaweed sector in Belize. We work very closely with the communities and the seaweed farmers in Placencia, for example, our fisheries department works very closely in providing support. And of course, looking for other opportunities for them globally.”
Participating in the event was the president of the Belize Women’s Seaweed Farmers Association, Jalima Gold, who expressed her gratitude for the event and its proceedings.
Jalima Gold
Jalima Gold, President, Belize Women’s Seaweed Farmers Association
“We are the Belize Women’s Seed Farmers Association. we are an association from Southern Belize and we’ve been working for the past four years to try to help create and legitimize the mariculture industry. So it’s very important. We’re very happy that we’ve been asked to be here. We’ve been seen as like a stakeholder in the industry and so we are thankful that they asked us to be here.”
Local fisher woman, Isela Martinez, also commented on the impact of the growing seaweed industry.
Isela Martinez
Isela Martinez, Fisherwoman & Research Assistant
“So I do think that the seaweed is really important to our economy because it’s another source of income for our country. As fishermen, it is very important for us.”
We begin tonight’s newscast with a murder in Bermudian Landing Village. Forty-year-old Shane Baizar was last heard from on Thursday last week. He was reported missing several days lady after efforts to locate him proved futile. This morning, his dog led a search party of relatives and friends to his badly decomposed body inside a shallow grave near his home. It is believed that Baizar knew his killer. This afternoon police hunted down that suspect and shot him to death while attempting to detain him. We will tell you more about that later. But first, we take you to Bermudian Landing Village where News Five’s Paul Lopez spent the morning alongside the search party until Baizar’s body was discovered. Here is that report.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
The badly decomposed body of forty-year-old Bermudian Landing businessman Shane Baizar was discovered in a shallow grave near his home. Baizar resided on a property that spans several acres which he used to take tourists on ecological tours. His cousin, Browning Williams, last heard from him on Thursday evening.
Voice of: Browning Williams
Voice of: Browning Williams, Cousin of Deceased
“I spoke to Shane on Thursday and he told me he then come dah my house. I told him I nuh ready fih come up yet. So, I called him back like minutes to six and he told me he already at Lowes in Ladyville, but I wasn’t at home yet. So I told him go through my boyfriend the home. He told me I just gwen dah the yard and pass through because I have to go home and deal with something. So my cousin call me and told me to ask Shane how much to stay in the room because he have a little resort. I call Shane and he didn’t answer or seen me and Shane is the type of person that even if he send me a text, he always responds back.”
On Saturday, Williams took to social media to seek assistance in locating Baizar, after receiving information that his house had been left open but he was nowhere to be found. On Sunday morning, Williams and Baizar’s sister, Stacy Baizar, visited the Ladyville Police Station to file a missing persons report. His family then organized a search party to canvass his property.
Voice of: Stacy Baizar
Voice of: Stacy Baizar, Sister of Deceased
“We came up yesterday and a lot of us the family member, we walked the property and looked in some bushes and took the boat down the river and saw nothing and said we were going to come back this morning and tried to find him again.”
Shane Baizar
Voice of: Browning Williams
“Yesterday when we came to do the search yesterday, this dah after police left, this dah after the forensics left I came and walked to the edge of Shane yard and my foot touched Shane ring and his ring was on the ground covered in blood. I say my God, maybe my family the try show me a sign, that I the yah fam, nuh stop look for me, I am right here.”
Sunday’s search also led to the discovery of a makeshift shed on the property, near the river. The shed is believed to have been used by Baizar’s killer as a hideout, as the suspect was wanted by police for questioning in connection with several other murders. There they discovered clothing, food and a hammock. This morning, a group of relatives and friends from Bermudian Landing assembled in front of Baizar’s home once more.
Voice of: Stacy Baizar
“Basically to meet up out here and try to find him or anymore clues that might lead us to where he might be.”
An hour after they gathered, police officers began to show up on the scene. A team of heavily armed police officers joined a group of residents to search along one of the trails on the property. A second team proceeded to the river bank to conduct searches on water. And, just as that team was working to secure a canoe, a phone call came in with information that the first search party discovered what appeared to be a shallow grave, near one of the unfinished cabanas on the property. The area of interest was discovered by Shadow, Baizar’s dog. Shadow began to dig inside an unfinished septic tank that contained sand and broken branches.
Voice of: Browning Williams
“Yesterday, when we did the search yesterday they called and told us that the vehicle deh dah Cotton Tree. They told us that Shane body deh dah Hatieville dah the bus shed. They mih the do everything to throw us off track from right here weh part we deh.”
Baizar’s pickup truck was discovered in St. Mathews Village on Sunday. Moments after police identified the septic tank as an area of interest, Scenes of Crime personnel arrived at the location. They suited up and proceeded to remove the branches and dirt from inside the unfinished structure. There, they found Baizar’s badly decomposed body, much to the dismay of those who were gathered near the scene.
Paul Lopez
“What do you make of the information that he may have somehow not only known his killer, but that this person may have been hanging around.”
Voice of: Browning Williams
“Shane, I feel he trusted too much people, his circle was too big and everybody know Shane. If you hungry Shane wah feed you, if you need somewhere to stay, Shane will let you stay and I feel like that was his downfall.”
News Five understands that an attempt was made on Baizar’s life two weeks ago in the village. Strangely, this morning someone used his Facebook page to post a Chevy Equinox for sale.
Voice of: Stacy Baizar
“That is the thing that annoyed us because somebody was playing with us and they were posting and you know, but, that’s…”
We also heard from Commissioner of Police Chester Williams, who informed reporters that Cruz Castillo, a man known to police, was being sought for Baizar’s murder. According to ComPol Williams, Castillo was an employee of Baizar. Here is what he had to say.
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“The family of Mister Baizar had reported him missing on Saturday and since then the police had been extremely busy in rural Belize searching for clues and whatever that may be able to lead the police to where Mr. Baizar had been. We were hoping for the best that he may be found alive but yesterday investigators found traces of blood inside the home and on a wheel barrow. That began to indicate to the police that something fishy went wrong. Again, investigators found the house open and according to accounts it is something that is unusual. So we continued to do our search and we gathered certain information of a person who may have been involved and that led us to Saint Mathews Village where Mr. Baizar’s vehicle was discovered, not too far from the home of the brother of the person we had suspected who I must say at this time is Cruz Castillo. This morning police went back into the area of the Bermudian Landing and they found a shallow grave and inside that shallow grave the decomposed body of Mr. Baizar was found. Scenes of Crime was called and they processed the scene. And, we continue to look for the individual we believe was involved, one Cruz Castillo.”
When police officers tracked down Cruz Castillo to detain him for questioning in connection with Shane Baizar’s murder, things did not quite turn out as was planned. During the process of detention, Castillo reportedly pulled a firearm at the officers. As a result, police fired back and fatally injured Castillo. ComPol Williams told us more.
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“To give a history of Cruz Castillo. He recently got off a murder charge due to the fact that the witness did not appear in court. He was charged for the murder of an immigration employee. And, following that matter he was also the prime suspect in the disappearance of the taxi man from Corozal Town. He was also wanted for a rape in San Ignacio. He was wanted for an aggravated assault in Bermudian Landing where he shot at somebody. He was also wanted for burglary im Bermudian Landing where he broke into a house and stole a hammock and some other times. And he was also wanted for shooting at the police on the Boom Road in a pursuit and then now for the murder of Shane Baizar. So Mr. Castillo has been extremely busy, countrywide, moving around committing crimes. I must say that this afternoon police in the Cotton Tree area was in search of Mr. Castillo and they saw him and upon seeing the police he took out a nine millimeter pistol and upon doing so the police returned fire, didn’t wait for him to shoot. They police acted in self defense knowing the history of Mr. Castillo and he was fatally shot by the police.”
Reporter
Any idea why Mr. Castillo wanted to kill Mr. Baizar?
Chester Williams
“From what we gathered, Mr. Castillo was working for Mr. Baizar. And, he knew that Mr. Baizar had gone to the bank to do a withdrawal and he asked Mr. Baizar for some money and Baizar gave him twenty dollars and told him to leave and not to return. That seemed to have aggravated him and he did what he did to mister Baizar.”
In the span of just a few days, a series of tragedies have befallen the quiet village of Libertad. On Saturday, March second, Breeann Kyle, a forty-one year old American resident residing in Libertad, Corozal, was found dead inside her home next to her ten-month-old daughter, who, fortunately, was uninjured. Kyle’s husband, twenty-year-old Jaquan Smith, had informed the police of his wife’s death while he was receiving treatment at a hospital for injuries suffered in a car crash. Smith was detained pending questioning in the alleged murder of his wife, but would later be found dead in his cell after seemingly committing suicide. News Five’s Britney Gordon Reports.
Britney Gordon, reporting
Residents of Libertad are left in a state of shock after several devastating incidents occurred in succession within just three days. On Saturday, March second, police responded to the reports of a road traffic accident between mile seventy-four and seventy-five of the Philip Goldson Highway. When police arrived at the Corozal Community Hospital where twenty-year-old Jaquan Smith was receiving treatment for his injuries, he revealed that his wife had been murdered in their shared home in Libertad. The body was discovered by an Orange Walk taxi driver who had been contacted by Kyle’s parents to investigate the scene on their behalf. There, he found forty-one year old Breeann Kyle, deceased on her couch with multiple stab wounds. Also in the house was Kyle and Smith’s infant child, unharmed, aside from being left unattended to. According to residents of the neighborhood, the couple had recently moved in after Kyle’s father, Leo Kyle, purchased the house.
Pedro Teck
Pedro Teck, Neighbor
“I don’t know them by name. I just saw them one day when I came from Belize. I saw who was the person who bought the house. From John Nelson, from my boss. He owned it, but he sold it to Mister Leo. The last owner who they said they killed his daughter.”
Britney Gordon
“So how long has mister Leo’s family been living in there?”
Pedro Teck
“Oh, they just came down from the States, I would say about two months, not so long.”
According to Teck, the couple was unfamiliar to most of the villagers; since they had recently relocated to Libertad and that the house was a short distance from their nearest neighbors.
Britney Gordon
“Are they, integrated into the village? Do people know them well?”
Pedro Teck
“No, no, no, not no much. Only one guy know him, the guy that do mechanic work for them, the guy to the back there. So he’s the one who when mister Leo heard that they killed his daughter, he called the guy and told him to take care of the baby while he comes back from the States.”
Upon hearing the news, Kyle’s father flew to Belize on Sunday, but would receive more unfortunate news, as the suspected murderer was found dead in his prison cell this morning at the Corozal Police station. According to Police Commissioner, Chester Williams, Smith died by hanging himself.
Chester Williams
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“We had an incident in Corozal where a young American fellow was accused of killing his wife. He was eventually intercepted by the police at a traffic accident scene in Corozal and taken into custody. This morning the police went to clean a cell. He was in a cell, black, alive and well, and the police left to retrieve the prisoner’s food and returned about 10 minutes later. Upon return, They found him hanging in the cell by his pants, with his pants. So, he took off his long pants that he was wearing and hung himself. So, he is now deceased.”
Williams stated that the police overseeing Smith’s detainment had carried out their duties correctly and that the situation was an unfortunate incident.
Chester Williams
“Very unfortunate situation. I know that some might want to say the police could have done more, but the police would normally do cell block checks, like, every half an hour. And if they had just cleaned the cell and ten minutes returned with food to feed the man, I couldn’t, I would not be able to see where the police would have faltered in that situation. It’s an unfortunate situation, but again, we have to deal with that.”
In the case of the Libertad murder-suicide of husband and wife Breeann Kyle and Jaquan Smith, we spoke with Commissioner of Police Chester Williams, for more information. According to Williams, despite an existing policy to relieve detainees of items that would be harmful to them, the police department is not in a position to have detainees remove articles of clothing. Here’s Williams with the update.
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“Saturday the morning police responded to a traffic accident on the Belize Corozal Road in just on the outskirt of Corozal Town., where they encountered an American male individual. He was taken to the Corozal Community Hospital, where he received medical treatment, and there the police learned that his wife has been murdered. Police eventually detained him, and he was taken to the Corozal Police Station, while police had gone to his home in Libertad, too. Upon police arrival there, the lifeless body of his wife was found inside the home. And police also found a shallow grave that was being dug. And believe it was dug with the intent of disposing of the body of his wife. He eventually told the police that someone had gone into the home and killed his wife and he was trying to bury the body before, instead of reporting it to the police. Nonetheless, the police did not buy that story. Our indications were that he was the one who actually killed his wife. As a matter of fact, there were some collaboration from a family friend of the wife, whom were notified by the wife’s parents that something was going on at the house between the two, and the family friend was summoned to go to the house to secure the safety of the child, which the family friend eventually did. So, the investigation were ongoing, and this morning the police went to clean the cell block. And the male prisoner was still in custody alive and well. And the police eventually left to go and retrieve the prisoner food. And returned ten minutes later, upon their return, they found him hanging from the bar of the cell with his long pants that he was wearing at the particular time. And so, we are currently dealing with that matter now as a case of suicide.”
Reporter
“What have officers said about his state of mind? Or apparent state of mind?”
Chester Williams
“Well from what I am getting, there was nothing to indicate that he would have committed suicide but part of the protocol that we normally do is to make sure that whenever we have a prisoner in custody, whether there is signs of, If them wanted to commit suicide or not, we would normally take away items from them that they believe they can use to commit suicide. So, like a shoelace, a belt, or anything of that sort. But we cannot go to the extent of removing a person’s clothing. That would be tantamount to cruel and humane treatment.”
Reporter
“Have the police been able to speak to the residents or any of their family members to find out whether there was a history of domestic violence or whether there was any troubles in this relationship?”
Chester Williams
“Well, like I said, the police spoke to a family friend who got a call from the family of the female, the wife, who told this family friend certain things and that information has been communicated to the police and is a part of the investigation.”
Reporter
“Was there any history? Had she made any prior report?”
Chester Williams
“At this time I can say no.”
Reporter
“A child was also in the house, we understand, an infant?”
Chester Williams
“Yeah, the child was secured by the family friend who, who was called by the wife’s relatives from the States. So I think that child has been turned over to social. And while we try to work through the U.S. Embassy to see if there’s going to be any family member of the wife who would come to claim the child.”
Reporter
“Isn’t it factual, however, that he had already tried to harm himself by getting into the accident, which, as I understand it, was a deliberate act on his part?”
Chester Williams
“Well, I can’t say the accident were deliberate on his part, and again, he was in custody from Friday [Saturday], and he didn’t attempt to have committed suicide, so I can’t say.”
