KTV The Remix Season Six is back tonight at the Bliss Centre for the Performing Arts in Belize City. So far, six people have been eliminated and the competition is intensifying. The wheel was spun revealing Latin music as the theme for tonight’s episode. Producer Viannie Reyes says that tonight’s episode will feature some of the greatest Latin hits including those from the Queen of Tejano Music, Selena.
Azain Heredia
“Alright can you run me through what’s going to happen tonight and what’s to be expected?”
Viannie Reyes
Viannie Reyes, KTV Producer
“So tonight is night four of KTV the remix, we sent six people home so far. Last week we had Gospel as the genre, and we had our other guest judge which was, Father Jeremy, he did a phenomenal job. We spun the wheel and we are now at another night of eliminating two people to go home. Tonight, we’re expecting a lot of Latin music. That was the genre that it landed on last week when we spun the wheel, so we’re excited to see a combination of different types of music. So far, we been receiving, I’ll just give you like a small hint, I think Selena is one artist that a lot people do love and enjoy to hear her music, so that’s pretty much one artist we are going to hear a lot from, so we’re excited to see what the others are going to bring to the stage tonight. It’s taking place at the Bliss, it’s going to be a 8:00, but we do ask everybody to purchase their tickets long in advanced, and you can purchase your tickets here at channel 5 on Coney Drive, or you can also purchase it at 88 shopping center, it is available to purchase it there at the Bliss as of 6:00pm, but we do ask everyone to come early due to parking and better seating as well.”
The inaugural Field Epidemiology Training Programme, Frontline-One Health, began on Monday at San Ignacio Community Hospital. The programme, which includes eleven frontline workers from the Ministry of Health and Wellness, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA), the Forest Department, and the Belize Wildlife and Referral Clinic, aims to enhance collaboration across sectors in epidemiological surveillance.
This 12-week course emphasises practical, action-oriented learning, with 20% classroom instruction and 80% field activities. The programme includes three levels of training: frontline, intermediate, and advanced (MSc). Belize’s commitment to field epidemiology training dates back to 2010, with over 100 students already graduating from the program. Eight have completed the advanced MSc level.
Chief Justice Louise Esther Blenman delivered a keynote speech at the inaugural Legal Conference on Criminal Justice Reform. Her address, titled “Advancing the Needham’s Point Declaration: Breaking through the Barriers,” centred on advancing the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ). In a press release issued on July 10, the Senior Courts of Belize highlighted that the ongoing conference has engaged in comprehensive discussions and presentations concerning criminal justice reform, “focusing on enhancing the rule of law and ensuring justice is served promptly and fairly.”
Hosted in Georgetown, Guyana, the two-day conference convened over 300 attendees from across the Caribbean, including distinguished figures such as the President of Guyana, His Excellency, Dr. Irfaan Ali, and various judicial heads and legal professionals. The conference focused on advancing collaboration and exchanging best practices among Caribbean legal experts, aligning with the goals of the Needham’s Point Declaration.
The Chief Justice’s keynote address spotlighted Belize’s transformative efforts in criminal justice reform, influenced by the CCJ. Initiatives such as the establishment of the Criminal Justice Board and Sentencing Guidelines Committees were highlighted as pivotal in alleviating case backlogs and enhancing efficiency within Belize’s judicial system.
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), with the support of the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) and the Belizean government, launched a four-year project aimed at preserving biodiversity in the Maya Golden Landscape (MGL) of Toledo, Belize. Unveiled at Kiki Witz Resort in Belmopan, the initiative, “Mainstreaming Biodiversity in Belize’s Maya Golden Landscape,” is a joint effort between FAO and Ya’axché Conservation Trust.
The project targets farmers and organised groups from ten stakeholder communities within both protected and communal areas across the MGL. Ya’axché Conservation Trust, a leader in community-based conservation since 1998, will play a vital role in the project’s success. Key elements include developing culturally sensitive action plans for protected areas, enhancing community resource management, and providing gender-responsive training in sustainable agriculture.
CEO of Belize’s Ministry of Sustainable Development and Climate Change, Dr. Kenrick Williams, highlighted the project’s pivotal role in advancing sustainable development and biodiversity conservation. The initiative will be guided by a Project Steering Committee (PSC) and a Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), with an 18-month work plan outlining the project’s implementation and future collaboration.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Social Security Board (SSB), Deborah Ruiz, confirmed to News Five that she will no longer remain as CEO. Ruiz, who has served as CEO since August 16, 2022 and previously as acting CEO, told News Five that she will not seek to renew her contract. “Tentatively, my last official day working is August 15th 2024,” Ruiz said.
On May 30, 2024, the SSB issued a vacancy announcement seeking a qualified Executive for the role of Chief Executive Officer (CEO), “The SSB seeks an exceptional leader who will upload its mission, and values and make a positive impact on the lives of our members through the growth and reform of the Social Security Fund.”
Reports say that Dr. Leroy Almendarez, the current Executive Director of BELTRAIDE, is a frontrunner to replace Ruiz. News Five reached out to Dr Almendarez who told us, ” I am the Executive Director of BELTRAIDE.”
High Court Justice Candace Nanton found 43-year-old Vincente Cerraras guilty of two counts of rape. Cerraras raped a 14-year-old girl twice; on June 27, 2019 and on August 26, 2019.
The verdict was handed down on Monday.
Cerraras is expected to be sentenced on September 11. He is facing a minimum sentence of 12 years for each count.
Cerraras denied the allegations. However, DNA evidence presented by the prosecution implicated him in the crimes. Cerraras was represented by attorney Ronell Gonzalez, while Romey Wade represented the prosecution.
Belize is set to ratify the Convention of the Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency (ALCE), following a resolution passed by the Senate.
Belize signed the Convention on May 7, 2024, in Mexico City.
During today’s Sitting of the Senate, Lead Senator for the Opposition, Michael Peyrefitte questioned, “Space? What are we going to do in space?”
He continued, “This government, Madam President, can’t even finish one road on the Coastal Highway and we sign a treaty to go to space and coordinate with satellite?”
He questioned the government’s capability to handle such an advanced and costly initiative, given existing domestic challenges. Senator Peyrefitte also stressed the high costs associated with space technology, stating, “Space technology is like the most expensive technology you can get engaged in, right ahead of oil exploration technology. I would like to hear from the Minister of State, Senator Coye, exactly how much this will cost us. Because nothing you hear about space is cheap; space is expensive.”
Senator Peyrefitte further questioned the financial obligations detailed in the agreement. He emphasised the need for transparency regarding the costs that Belize would incur annually.
In response, Senator for Government Business, Eamon Courtenay, stressed the benefits and minimal costs associated with joining ALCE. “The purpose of this existing organisation is to use space and satellite technology to harness information to enable people to plan, to avoid disasters, to prepare for disasters, to collect information on soil on topography, to understand the forests that we have, and to increase our ability to have higher yields in agriculture, in order to protect our forests.”
Senator Courtenay reassured that there is no immediate cost to Belize: “There is absolutely no harm in us joining ALCE. Benefits will be down to Belize and Belizeans. There is, at this time, no cost to Belize. If cost is going to be incurred, it will be minimal.”
The Convention aims to establish an international organisation to coordinate cooperation in space technology, research, exploration, and related applications. This initiative is intended to contribute to and strengthen the comprehensive and sustainable development of a regional space programme that will benefit the peoples of Latin America and the Caribbean.
The ALCE will enhance the region’s capabilities in various fields, including Earth observation systems for agriculture, natural disaster management (such as droughts, floods, fires, and hurricanes), security and surveillance, oceanography, meteorology, exploration of natural resources, and urban intelligence and cartography.
The Ministry of Health and Wellness confirmed to News Five today that the number of COVID-19 cases is on the rise in the country. Over the past four weeks, the ministry has observed a steady increase in infections, with the Belize District being the most affected area. Doctor Russell Manzanero, Director of the Epidemiology Unit, spoke with News Five via zoom today. Briteny Gordon has the story.
Britney Gordon, Reporting
The number of COVID cases in the country is on the rise.
Dr. Russell Manzanero
Dr. Russell Manzanero, Director of Epidemiology Unit, MOHW
“We’re seeing just an increase of cases everywhere. It’s global. So those cases are being seen again on the rise. As a matter of fact, COVID never left us. COVID has been here, and I believe it will be here to stay. It’s just that we are having these numbers, and of course, those that are testing are, is not, let’s say, adequate enough, because people are still not testing enough. We’re not doing that testing, so it’s severely underreported at this time.”
Which means that the number might be higher than it is on paper. Director of the Epidemiology Unit in the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Dr. Russell Manzanero, told News Five that for the past four weeks, the ministry has been recording a slight increase in cases. He says that the Belize District is recording the highest number of COVID cases.
Dr. Russell Manzanero
“We do have, of course, based on population size. We’re talking about Belize district. We have a lot of mobility in the Belize district and by Belize district, I’m referring even to the keys. So a lot of interaction, a lot of movement there. So when we’re talking about these movement of individuals, all of that the tourism sector is, it’s booming. So we do have a lot of interaction with a lot of people. I’m not seeing the tourists per se, but I’m just seeing that there’s a lot of involvement interaction between individuals. Whenever that happens, you’re going to see an increase of cases of respiratory illnesses. And by that I also mean COVID.”
According to Dr. Manzanero, there has not been a severe COVID case or a COVID-related death recently. Cases have been moderate, with most being among the vulnerable population.
Dr. Russell Manzanero
“We have had a few admissions for COVID. Still, there are moderate cases, which means that they’re on high flow oxygen. No, nobody ventilated, nobody like that. And the people we’re seeing basically, again, is in our high risk groups. Over the past days, perhaps we’re seeing an increased cases in the elderly population. So we still have to take care of our elderly population. When you go visit your grandparents or your mother, your father, you still have to take those things into consideration. So if you have only flu or anything like that, make sure you use a mask. If you know they’re ill. But that doesn’t mean if you are if your mom or grandmother is a diabetic or have cancer or anything like that you take your measures and you protect them too, so you have to wear the mask as well. What we have seen in the past I believe for a month now. So for the couple, four weeks now, we’ve been seeing like a slight increase in cases, not significantly to say, okay, we have one outbreak or so it’s more. so these cases are starting to pop up once more. Similarly, we’re seeing other cases of flu viruses. So even though we have COVID, we also have influenza, we have RSV. So all of those other viruses are also circulating. Should the public be concerned? Measures won’t be the same. The vaccinations happen. It’s still there. You can still get vaccinated for both of them. But generally, this time, the concern is, of course, still with at risk groups. We have our elderly patients, we have our pregnant mothers, we have our children, our, all those same ones that we’ve been seeing, that we are seeing.”
On Saturday, George Herbert, who was rounded up and sent to the U.S. to stand trial twenty-one years ago, was deported to Belize. Accused of being a former gang leader, Herbert was convicted by a U.S. federal court of several drug trafficking-related offences. Herbert was kidnapped by Belizean police officers and handed over to the U.S. Government to stand trial. He was accused of collaborating with Mexican and Colombian drug cartels and was convicted in December 2004 for importing several tonnes of cocaine into the U.S. between March 2001 and August 2002. Herbert was incarcerated at the Federal Correctional Institution Victorville in Adelanto, California. U.S. law enforcement presented evidence showing that Herbert shipped cocaine from offshore Belize to Calderitas, Mexico, on three occasions, knowing the drugs would be transported to the U.S. The evidence also revealed that Herbert collaborated with the Mexican Juarez Cartel, with the assistance of armed members of the “George Street Crew” street gang, to facilitate the drug smuggling operations. The cocaine was transported in speedboats supplied by Mauricio Ruda-Alvarez. Ironically, Ruda-Alvarez was found murdered in the trunk of a car in Medellín in October 2002, just two months after ordering the kidnapping of Herbert over a stolen cocaine shipment. While Herbert was serving time in a U.S. jail, a Belize court ruled in his favour regarding his extradition process. His family filed a lawsuit against the government, claiming a violation of Herbert’s constitutional rights due to a lack of due process. On the day he was handed over to U.S. law enforcement, Herbert was detained by Belize police officers. The court awarded fifty thousand dollars in damages to his beneficiaries and ten thousand dollars in court costs. Since returning to Belize, Herbert has been processed at the Queen Street Police Station by the G I-Three Unit and is required to sign in as part of the deportee monitoring programme.
It’s been over a week now since the P.U.P. held its convention in Corozal Bay to elect a standard bearer for the next General Elections. On Friday, the sitting Area Representative, Elvia Vega-Samos wrote a Facebook post that quickly drew a response from the party’s chairman, Henry Charles Usher, debunking her claims. The most serious of the allegations were that there were Mexican nationals who were allowed to vote, that persons were allowed to vote with just notepads, and that her supporters were denied the chance to cast their ballots. We were not able to reach Usher for a response, but the party’s press release states in part that the procedure for the finalisation of the Voter’s List for the convention was done with the full participation of both candidates and their representatives, and that only registered voters of the Corozal Bay constituency were allowed to vote. The release also advised Vega-Samos and her supporters to cease immediately from making what it calls further baseless and outlandish public statements. Meanwhile, the successful candidate, Thea Garcia-Ramirez, told News Five she had a machinery of about two hundred and fifty persons who campaigned for her. In terms of the allegations that there were Mexican nationals voting for her, Garcia-Ramirez said there was no way that could have happened. She says she reached out today to Vega-Samos, asking for her support, and is awaiting her response.
Thea Garcia-Ramirez
Thea Garcia-Ramirez, P.U.P. Standard Bearer, Corozal Bay
I will tell you categorically that I have no knowledge of any Mexican nationals that were not on the approved voting list and the voting list. The process is you come in with the voters list, and I think that the cutoff date was June, so anybody that was registered to vote, accepted by Elections and Boundaries, to vote as of June 10th, was on the first list. And you can’t be on the national on the elections and boundaries this unless you confirmed to certain requirements, one which is being a Belize national or a member of the Commonwealth, a resident, another sorry, not resident, a citizen of the Commonwealth, having resided in Belize for at least a year. So all the requirements have to be met. And then from that list, there was a vetting that vetting was done with the secretariat and both camps. We signed off on that list with the provision that we are human. We make errors. It was a little bit over six thousand five hundred names on the entire voting list for Corozal Bay as of June 10th. And, you we started about eight o’clock at night to vet, after a hard day of campaigning. We are bound to make mistakes. Like I said, we are human, and with that said, there is a provision at all P.U.P. conventions that if on convention day, both parties, there’s only two, there were only two candidates in this case could, agree that the person was indeed a P.U.P. voter that they would be allowed to vote that what that’s, rule number 14. And on that premise, we both signed. I received a message prior to the convention a day or two before that said to me that provision would no longer be available that was the list. I want to be fair and say that there were voters coming in for both candidates that were not allowed to vote. I have reached out to Honorable Elvia Vega, Minister of State. I’ve asked her to join my executive. I haven’t received – but I just sent it today, so I haven’t yet received a reply, and asked her to come in. let’s join hands. I think this is a real opportunity to show how women handle both victory and defeat. I think it is a teachable moment. I think it is a moment where we can really show our leadership skills, come together and be able to move forward, as a party, as women of the P.U.P. and women in politics on a whole.”
