August, 2024 - Channel 5 Belize

Government, Farmers and CPBL Collaborate to Revive Citrus Sector

On Monday, August 12, 2024, a meeting was held at the Citrus Products of Belize Limited (CPBL) Conference Room to address the future of Belize’s citrus industry. The meeting had the participation of the Minister of Agriculture, the CEO of the Ministry of Agriculture, technical personnel, representatives from the Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA), and CPBL staff.

The discussions centred on collaborative efforts between the government, farmers, and CPBL to revive and enhance the citrus sector.

Following the meeting, attendees toured CPBL’s facilities. They visited the nursery facility, which can produce 130,000 plants and has already facilitated the planting of 177 acres of oranges. The tour also included the new coconut water processing plant, capable of processing 10,000 to 14,000 coconuts per hour.

Additionally, the group inspected the new pasteurising plant, which extends the shelf life of products, including Tetrapak Caribbean Pride juices. CPBL produces about half of these juices for export and the other half for the local market.

Gun Arrests, Stabbing Incident, and Rape Charges

Police have arrested and charged two individuals for firearm and ammunition possession without a license. On August 11, 2024, police searched a school bag claimed by 31-year-old Nisani Garcia and 19-year-old Vevaney Nolberto at the Belmopan bus terminal. Police found a 0.9mm pistol and several 0.9mm rounds of ammunition. According to police reports, neither Garcia nor Nolberto had a firearm license.

In a separate incident, police are investigating a stabbing that occurred in Belmopan on Sunday, August 11, 2024. At about 11:10 p.m., officers found 18-year-old Devon Bevans with stab wounds in the Las Flores area. Police investigation reveals that Bevans and his foster brother, 21-year-old George Gabourel, were about to play a video game when Gabourel allegedly charged at Bevans from the back. This resulted in Bevans sustaining several stab sounds. Gabourel has been detained.

Additionally, on August 12, 2024, police arrested 22-year-old Richard Josue Padilla in connection to a rape case in the Toledo District. The victim, a 28-year-old woman, reported that Padilla, whom she knew, sexually assaulted her on August 10, 2024. A medical examination confirmed the assault. Padilla was formally charged with rape on Monday, August 12.

Climate Decision-Makers Convene in Belize to Strengthen Climate Change Adaptation Strategies

Climate experts from around the world gathered at the Grand Caribe Resort in San Pedro, Belize, for a global forum on strengthening the alignment between National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

The forum, running from August 12 to 14, is co-organised by the NAP Global Network and the Government of Belize.

The event brings together experts and government representatives to discuss how to improve coherence between NAPs and NDCs, which are countries’s climate pledges under the Paris Agreement.

“Our path ahead must ensure that we reduce the impacts of climate change by building adaptive capacity and resilience, and we must facilitate the integration of climate change adaptation into relevant new and existing policies, programs, and activities across all sectors,” stated Hon. Andre Perez, Minister of Blue Economy and Disaster Risk Management.

Participants from Belize, Benin, Burundi, Fiji, Haiti, Grenada, Madagascar, Nepal, South Sudan, and Suriname are in attendance, along with representatives from the UNDP and the NDC Partnership. Experts from Brazil, Switzerland, and Canada are also contributing to the discussions.

Belize is currently seeking to update its latest NDC, which was submitted to the UNFCCC in 2021 “Through the National Climate Change Office, the NCCO, we’re developing a comprehensive multi-sectoral national adaptation plan that includes critical sectors such as forestry, agriculture, health, tourism, land use, human settlement, and infrastructure, ” said Hon. Ramon Cervantes, Minister of State, Ministry of Sustainable Development and Climate Change. “These efforts are not just about meeting international commitments; they are about creating a sustainable and resilient future for Belize,” he added.

Belize Has New Chief Climate Change Officer

The Ministry of Sustainable Development and Climate Change announced the appointment of Edalmi Pinelo as the new Chief Climate Change Officer at the National Climate Change Office. Pinelo takes over from Dr. Lennox Gladden. She holds a master’s degree in Disaster Risk Management and Climate Governance from the University of Isabel I in Spain and a bachelor’s degree in Natural Resource Management from the University of Belize.

Dr. Gladden was recently appointed as the director of the ICAT regional climate action transparency hub in Central America.

Before this role, Pinelo worked as the Greenhouse Gas Inventory Officer at the same ministry. She led efforts to update the national greenhouse gas inventory, managed forest initiatives, and organised training for forestry stakeholders.

In an official statement made by the Ministry, it said, “Ms. Pinelo’s influence extends beyond national boundaries through her active participation in international climate negotiations. She served as the Coordinator for Transparency for the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) during multiple Conference of Parties (COP) events. Her expertise in data collection, technical analysis, and climate policy has garnered recognition through various certifications and her involvement in high-level climate conferences.”

Collin Mattis who was the Deputy Chief Climate Change Officer also left. We understand that he will be working with the U.N.

Man Lies Critical Following RTA; Sales Manager Arraigned

We begin tonight’s newscast with a report of a serious traffic accident that has left a man in a critical condition at the K.H.M.H. and another with a police charge. The accident happened sometime after seven on Friday night, near mile thirteen on the Phillip Goldson Highway. While the police have not yet released details, there’s plenty for us to share on the incident, including reports that the ambulance service was very late in responding because of mechanical failure. BERT Ambulance had no comment when we called them today, but a relative of the victim said that critical time was lost due to the delay in getting their loved one to the hospital. It took the efforts of an employee from Channel Five who is trained in First Aid, along with two doctors who happened to be at the scene, to stop the patient, Alfred Garbutt, from bleeding out at the scene. We’ll hear from his sister later, but we report first on the man charged in connection with the accident.

The allegation is that a sales manager, forty-three-year-old Dennis Lawrence Johnson, was driving a white Toyota Hilux pickup truck under the influence of alcohol when he collided into the back of Garbutt’s motorcycle, sending the fifty-five-year-old cyclist crashing violently onto the pavement. Today, Johnson appeared in the Magistrate’s Court and was bailed on a charge of negligent grievous harm, pending additional charges. No plea was taken, and the prosecution informed the court that the police are expected to charge Johnson with failure to provide specimen. Today, Garbutt’s sister, Carla Garbutt, told News Five that the family is now preparing fundraisers to cover her brother’s mounting hospital bills.

Voice of: Carla Garbutt, Sister of traffic accident victim

“He had his foot broken and he was breathing very fast. And the ambulance that we called broke down. Thanks to Dr. Elijio from [BDF] Camp and a young man from Channel 5, and a doctor, another doctor. I don’t know his name, and another lady that was dressed in orange. They assisted, but those three medical people stopped his bleeding because the ambulance broke down. And it was for maybe an hour, hour and a half. And so Mr. Elijio had to take those little stuff that he had to prepare him from there, the ambulance came, but the ambulance was very, very late. We di do some fundraising and things because the first night, he bill da mi one thousand then he’s in I.C.U, so it’s five hundred a night and we don’t have it. And every three days, we get wa bill fi fifteen hundred dollars. So, we are doing some bread and buns today and Saturday, we are going to do a barbecue sale.”

Anyone wishing to support the family can contact Carla Garbutt at cell number 611- 4883.

Seven Thieves Break into Courts Belmopan

In crime news, a band of daring thieves, armed with guns, targeted Courts Belmopan branch early this morning. The burglars managed to carry out the plan undetected after they ambushed the company’s security guard and tied him up. Seven gun-toting thieves ambushed the guard before the crack of dawn and stole an assortment of valuables, including laptops, cell phones and money. The total value of the heist has still not been determined, and A.C.P. Romero says investigators are reviewing surveillance footage to help solve the crime.

A.C.P Hilberto Romero, Regional Commander, Eastern Division

“Around four-thirty a.m., police responded to a report of a burglary at Courts building in Belmopan. Upon arrival, the security guard reported that he was performing duties when he was approached by seven male persons armed with firearms. They held him up and tied him and proceeded to break into the building. They stole an assortment of cellular phones, laptops and some cash that was in a safe. Investigation into this report continues at this time. We’re working to get the value of all the items. They’re doing an inventory to see all what was stolen.”

Thieves Also Target Corozal Free Zone

Thieves were also busy up north, as a business at the Corozal Free Zone was broken into. The businessman told police that when he arrived at his store, he discovered that the bars securing the business were tampered with. Further checks confirmed his worst fears that the thief or thieves had forced open a safe that contained an undisclosed amount of cash. A.C.P. Romero says investigators are trying to determine who the perpetrators are.

A.C.P. Hilberto Romero, Regional Commander, Eastern Division

“On Sunday, the eleventh day of August, 2024, police responded to a burglary report at the free zone in the Corozal District. Upon their arrival, Marwan Boinefield reported that he was alerted by someone that his business place was broken into. He made checks inside the burglar bar and the metal door of the building were damaged and entry had been gained. He made checks inside his business place where he found a safe containing a large amount of cash was broken into and all the cash in there was stolen. Investigation into this matter continues.”

Vegetable Vendors Beaten, Robbed at Gunpoint in Cayo

Police are looking for two suspects in connection with an armed robbery in the Cayo District that has left two vegetable vendors wounded and without their van and cell phones. The incident happened just as the men arrived home in their van on Saturday. That was when the gunmen pounced on them, stole an amount of cash and their phones, before beating them and taking the van. Head of the Eastern Division, A.C.P. Hilberto Romero told reporters today that police are following several leads.

A.C.P. Hilberto Romero, Regional Commander, Eastern Division

“On Saturday, the tenth day of August, 2024, police responded to a report in Teakettle Village in the Cayo District, where they met Saulo Mantar and Miguel Cowo, who were seen with injuries. Saulo Mantar reported that he was in his van in the Hillview Area of Santa Elena when he was approached by two male persons armed with firearms. They were taken back into a Ford van that they were in and thereafter the two persons drove off with them to an area. Mantar reported that they arrived at a particular area in Teakettle, where they were taken out of the van and they were severely beaten with metal pipes. Thereafter the male persons robbed both of them of cellphones, cash, and they also stole the van. Thereafter the male persons fled from the area in the van. They received treatment and are in a stable condition. We are seeking two suspects in regard to this robbery.”

Body of a Man Found Floating in PG Sea

The lifeless body of a man was found floating in the sea near Punta Gorda Town on Saturday. A postmortem examination is still pending, but police say no sign of foul play was visible on the body of Victor Bol. A.C.P. Romero said today that the twenty-three-year-old was seen socializing only the night before his body was discovered.

A.C.P. Hilberto Romero, Regional Commander, Eastern Division

“On Saturday, the 10th day of August, 2024 Punta Gorda Police responded to a report of a body floating in the sea on Front Street. Upon arrival, they saw the lifeless body of a male person. The body was retrieved, taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Thereafter, the body was identified as that of Victor Bol, twenty-three years, Belizean of Punta Gorda Town. There were no signs of any injuries on the body.”

Marion Ali

Can you say when was the last time he was seen alive?

A.C.P Hilberto Romero

“He was seen the night before. He was consuming alcoholic beverages. Thereafter, his body was found.”

Number Eleven Sold out for Sunday Lottery

It may have happened in the past – a Boledo and lottery agent announces that there can be no more sale of a certain number for a particular draw. But for the first time since the Belize Government Lotteries Limited introduced a software system five months ago, a notice is given to all agents to end the sale of a number. That is, once enough pieces of that number have been sold for that draw. It happened on Sunday. It appeared that too many lottery buyers invested in the number eleven and when the threshold was reached, the system automatically generated a notice across the country. Today, the managing director of the Belize Government Lotteries Limited, Janel Espat said that it’s really nothing new, just the software system. But how many pieces of a number can be purchased before that number is struck off the list? A lot.

Janel Espat, Managing Director, Belize Government Lotteries Ltd.

“Under the previous management of the Boledo, shop owners would simply inform players that a number was sold out and no longer available for purchase. But what we have done is that we have implemented a feature within our software program, and that feature provides an automatic notice when a number has reached its limit and is no longer available for purchase. So, it would not allow for the sale of that number to be made once it has reached the limit. So, it’s simply just a safeguard that we have put in place to minimize the risk of any very significant loss.”

Marion Ali

“How many pieces of any number is allowed to be sold before you can say it’s sold out?”

Janel Espat

“For the ordinary lottery, it’s about two hundred and five thousand pieces. So, it’s a very high threshold that would translate to winnings of close to two point two, two point five million dollars, somewhere around there.”

Marion Ali

“And you’re saying that the threshold on Sunday for the number eleven was reached for the number eleven?”

Janel Espat

“Yes. Yes. That’s exactly what happened. Over two hundred thousand pieces of the number eleven were sold on Sunday.”