Goodnight and welcome to another edition of Sports Monday, I am Paul Lopez. How do you stop a category five hurricane from blowing you away? The Belize City Defenders found a way on Friday night inside the Belize City Civic Center. The Defenders took on the Hurricanes in a season rematch that brought out fans. The Belize City Defenders took down the Benny’s Belize Hurricanes, sixty to fifty-six points. Yes, it was a low-scoring game. The top scorers for the Defenders were Nigel Jones and John Kelly. Jones scored fourteen points, got ten rebounds, all ten of them were defensive rebounds. He also had six assists, though he made six turnovers as well. Kelly finished with twelve points and nine rebounds. He also shot with seventy-five percent accuracy from the field. But it really was a close game. It was tied at thirty points at the half.
The Defenders got away in the third quarter and went on a run that gave them an eight-point lead at the end of the third. The game came down to the last minute in the fourth quarter. Hurricanes down by three points with twenty seconds left on the clock, Victor “Vito” Evans is at the line shooting two free throws. He makes the first one and brings the score to fifty-five, fifty-seven. He makes the second shot and brings it to a one-point game. Defender’s Everald Tablada is fouled on the throw in. He misses his first free throw and counts the second one, stretching the lead to two points. Defended by Jones, Evans goes up for the jumper and it is no good. Jones gets the ball and finds Kelly all alone on the other side. And, that basket sealed the Defender’s win against the Hurricanes.
Nigel Jones
Nigel Jones, Belize City Defenders
“Well I feel like we needed this win. You know we played them the first time and they came out. We looked bad. We looked banged up the first time. But we just wanted to come back and show that when we have our full team we can compete with anybody in the league.”
John Kelly
John Kelly, Belize City Defenders
“We been the work hard for this whole ah this week, put in a good workout because this team mih hungry whole week. So, we know we mih wah come out fih fight.”
Paul Lopez
“What does do for your hopes of winning the championship this year?”
John Kelly
“This dah just motivation . We wah work harder and we wah play harder. Thisdah playoffs.”
The Benny’s Belize Hurricanes had several of its players out on Friday night, including Clency “Coope” Lopez and Jamal Harris. There is not much information on why Lopez sat out, but we understand that Harris is facing some internal disciplinary action. According to police reports, the Pro-American basketball player got into a physical altercation with his partner last week. Allegations are that he physically assaulted her. We understand that the matter is no longer with the police, as both individuals have agreed to resolve the conflict out of court. But Hurricane fans may likely see Harris sit out the next few games.
Let’s move into some football action. The Anthony Mahler Under Thirteen Mundialito Tournament is in full swing. It all goes down inside the Berger Field on Saturdays. Ebony Lake played Berger United in a match that ended eight goals to zero in favor of Berger United. The first goal of the match was scored by Zaylen Jones off a penalty kick at the fifteenth minute. Two minutes later a second penalty was awarded from a handball inside the box. Goalkeeper Rojaun Mahler scored that one. And again, two minutes later, Jones scored another goal. Three goals were scored in six minutes. Jones scored four of the eight goals his team entered.
In the female category, Alvian Strikers played against Phoenix F.C. After two ten-minute halves, both teams were unable to score a goal. And, in a third match of the day, Tutbay Yabra faced off against defending champions Belize United. Tutbay was able to hold off Belize United up until the eleventh minute when Shae Gordon found himself in front of the goalpost with the ball. Gordon did not hesitate to kick the ball and give his team the lead. A beautiful team effort that led to a one nil ball game at the end of the first period. Twenty-three minutes in and Tutbay’s number six made a grave error at the goalpost by stopping the ball with his hand from going into the goal. Perhaps it was simply a reflex, but it cost a penalty shot. Christopher Gilharry took the shot and made it. Belize United won that match, two goals to zero.
Well folks, that is all we have for you in tonight’s coverage of Sports Monday. Catch you in the next one.
Hamas has approved a proposal for a ceasefire in the Gaza war put forward by mediators Qatar and Egypt, the Palestinian group says, although Israel has yet to comment on the proposal.
The announcement follows a mass exodus from eastern Rafah as Israel instructs tens of thousands to evacuate. Specifics of the proposal remain unclear.
The statement was issued as residents of southern Gaza’s Rafah began fleeing in response to Israel’s evacuation orders amid escalating fears of a significant military operation. Over 1.4 million displaced Palestinians seek refuge in the region.
Israel and Hamas have engaged in indirect negotiations facilitated by Qatar and Egypt regarding a potential Gaza war ceasefire and the exchange of captives. Egyptian and Hamas officials have suggested a multi-stage ceasefire involving the release of Israeli captives by Hamas in exchange for Israeli troop withdrawals from Gaza.
It remained uncertain whether the agreement would meet Hamas’ main demands, including a permanent ceasefire, complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and the return of displaced families to their homes.
Belize’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs is expressing “its concern over the mass floods in the southern region of Brazil and offers its condolences to the families who have lost loved ones.”
The death toll from severe floods in Brazil’s Rio Grande do Sul state has reached at least 83, with authorities investigating four additional deaths possibly linked to the storms. Over 276 people are injured and 111 remain missing, while more than 121,000 individuals have been displaced, according to the Civil Defense of Rio Grande do Sul.
This disaster has impacted over 850,000 people across 345 municipalities, causing widespread destruction of homes, roads, and bridges. Local residents and evacuees have reported seeing bodies in floodwaters, potentially not yet included in the official death count.
Around 1,000 firefighters are engaged in rescue missions. Operations have intensified as weather conditions allow, with rescue teams using inflatable rafts to evacuate people and pets.
The region has experienced a surge in extreme weather events, with at least 54 fatalities in September following a sub-tropical cyclone. The escalating climate crisis, driven primarily by human activities such as fossil fuel combustion, is exacerbating these extreme weather phenomena worldwide, intensifying their frequency and impact.
Belizean Ronelli Requena is competing in the #Made_In_TheCaribbean: UNESCO Transcultura Fashion Design competition. The UNESCO Transcultura Programme, supported by the European Union, highlights the creative brilliance of young talent across the Caribbean.
The Transcultura Fashion Design Competition marks the debut in a series of themed calls for the Transcultura Awards, celebrating and acknowledging the imaginative flair of emerging fashion professionals in the Caribbean.
Requena’s collection is called MEst-HIZO. She was challenged to craft an avant-garde mini-collection (consisting of 3 to 5 pieces) that embodies the essence of the Caribbean—its cultural diversity, artistic expressions, mutual exchanges and influences, or shared cultural traits.
You can vote for Requena by visiting unescohabana‘s Instagram page and commenting ‘MEst-HIZO’ under the post.
Two people were fatally shot on Sunday night in Roaring Creek Village, Cayo District. The victims, Marcel Neal and his spouse, were inside their house with their fifteen-year-old son when they were attacked. The couple died on the scene. The teenage son was rushed to the Western Regional Hospital after being shot in the leg.
Roaring Creek Village falls under the state of emergency, which expired last week. Police Commissioner Chester Williams told reporters last week that he requested an extension of the state of emergency. That request was rejected by cabinet.
Williams is expected to brief the media about the double murder and other incidents that occurred over the weekend.
The quiet of Patchakan Village in the Corozal District was rattled by the sound of gunshots on Thursday night. When the dust settled, twenty-eight-year-old Benito Canela lay dead in front of his common-law-wife Indy Ruiz and a group of neighbors. They were all socializing inside a park at the entrance of the village just before nine o’clock when a gunman attacked. Canela is said to be a respected person in his community, known and loved by everyone there. So, what was the motive behind his murder? Who wanted him dead, and is his execution related to the increased presence of cartel elements from neighboring Chetumal? News Five’s Paul Lopez travelled to Patchakan Village today to find out more about the gruesome murder of Canela. Here is that report.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
A father of two was executed on Thursday night in Patchakan Village while socializing with a group of family and friends. Twenty-eight-year-old Benito Canela and his partner Indy Cruz were sitting in a park next to their home when a gunman targeted him. Cruz says they sat in the park almost every night after having dinner.
Indy Ruiz
Indy Ruiz, Common Law of Deceased
“I asked him where he was going and he said he is going to call his daughter because it was her birthday. And so he said lets go so you can tell her happy birthday as well. I went with him and we sat down there he took out his phone to call his daughter and she wasn’t answering. I told him it’s Thursday and on thursdays they go to church. He hung up and gave me his phone and also told me to hold onto the key for the motorcycle because he doesn’t like holding onto things he always gives them to me. And so we were talking and he was hugging me and then our neighbor came over. She asked us what were we doing out here and I said we were just getting some fresh air, and so she sat with us. She was with her daughter walking with us when my mom called me and asked me to come and see the baby, I didn’t even take longer than five minutes and then I went back out with them.”
Ruiz and Canela had been seeing each other for just over a year. Together, they have four children. She says that when she got back from speaking with her mom, they continued talking and hanging out as they would normally do. That is when a man wearing a mask to conceal his identity approached them.
Indy Ruiz
“One of my cousins were there with her two year old baby and we were all sitting, talking relaxing and there he was telling us jokes when a man come out from my father’s yard and he called him “Hey” where are you going? And he said he came to buy a volt, and so he told him that its bad for him. We then saw him leave and he was laughing and we were still there. Then all of a sudden we saw another person walking towards us but he was covered, all his head, he was covered and when this person arrived in front of us he lifted up his head and his face was also covered.”
She says, Canela sprang into action and pushed her away from him. That is when the gunman opened fire in Canela’s direction. The shooter had his weapon trained on Canela and no one else that was around at the time.
Indy Ruiz
“He saw it and he pushed me to his side and I fell that’s when I heard the shots. I yelled at him to get up but he was already on the ground and so I ran to where he was and the shots continued. I hugged him and not a single shot touched me only him. No one else only him. They only wanted him, and there he was lying on the ground. The police came quickly and when he rolled over to look at me he only opened his eyes as if he wanted to say something but I don’t know what he wanted to say. My little brother came and called him, brother-in-law and he tried to speak again but he started vomiting blood and there we stayed. He couldn’t anymore. He was shot more than nine times and there he was lying. Asking for help but we couldn’t do anything.”
According to Ruiz, Canela never told her that he had issues with anyone.She spent most of her time at home with the family. News Five understands that the shooter fled the scene in a white Ford Ranger pickup truck. Police retrieved ten nine-millimeter expended shells from the scene. A suspect is yet to be identified in this latest homicide. Minister of Home Affairs Kareem Musa was asked if Canela’s murder is related to the increased presence of cartel elements from neighboring Chetumal.
Kareem Musa
Kareem Musa, Minister, Home Affairs
“The preliminary information is that it’s not leading in that direction. But as you rightly mentioned with the very tense situation that is taking place in Chetumal at the moment, we cannot rule that as a motive, as a possible connection and so the police is looking at that angle as well but so far that doesn’t seem to be the case.”
Reporter
“Are you able to say whether or not that was related to the Arana murder? And Did you receive reports that mister Arana may have not been the intended target?”
Kareem Musa
“I have not received that report, no. And I cannot say at this point in time. We have not been briefed as yet as to whether there is a connection between the two.”
Reporter
“Do you know whether it was drug related in general?”
Kareem Musa
“Again, I cannot say at this very point. I’m sure as the day progresses, we’ll get more information.”
Indy Ruiz
“When he came here, he told me he was happy because he cut his cane and everything. But he didn’t have a problem with anyone here in the village. Here, everyone knows him as he is.”
Reporter
“Previously, he had a second family, that is, he had a family before he got together with you. Do you think it’s perhaps an act of jealousy?”
Indy Ruiz
“No, because, as far as I know, he has nothing to do with that family.”
Tensions up north have been on the rise as acts of violence in Chetumal, Mexico continue to plague the city. These violent crimes are due to heightened cartel activity in the area which many Belizeans are concerned will spill over into Corozal. We spoke with Minister of Home Affairs & New Growth Industries, Kareem Musa, who said that Belizeans can rest assured that the increase of border security has been a primary mission.
Reporter
“We know a couple days ago you held a meeting with the police department and other stakeholders in a free zone. Can you talk a little bit about the police’s operations to ensure that narco activity doesn’t trickle into Belize?”
Kareem Musa
Kareem Musa, Minister, Home Affairs & New Growth Industries
“I cannot go in too much detail. As approximately a year ago we commenced operations in the north of our country along the Rio Hondo in particular villages. Along the Rio Hondo and in the Corozal free zone as well. And so the meetings that we had earlier this week was with the Ministry of Defense and Border security along with minister Marin, minister Mira of course general Loria. In terms of our collaborative efforts along the border to not just continue the good work that this unit has been doing, but to increase our presence along the border in light of the recent buildup in Chetumal. So we are deploying further personnel and again, I cannot go into further detail, but I can say we are deploying additional personnel.”
Reporter
“How successful was that operation?”
Kareem Musa
“I would say it’s been successful so far. I think one of the biggest threats coming out of the activities that have been taking place in Chetumal and the response by the Mexican government to deploy some two hundred National Guard and Marines is that there is a likelihood, a possibility rather that some of these individuals may try to seek safe haven in our country. And so it really is about preserving and protecting our borders so that these individuals do not come across.”
Considering the recent spike in cartel-related violence in Chetumal the Government of Belize issued a statement advising Belizeans to exercise caution when traveling across the northern border. Amir Padilla Espadas, President of the private sector organization, Canaco Chetumal, has expressed concern over the potential harm to Chetumal’s local economy, as Belizean commerce is a major contributor. In an interview with Minister of Home Affairs and New Growth Industries, Kareem Musa was asked about the advisory.
Britney Gordon
“In regards to the Chetumal situation, Canaco Chetumal, the president said that with the warning issued recently by the government advising Belizeans to take caution when going, he had wanted that to be removed as it’s affecting Tourism to the country. Can you comment on that?”
Kareem Musa, Minister, Home Affairs & New Growth Industries
“That is a matter for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Having done their consultation with our embassy in Mexico City, as well as liaising with our counterparts, our Mexican representatives here in Belize. And that decision was taken. And for an update on that, you would need to ask the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”
As we have reported, there has been an uptick in cartel-related violence in neighboring Mexico. News Five was in Chetumal on Thursday to find out how the recent spike in crime and the Government of Belize’s travel advisory are affecting the influx of Belizeans to Chetumal. We found that since Monday, there has been a decrease in traffic across the border. As we said, this is of great concern to businesses in the city. There is also a fear that the violence will spill over into northern Belize. News Five’s Paul Lopez reports.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
On Thursday, a News Five’s team traveled to Chetumal to find out whether recent reports of increased cartel activities in the city are stopping Belizeans from traveling across the northern border. We found that many Belizeans are still going across to shop, for leisure and business, though the numbers have undoubtedly decreased this week. A genuine fear of encounters with cartel elements is on the minds of many.
Jonathon Cayetano
Jonathon Cayetano, Belizean in Chetumal
“Well you know when I have the overall look pan it, like you said it is something common in Mexico, so I am not surprised. It is just sad that it is getting closer and closer to home. I still feel secure and safe. Yo just nuh get yourself eena like any endangering predicaments or lingering where you nuh suppose to be. Just as long as you the yah and you keep aware of your surrounding. I believe everything safe for you. You just have to be cautious and know the danger do exist.”
On Wednesday the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on the situation in Chetumal. It says that the Government of Belize is monitoring the recent rise in violent crime in Chetumal. The ministry advised Belizeans to exercise caution when traveling in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo. And, there is also a real concern that the violence can spill over into Belize.
Reporter
“And then as minister, because I think you’d understand that some people are fearful that in fact there may be greater consequences in Belize of what’s happening in Quintana Roo, we know that there’s collaboration with some already here, some criminal elements already here, and cartel operatives. What would be your advice to Belizeans and when they say our Belize Police Department and even military might not be able to compare to the weaponry that cartels have.”
Kareem Musa
Kareem Musa, Minister, Home Affairs & New Growth Industries
“I would not agree with that. We are adequately prepared. We are adequately resourced in terms of our police department and our military to handle this type of situation. It won’t be any sort of mass incursion that we are expecting. And so just certain individuals me We are trying to prevent and to ensure that their tentacles do not spread further. And so, we are targeting certain individuals who our intelligence is suggesting has been have been working along with them targeting those individuals and again, nipping it in the bud.”
Amir Padilla Espadas, the President of Canaco Chetumal, a private sector organization in Mexico, has called on the Belize government to swiftly address and remove this warning. He stressed that its continuation could adversely affect the influx of Belizean visitors, who significantly contribute to the local economy. Oscar Arnold, Belize’s Ambassador to Mexico, is scheduled to meet with Mexican authorities in Chetumal on Saturday. There was also a meeting held earlier this week with the Head of the Secretary of Government in Quintana Roo.
Oscar Arnold
Oscar Arnold, Belize’s Ambassador to Mexico
“They met with the business community to try to ally their fears, and to introduce the plans that they are rolling out and putting in place to ensure citizen security in that area. The police have also said that the, I don’t know if that when you visited Chetumal, when you drive around there is these small security booths at different intersections on the corners of streets, the police have said that you will see more security personnel at these security booths and there may be more road blocks where there will be enhanced due diligence where they will be asking more questions and maybe even searching vehicles. So, these are the types of things that Belizeans should expect if they want to go to Chetumal over the next few days to a week.”
Ambassador Arnold was asked if the cartel violence in Chetumal has primarily been between members of these gangs. He says that to date, no tourist has been targeted in any attack.
Oscar Arnold
“So far that is what is being seen. That is the intelligence coming out of the authorities now. However, if you will remember, because I have done interviews in the past when Belizeans have been killed in Tulum or in and around Cancun and the initial investigation on a few of those have revealed that Belizeans were involved in that sort of activity and get caught up in turf wars. As it relates to what has been happening, no Belizeans have been targeted, no tourist whether Belizean or any other nationality has been targeted. So, it does seem as though it would be between rival groups.”
Earlier today, Opposition Leader Shyne Barrow also spoke with reporters concerning the permeation of narco operatives in northern Belize. He asserts that the overnight murder in Patchakan Village is a cartel-related hit and blames it all on the Commissioner of Police and the Briceno administration.
Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
“Once it comes to anything related to the police department, there is never accountability. Chesty Bestie never says, “You know what, we have a problem. There is an emergency, we need all hands on deck, you know. We need to call an emergency meeting. The National Security Council, PM, minister, let us all get together, stakeholders, NGO, unions, churches, opposition, mek we come together because this is an emergency.” And we have been seeing the emergency with the narco infiltration since last year. We saw all the murders in Corozal, but no, Chesty Bestie wahn tell yoh bout oh he di run eena Mesop and weh he wahn do when he retire from the commissioner’s office and taking all of us for cunu munu and poppy show when he is charged with the very grave, very serious responsibility of our citizen security and we see that that is under threat. So with the execution last night, I am on the ground, I know what is happening. That was a direct result, that was an execution from the narco infiltration that has taken over Corozal from last year, probably before that. I can tell you that high officials in the People’s United Party are responsible for the narco infiltration in the north, Corozal specifically. So the country of Belize needs to be on high alert, we are a narco state. You might no hear about the planes landing but they are still landing.”
