On Tuesday, an elderly man was ambushed, tied up and robbed at his home in Burrell Boom Village. He is seventy-eight-year-old Alan Slusher, former governor of the Central Bank. Reports are that Slusher arrived at his residence around six p.m. and upon existing his vehicle, he was accosted by four men, three of whom were armed. Slusher was then led into his house and bound with duct tape. The men proceeded to strip him of his nine-millimeter Luger Brand Pistol and ransacked the house, making off with a magazine containing fourteen, live, nine-millimeter rounds of ammunition, two air rifles, and Slusher’s 2017 Toyota Hilux Pickup, the value of the stolen items amounts to ninety-eight thousand, eight hundred and eighty Belize dollars. After the assailants fled the scene, Slusher was able to untie himself and contact the authorities. Police are currently investigating the crime.
Day: July 4, 2024
ComPol Says Arrests Coming Shortly for Coleman Murder
Thirty-six-year-old Solomon Coleman was killed in Belmopan on May twenty-eighth and there has not been an arrest yet. Police were having difficulties establishing a motive for the killing, but the Commissioner of Police, Chester Williams says that he has since met with Coleman’s mother and also with a team of investigators and has given them instructions to press on with the investigations.
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“I have also assembled a team of experienced investigators from Major Crimes, C.I.B., G.I-3 and Special Branch to look at all murders from January to present with a view to see how we can revive those investigations – go back and re-interview witnesses, go back, look at video footages to see if we’ll be able to find something that we may have overlooked in the past. So that team, which is headed by Senior Superintendent Gerald Jones, is extremely busy looking at all those cases and that matter with Mr. Coleman came up yesterday, and I think that they have gotten some further information which should be able to lead to arrests, so hopefully very soon we should be seeing results coming from the team that we assembled and they are also looking at the gang membership investigation where the gang members are concerned. So again, the objective is for us to be able to see how we can not just have these people in prison, but to investigate the cases that they are accused of with a view to be able to successfully making arrests where those cases are concerned. So I’ll ask Mr. Coleman mother to just be a bit patience with us. We understand her pain and her need for wanting to see results from the police. And we’ll do our best to make sure that she gets justice for whatever took place with her son.”
Two Police Officers Charged for Separate Offences
A woman police officer assigned to the Dangriga police formation has been charged with theft. This follows an allegation by a citizen who gave P.C. Kia Jones a lift and claimed that the officer stole fifty dollars from inside her vehicle. And in a separate incident, another officer, P.C. Ryan Timmons, has been charged after he crashed a vehicle while driving contrary to the free flow of traffic. Commissioner Williams assured that the police department is tough on officers who break the law.
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“That police officer has been charged, and it goes to show that when we have complaints of the misconduct of our officers, we waste no time to take action. How more effective can we be?”
Reporter
“One of them was involved in a car crash and a vehicle crash by Pound Yard Bridge, driving up-stop came around Wood Street, he crashed into another vehicle and I understand there was also a domestic charge pending which has been dropped. Will this police officer be charged for failure to provide a sample and for causing that traffic accident that police was charged?”
Chester Williams
“I think yesterday I think it’s P.C. Timmons, right? Yes, he was charged.”
Reporter
“And then – but he was involved in something, such outlaw behavior, going up, stop speeding, all of these things. What do you think when you see something like that?”
Chester Williams
“Well, as far as I’m concerned, he commits a breach of discipline and he has to break the law and he’s not immune from criminal liability. And so he has been dealt with.”
Fuel Stations in the City Close Early
The various service stations across Belize City made their own individual hurricane preparedness plans when Beryl took aim at this region. Some of those gas stations revised their plans, but most of them decided to go with early closure to give their employees a few hours to batten down and do hurricane shopping, just as a precautionary measure. News Five went about the city and spoke with employees at two of the fuel stations. Marion Ali filed this report.
Marion Ali, Reporting
The uncertainty of Beryl’s trajectory earlier this week prompted several fuel stations to shutter down early as a precautionary measure. Even when the hurricane’s path became clear today, most of the stations still stuck to their original plan.
The Ekron Service Station at mile one on the Philip Goldson Highway, also known as Puma, closed at two o’clock this afternoon.
Marvin Sanabria, Pump Attendant, Ekron (Puma Northern) Service Station
“We are closing at this time because that’s the rules we have to follow and because we don’t know what we expect later. So, that’s why we’re closing early. We put on the shutters because we don’t know what might happen later, you know? I don’t know if they want to come break in. So – but we di open 6 o’clock in the morning, but we also closed early because to be sure that we’re safe home or, you know, everybody’s safe home. And everybody done deh home safe.”
Marion Ali
“They’re giving you time to go and take care of –“
“Yeah, giving us time fi mek wi go home and see what else need to get done or get ready for later, so.”
Marion Ali
“Okay, but 6am for sure you’ll be here?”
Marvin Sanabria
“Yes, 6am in the morning.”
According to Isaac Logan, the Shell Gas Station at the corner of Central American Boulevard and Cemetery Road pushed back its closing time from midday.
Isaac Logan, Pump Attendant, Shell Gas Station
“Wi mi wa close 12 but dehn change it and we are set and seven are closed. Four. Right. The reason why, because due to the weather already left so, and it get weakened. So according to the boss and NEMO that everything is already on a basis. Today we going till 4 because this plan was already set for the workers then, right? So we have to do the process – finish off the process and do what we have to do at home, right, cause we still got the lee weather, you know, lee rain and breeze weh di come to as well, right?”
Marion Ali
“So you open what time in the morning?”
“We are working from six, from six till, till –”
Marion Ali
“Usual time?”
Isaac Logan
“Usual time.”
The usual time for the convenience store is ten p.m., but the station will resume its twenty-four-hour pump service on Friday.
One station that we found will be open until ten tonight was Uno at the junction of Central American Boulevard and Cemetery Road. Marion Ali for News Five.
B.E.L. Equipped to Provide Power During Approaching Storm
In just a few hours, Hurricane Beryl is anticipated to make landfall in the Yucatan Peninsula. The category two hurricane is expected to affect the northern districts of Belize with rain, winds, and flooding. Considering this, the public has raised concerns about a possible disruption to the country’s power supply. However, Belize Electricity Limited is assuring customers that it is prepared to weather the storm. In a statement released earlier today, C.E.O. John Mencias says that C.F.E.’s transmission system in Mexico, which Belize is connected to, can physically withstand a category three hurricane. Mencias further states that B.E.L. has sufficient in-country capacity to meet peak demand should C.F.E. be unable to supply Belize with power. B.E.L. maintains that while it is confident in its ability to supply energy during the storm, there are many other factors associated with hurricanes, including lightning, flying debris, and mudslides, that can cause transmission system outages. B.E.L. asks the public for patience as the company works towards keeping the lights on during this time.
Tourist Van Runs off Road in Belmopan
On Wednesday, a group of tourists was involved in an accident on the Hummingbird Highway after the driver, Juan Esquivel, a forty-seven-year-old tour guide, lost control of the vehicle and ran off the road. The van was transporting a group of tourists, consisting of several teachers and students. They were transported to the Western Regional Hospital for observation and according to reports, at least one minor suffered a sprained ankle. However, no serious injuries were reported. As Hurricane Beryl approaches the region, Belize will continue to experience heavy rainfall and flooding. Considering this, the Belize Police Department advises the public to exercise caution when travelling on wet roads and avoid flooded areas. In an advisory from the department, motorists are cautioned to slow down during and after rainfall, avoid making sudden turns or lane changes, and be mindful of debris on the roadways.
Free Mangoes, Anyone?
It’s mango season in Belize and, unless you have your own tree to enjoy the succulent fruit at your heart’s content, you would have to purchase them from vendors. But there is one family on the George Price Highway that shares mangoes for free to anyone who wants. Crystal Bautista tells News Five that, in a world of violence, they just want to spread kindness and love. So, if you like mangoes and are passing near mile thirty-eight on the George Price highway and see the hand-written sign marked “Free Mangoes”, it is not a trick. Bautista says you’re welcome to take as many as you want.
Crystal Bautista, Resident, St. Matthew’s Village
“We have a lot of trees and All the mangoes are just falling off, so instead of letting it waste, we just give people it, just mek them have some.”
Marion Ali
“Okay, that’s very kind of you; people who have mango trees usually sell the mangoes.
Crystal Bautista
“Yes, ma’am, but we prefer give it away. We don’t want to sell it, just to put out the kindness out there. People stop and still ask if it’s free. If da true ih free. We tell them yes, it’s free. They could get how much they want.”
Marion Ali
“If yoh want two, you could get it. If you want wa bag full, you could get it?”
Crystal Bautista
“Yes, ma’am.”
Marion Ali
“And if people want to buy it, do you sell them?”
Crystal Bautista
“No, we don’t sell it. If they want to leave something, they leave it. If not, dehn could just ker it. Yes, ma’am.”
Marion Ali
“Very good. And this is every day?”
Crystal Bautista
“Yes, ma’am. Every day.”
Hurricane Beryl Barrels Towards Yucatan as a Fierce Category 2 Storm After Devastating Caribbean
Hurricane Beryl, a powerful Category 2 storm, is on course towards Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula after impacting the Cayman Islands. It recently devastated Jamaica as a Category 4 storm, resulting in fatalities and significant damage. The storm brought strong winds, dangerous storm surge, and power outages to Kingston. Beryl, with sustained winds of 110 mph, was moving west-northwest and expected to maintain hurricane strength as it approaches the Yucatan Peninsula, prompting warnings and watches along the coast.
BEL Addresses Customer Concerns Amid Hurricane Beryl
Amid concerns over the impact of Hurricane Beryl, the CEO of Belize Electricity Limited (BEL), John Mencias, reassured customers about the stability of the power supply. CEO Mencias addressed the potential effects of the hurricane on the supply from Comisión Federal de Electricidad (CFE) in Mexico to Belize.
“Based on the latest advisory, Hurricane Beryl remains a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph. It is expected to weaken before making landfall on the Yucatan Peninsula north of Belize within the next 12 hours,” Mencias stated. He explained that CFE’s transmission system, to which Belize’s grid is connected, should withstand the strong winds from a Category 3 hurricane. He added that past experiences with CFE have shown that their supply to Belize has remained stable during hurricanes. However, Mencias acknowledged that factors like lightning, flying debris, and mudslides could cause transmission system outages.
Mencias reassured customers that BEL currently has sufficient in-country capacity to meet peak demand if CFE is unable to supply power. He noted, “There is always the chance that things do not work out as planned. For example, excessive rains could affect the output from the bagasse-fueled power plants, BelCogen and Santander. But even if this happens, we should still have just sufficient generation capacity to get by.”
He expressed concern about the potential impacts of lightning and wind on BEL’s transmission and distribution system. Despite extensive preventative measures, including line clearing and securing critical equipment, some parts of the system remain vulnerable to extreme weather. “While we will do our best to maintain a reliable supply of power throughout the passage of the storm, we ask our customers to be patient as we work to keep the lights on during this time,” Mencias said.
His Majesty The King’s Address on Beryl’s Destruction Across the Caribbean
In response to the devastating impact of Hurricane Beryl across the Caribbean, King Charles expressed profound sadness and extended his heartfelt condolences to the victims. “My family and I have been profoundly saddened to learn of the dreadful destruction caused by Hurricane Beryl across the Caribbean. Above all, we send our heartfelt condolences to the friends and families of those who have so cruelly lost their lives,” said the King.
King Charles commended the resilience and solidarity shown by the Caribbean people in the face of such calamity. He highlighted the remarkable spirit of the region, which has been tested too often by natural disasters. “I have seen the extraordinary spirit of resilience and solidarity that people across the Caribbean have shown in response to such destruction – a spirit which has been called upon too often,” he noted.
The King also expressed his gratitude to the emergency services and volunteers who are actively supporting the rescue and recovery efforts. “I also send my particular gratitude to the emergency services and volunteers who are supporting the rescue and recovery efforts,” he added.
As Beryl advances, parts of Mexico will begin to feel its effects starting Thursday night before the hurricane makes landfall early Friday morning.
Hurricane warnings remain in effect for the Cayman Islands and parts of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, including Costa Maya, Tulum, Cozumel, and Cancún. Surrounding these areas, hurricane watches and tropical storm warnings have been issued for the northern Yucatan Peninsula, north of Cancún, and south of Costa Maya. Additionally, a tropical storm watch is in effect for northern Belize, extending as far south as Belize City.