July, 2024 - Channel 5 Belize

Jamaica Feels the Fury of Hurricane Beryl

Jamaica felt the fury of Hurricane Beryl as it made landfall as a category four hurricane just after midday. The storm continues to batter Jamaica with powerful winds and torrential rains. The Government of Jamaica declared a curfew from six a.m. to six p.m. today. Approximately one hour before Hurricane Beryl made landfall in Jamaica, we spoke with one Belizean student currently pursuing a graduate degree in the island nation. Brianney Smith decided to weather the hurricane inside her dormitory at the University of the West Indies. Here is what she told us.

Brianney Smith, Belizean Student

“Since this morning it morning it has just been constant rain. It gets lighter and then it gets harder but it doesn’t completely stop. There has not been much winds since much this morning. but as of the past ten to fifteen minutes there has been a pickup of winds. The traffic on a regular day is kind of bad, but it has just been crazy with everybody filling up the supermarkets, everybody trying to get their last-minute supplies. But I would say everybody is in a state of slight panic because for a lot of people it is their first hurricane as adults and for a lot of them it is the first hurricane of this magnitude since they can remember. So, I would so everybody is in a slight panic, myself as well. For the most part I am relatively safe because I live on the sixth floor of my building and my room comes with shutters and my windows are shutter proof. But I have also been taking little precautions, moving my furniture away from the window where water and anything can seep in. I have been stacking up on my nonperishables, making sure my devices are charged, ensuring I have data on my p[hone in the event that power goes out. Kingston on a regular basis has water issues so I can only imagine what is to come. So I have been trying to fill up any empty bottle I have in my apartment to ensure that if water does go away I have enough to last me for at last two to three days. It is a bit scary especially because I am weathering the storm alone but I have to say I am very grateful for my friends and family in Belize and Jamaica that knows my situation that have been checking on me routinely, asking for the latest update and ensuring that I feel supported at this time. I would say across the island a lot of people are fearful of the damage it could do to their roofs, because water is one thing but water and wind at the same time, uncontrollable is another. So for me I think that my building is able to withstand at least the rain. I am not too sure about how it is going to hold up against the wind and when branches start breaking and projectiles get in the wind. I am not too sure how it will hold up against that but for the most part I am pretty safe.”

Belizeans Evacuate Islands as Storm Approaches Yucatan Peninsula

The past few days have been filled with anticipation as Belizeans and neighbors from the Caribbean and Central American brace for Hurricane Beryl. Officials from the National Meteorological Service say that the storm will not pose a direct threat to Belize. Nonetheless, the public is advised to proceed with caution as the storm may change its path at any moment. With that in mind, hundreds of Belizeans are evacuating their homes in San Pedro and Caye Caulker to seek shelter on the mainland. Local airlines and water taxis are suspending services until an all clear is given. News Five’s Britney Gordon spoke to a few of those businesses today for more information. Here’s that story.

Britney Gordon, Reporting

In the next twenty-four hours, Hurricane Beryl is anticipated to make landfall in the Yucatan Peninsula. According to the National Meteorological Service, Belize is not in the direct path of the category four hurricane, but is expected to receive heavy rain, winds, and flooding, particularly in the northern districts. Considering this, Caribbean Sprinter and San Pedro Belize Express water taxi services are taking precautions to ensure the safety of their customers and employees by suspending services. We spoke with Shameeka Pennill, Marketing Manager at San Pedro Belize Express for more information on this decision.

Shameeka Pennill, Marketing Manager, San Pedro Belize Express

“Well right now we’re just in preparation to bring in everyone in from the island as much as we can. Right now it’s still voluntary evacuation. Today’s our last day of operation. So we’re doing five runs from Key Cocker and San Pedro. And after that’s the end of our operations for today until further notice.”

Pennill explained that the last boat left San Pedro at three o’clock and at three thirty from Caye Caulker this afternoon. She said that the company has seen a steady stream of customers as people continue to evacuate the islands.

Shameeka Pennill

“I recently checked in with the port manager in San Pedro, and he’s saying at least six hundred people have arrived. Six hundred persons and that was about an hour ago.”

Britney Gordon

“So that’s been within the past two days?”

Shameeka Pennill

“No, that’s just for today. That’s just for today on these runs.”

Many residents are leaving the islands to ensure their own safety; however, a few are returning to the mainland to be with family members who are also at risk. Kristian Puerto, a San Pedro resident, told us that he is heading back to his family in Corozal to help during the storm.

Kristian Puerto, San Pedro Resident

“Me personally, the last, the last one that hit was just a tropical storm. And this is the first major hurricane that I’m going to have to be evacuating from the island. And yes, I’ve noticed a lot of people, especially a lot of people from the, from mainland Belize. They’re kind of evacuate the islands. Most of the people I noticed staying in the islands are the are the people that are from from the island, but most of the people that work on the island are from the out district. They’re definitely heading back home. Everybody is trying to bunker up.”

San Pedro Belize Express anticipates that services will resume in a couple of days, after damage assessments have been completed. We spoke with Max Greif, CEO of Tropic Air, to find out about the company’s operation plan for the next few days.

Max Greif, CEO, Tropic Air

“We ramped up service for Tuesday and then we’re operating our full schedule for Wednesday and then effective tomorrow morning, we’ll be suspending operations. Our anticipation is that we’ll be operating with minimal service beginning on Friday. That’s also dependent on the government, making sure that there’s an all clear given, but then we expect to be fully operational on Saturday as well.”

Greif explained that while the company observed a slight increase in sales on Tuesday, it was offset by the cancellation of flights for Thursday. He said that despite the net loss, the safety of his customers is a priority.

Max Greif

“At the end of the day, we’re an airline or we’re not a bank. We’re not a grocery store. We deal with people’s lives. And so we made the difficult decision on Monday based on the path and the trajectory and the strength of the storm and the expected landfall. So we made the decision to suspend operations effective on Thursday. I’ll be honest, it’s a difficult decision, but it’s a personal decision. At the end of the day, if I don’t feel comfortable sending my wife and kids, I’m not going to send anybody else’s family.”

Britney Gordon for News Five.

Belizeans Evacuate Islands due to Approaching Storm

As Hurricane Beryl approaches mainland, San Pedranos and other residents from Caye Caulker who anticipate heavy wind and rainfall are seeking shelter elsewhere with family and friends in various districts. We spoke with Chief Transport Officer Leon Gentle to find out how many people are currently evacuating and what are the operation plans for the Transport Department when faced with an emergency.

Leon Gentle, Deputy Chair, Transport and Evacuation

“As you may know as a part of our constitution, it’s we’re not forcing anybody to evacuate. So at this point, we’re currently working on voluntary evacuation efforts. What I can tell you is that the San Pedro Coordinator, Miss Vanessa Parham who works closely with the islands are currently in the process of ensuring that as much persons who are willing to evacuate are doing so now it the numbers that we’ve received so far from San Pedro and Caye Caulker is somewhere around one thousand three hundred persons from Caye Caulker and one thousand two hundred persons from San Pedro. And that’s through one of the companies, the San Pedro Belize Express, who we do have an MOU with when it comes to these types of situations where we are asking persons to voluntarily evacuate. We also have that same agreement with the Caribbean Sprinter and those persons who provide that service for the cayes. And so Caribbean Sprinters so far has evacuated around three hundred and eighty-four passengers and two Corozal, they both Thunderbolt has evacuated ninety-six. As of today, one hundred two persons were evacuated as of three p.m. today. So the island and the town council along with the NEMO coordinator there have been working diligently with the Transport and Evacuation Committee to provide that service for lesions or persons. Out there on the keys. What I can also note is that the Coast Guard has been moving around in the smaller islands to provide information for persons who may not have the technology that provides that information for them. And so thanks to the Coast Guard, thanks to the boat companies to provide that support for us through the Transport and Evacuation Committee of NEMO.”

Corozal Prepares for Tropical Storm Impact and Heavy Rains

The northernmost portion of Belize continues to brace for tropical storm force winds, as Hurricane Beryl is projected to make landfall in the Yucatan Peninsula. Flooding in the north is a major concern as this system is expected to dump several inches of rainfall. NEMO’s Corozal District Office says it is prepared. The office is encouraging residents living in low-lying, flood prone areas to seek shelter. Residents have been keeping track of the record-breaking tropical system. News Five’s Paul Lopez reports.

May Donn, Corozal Resident

“Right now I have no plans because we have to work and thing. But we are aware of it, but dah nuh like I have no plans as yet.”

Paul Lopez

“Do you see people around you doing anything for preparations?”

May Donn

“No, nobody, probably they are taking it lightly.”

Paul Lopez, Reporting

We spoke with May Donn on Tuesday afternoon in Corozal Town. She, like most of the residents we spoke with, was aware of the threats Hurricane Beryl poses to Belize. Marlo Portillo and his family had already stocked up on their groceries.

Marlo Portillo, Corozal Resident

“We already have some beans ready for the hurricane. We see people buying stuff over the last two days. Yeah, a lot of people buying stuff yesterday and today too. We pray to God that it does not come this way because we are scared, the kids are afraid too, everybody is scared, we pray to God the hurricane does not come this way.”

The National Emergency Management Organization’s Corozal District Office says it is prepared to weather the storm. District Coordinator Ronnie Hernandez says shelters are ready to keep residents safe. Shelters will open as the need arises. The most vulnerable in the populations are also being considered.

Ronnie Hernandez, Corozal District Coordinator, NEMO

“We don’t have thirteen operational committees now, we have fifteen operational committees. The two additional committees consist of maritime and the special needs committee. The special needs committee reported that we have a plan. We stick to the Corozal Community College, there is a building for the old folks home here in Corozal which of course are flood prone. We do have a plan when it comes to evacuation. This people can be placed there along with the people in charge and watching over them.”

Apart from possible tropical storm force winds, flooding is one of the primary concerns in the Corozal District. Over the weekend, incessant rain led to unexpected flooding in several communities in the north. Hurricane Beryl will likely dump a significant amount of rain in these areas.

File: July 1st, 2024, Tenielle Hendy, Principal Hydrologist, NHS

“Right now the entire north and part of central Belize the soil moisture is very saturated. So there is not a lot of room for waters to go through the soil. They are at capacity. They have taken all that they can take. So, what happens is that turns into runoffs, it leads to flooding and eventually goes into the river.”

Mayor Rigo Vellos weighed in on the possibility of flooding in the district, while warning residents not to take any risks.

Rigo Vellos, Mayor, Corozal Town

“I know there will have people who would want to come and there will be people who want to come out, but like I said this is something very serious. Even if it is just rain, it will be a lot of rain and we need to be prepared. As leaders we need to encourage people that if they stand a high chance of getting flooded not to take the risk but move to shelters. I know that we are working very closely together with DEMO and NEMO is the one giving the advice.”

Ronnie Hernandez

“Whenever you are going to a shelter you know you have to take your own food for seventy-two hours. After seventy-two hours the relief and supplies management committee kicks in. I have always told my village emergency committee, but Mr. Hernandez, they ask me, what if the person doesn’t have anything to eat. If the system was not coming, what would you eat, they have tortilla, little piece of bread, bring it to the shelter, the humanitarian part of these other will open a can and give you a sausage.”

Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.

Police on Alert During Tropical Storm Watch

The police also play a major part during the passage of a storm and as Belize enters tropical storm watch, it means that the police duties will increase. Commissioner Williams says that various formations have their own plan to activate which will include keeping the peace, while also keeping a watch out for the public moving around. It is selfless service because the officers must leave their own families to brave the streets and keep the community safe.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“We met yesterday as the command structure and the commanders were told to activate their hurricane plans, look at what will be needed in terms of supply for officers who are going to be in the areas to be affected, as well as to make sure that we look at the hurricane shelters. We are working in tandem with NEMO. We get our instructions from NEMO in terms of how we move where the hurricane is concerned. But as a department, we must also put together our own contingencies, so we already advised the officers to make sure they look after their own personal security or safety of their families, so that if or when the time comes that they need to engage in hurricane duties, they won’t have to be worrying about their families, where their families are. So again, It’s a situation where police officers have to leave their families to go and take care of other people. That’s the vicissitudes of being a police officer and we do this every day with pride and commitment because we are adamant in making sure that we serve our Belizean people the best way we possibly can. So, generally we are prepared if the hurricane or tropical storm comes. As a department, we are prepared to police as best as we can, along with the other agencies that we’ll be working with.”

Murder Figures Up Compared to Same Period Last Year

Coming on the heels of the state of emergency that was extended to ninety days, the Comstat figures show that murders are on the rise. Today, the Commissioner of Police, Chester Willams and the Minister of Home Affairs, Kareem Musa met with reporters to explain how they intend to turn those numbers around within the ninety-day period. Murders for 2024 stood at fifty-seven at the end of June, compared to forty-five at the same time last year. News Five’s Marion Ali spoke with both officials and filed this report.

Marion Ali, Reporting

Major crimes for the second quarter of 2024 are reported to be on a decline, but the overall number of murders are higher than this same time in 2023. Today during the Belize Police Department’s Comstat Conference, Commissioner of Police, Chester Williams said these numbers are higher than last year’s, but still lower than previous years.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“The numbers for this year’s second quarter are reflecting a 22% reduction in overall major crime. But of concern to me is an increase in murders. Murders are up by 13, when compared to the same period last year. Last year, around this time we had 45 and this year, at the end of the second quarter we have 58.”

Commanders will be tasked to review their crime-fighting strategies to see how they can enhance those efforts. The ComPol said that the Belize District remains the area where most of these murders are taking place, particularly because of gang violence. This is followed closely by the Cayo District. Even though major crimes are lower than they were previously, Williams says this is inclusive of robberies, burglaries and thefts.

Chester Williams

“If your house is broken into and an item value $1 is stolen, it will be recorded.”

Reporter

And it will be included in major crimes?

Chester Williams

“It will be included, yes. If you are robbed of an item that is valued 5 cents it will be included in the major crime category. The only one that we have costs attached to is theft because theft, per se is not really a violent crime. Many of the thefts that we have are basically instances where people would have left their things carelessly and someone would just come and pick it up.”

The murder rate in 2024 is a far cry from the eighty-seven total number of homicides that Belize recorded last year. The Minister of Home Affairs, Kareem Musa believes that with stringent measures over the next few months during the state of emergency, those numbers can go down.

Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs

“We anticipate over the next two, three months, we should have a decrease in the number of murders but we are not letting up. We are applying the pressure at all the pressure points to ensure that we have the most efficient police strategies being employed. That is essentially the reason and purpose for strategic sessions like this, the ComStat that meets every quarter, for us not only to review the data that we have gathered but to translate that into making the necessary adjustments on the ground in terms of our operations.”

We asked Musa what the plan will be if at the end of the ninety-day SOE the murder rate begins to climb again. He said perhaps it would then be time to amend the Constitution to allow for a gang-detention period.

Kareem Musa

“I think there is high time for us to have a discussion, a consultation period even because I don’t think that the State of Emergency was designed for this type of gang interventions. So we could start having the discussion of amending legislation, of even amending the constitution for a gang detention period as opposed to utilising the State of Emergency because as you rightly said, there are just a very small handful of young men that insist on carrying out this type of criminal activity. They do not want to change.”

Marion Ali for News Five.

What Happens During an SOE Mediation?

The Ministry of Home Affairs and the Belize Police Department will not simply push for amendments to the Constitution for stiffer laws for gang and gun violence. Today, Commissioner Williams told reporters that during the ninety-day State of Emergency, they will conduct mediation sessions with the youths who are locked at the Belize Central Prison during this period.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“Next week we will commence intervention and mediation sessions at the Kolbe Foundation. That will be led by Mr Nuri Mohammed. The intention is for him to go in twice a week to meet with them in smaller groups and then see how we can eventually expand the groups. That will be done for the three-month period of the SOE. Again, the objective is not to just have them locked up in prison but also to have them resolve whatever issues or conflicts that they may have, so hopefully it is going to bear good fruits. In terms of the persons who are still wanted by the police, some of them may have left the country, some of them may be hiding in other parts of the country, but we’re hoping that the public is going to assist us in rooting them out from where they may be.”

ComPol Says Police are Going After Gangs in Twin Towns

A bitter feud that continues to play out among rival groups in the west, claimed the life of Anthony Smith on Sunday night in Santa Elena Town. The thirty-year-old Avella Street resident, according to Commissioner of Police Chester Williams, was a suspect in a deadly shooting incident that ultimately claimed the life of David Galindo several weeks ago. The attack on Galindo, who was also shot while purchasing food in Santa Elena, led to members of his family storming the San Ignacio Community Hospital and coercing the medical staff into providing emergency treatment to the shooting victim. It’s a problem that the Commissioner of Police hopes to resolve with the establishment of a separate precinct in Santa Elena in the coming weeks. The twin towns, he says, are not part of the existing state of emergency.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“We have to understand that, one: the San Ignacio/Santa Elena area is not under SOE, so please don’t try to… you introduced it first by saying, “since the SOE.” So, in other words, you’re trying to pull that into the SOE which should not be. We have to understand that as police officers, we are creatures of law. There are several things that we would like to do to make sure that criminals are place where they belong, but we cannot do it because we don’t have the legal authority. While there are certain things that we want to get done, it is going to take a little time. I have met with the people of San Ignacio/Santa Elena explained to them what we are doing and that process is underway. We are still hoping that the police station for Santa Elena is going to be completed within the one month timeframe that we had given the public and we’ll be able to house that police station with police officers. We already got a new vehicle that should be deployed to the area by Monday for the officers to be able to carry out their responsibilities. In the meantime, we have GI3 in the area, they are doing the gang investigations. You now that the gang investigations are not an overnight investigation. These are investigations that take at least three to six months to be able to gather all the information to convince a court beyond a reasonable doubt that these people are gang members.”

Will Daily Operations Prevent Gang Violence in Santa Elena?

In the case of Anthony Smith, who was shot and killed on Sunday night while purchasing food at a nearby fast-food restaurant, the ComPol says that law enforcement operations are being carried out every day and detentions are being made.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“The police officers from S.P.U. and the San Ignacio operation teams are conducting daily operations. We are detaining them for forty-eight hours and after forty-eight hours we have to let them go. We cannot keep them beyond forty-eight hours. So, they are going to look for that opportunity again to do what they need to do, but we have to make sure that we do our part also to prevent them from doing so. So the police are doing as much as we can and we continue to do so until we can get that police station in place in Santa Elena and staff it with police officers, giving them resources to be able to patrol that area and even when that is done, we are still going to make sure that we continue to look at the past investigations, in terms of the murders, we look at the gang investigations, all, again a view to make sure that we can interdict those persons who are involved in this back and forth shooting in Santa Elena/San Ignacio.”

Reporter

“Is the Anthony Smith one especially painful for you all because you knew he would be a target, you know it’s ongoing escalating retaliation and bam, it happened. And is the shooter Minor, suspected shooter?”

Chester Williams

“Anthony Smith was one of the persons who was suspected to have been involved in the murder of David Galindo. We knew, yes, that he was a target, but we cannot and we will not be security guard for no criminal.”

Brother of ComPol Out on Bail for $1000

Arthur Roy Williams, the brother of Commissioner of Police Chester Williams, is out on bail after being charged, once again, for posting about his brother online. In February, the fifty-three-year-old was charged for using a computer system to disseminate false statement with the intent to cause another person to be subject to ridicule or embarrassment, and for using a computer system to publish computer data to intimidate a person. One of the conditions for bail on these charges is that Williams was not to post anything about the Commissioner of Police or the Belize Police Department; however, allegations are that he violated the conditions. He appeared in court today, where he was read the single charge of contempt of judicial order. Williams appeared unrepresented and pleaded not guilty to the charge. Tonight, he is out after meeting bail of one thousand dollars. He is due back in court on August twentieth, 2024.