A family is grieving the loss of their son after an incident involving a tractor claimed the ten-year-old’s life on Friday. Reports are that on August second, the child was operating the family’s tractor when he lost control of the vehicle, causing it to fall onto him. The child was rushed to the Corozal Community Hospital for treatment but would later succumb to his injuries. Commissioner of Police Chester Williams says police are deliberating on how to levy charges for the incident.
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“It is something we have to look at. I guess this happened in Little Belize. The ten-year-old was driving a tractor and a tractor overturned on the ten year old causing the ten year old’s life. Certainly, there’s some degree of neglect on the part of the parents, but again, we know the Mennonite tradition, there’s a history or there’s a tradition with the Mennonite that they are trained from an early age to, to work on the farm. So we have to look at it very carefully to see if there is any way we can take any criminal charges against the parents, I know that it might be difficult. One might say the parent is already suffering enough having to endure the loss of their child. So it’s a matter we must say policing with empathy. So we have to look at it from that standpoint.”
The family of the late Imari Galvez is still holding out hope that justice will be served for her murder. In May 2023, the nineteen-year-old was found lifeless on the side of the Hummingbird Highway, having apparently been choked to death. Investigators have been unable to make an arrest due to a lack of evidence. ComPol Williams says that progress in the case is slow, but the department has not given up their efforts.
Chester Williams
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“I met with the family members, the mother and the father. I appointed a new investigator that is now being looked at by the special team that I put together following the S.O.E. and we are making very slow progress and I’m hoping that we’ll be able to reach a stage where we get sufficient evidence to be able to charge someone. We have a basic idea in terms of where we’re going, what we’re looking for. So again, like I said before, we are looking at a number of these investigations that have been closed. We’re opening them and we’re making arrests and I’m hoping that the Imari Galvez case is going to be one of those that we can make an arrest very shortly.”
Reporter
“Is it true that the previous investigator refused to interview an eyewitness?”
It’s an event that a lot of Belizeans look forward to as part of the September celebrations. The Carnival parade usually offers a visual potpourri of colours, sights and sounds. Revelers are often up from the crack of dawn to take part in J’ouvert before the big dance – that is, the carnival road march. The event this year will be huge, going by what carnival officials are saying, with as many of fourteen bands. New to the 2024 parade is the participation of bands hailing from as far away as Corozal and Punta Gorda. But there is a need for more assistance, especially from a junior band that suffered a major setback this week. News Five’s Marion Ali serves you this week’s edition of Kolcha Tuesday with what carnival is shaping up to be in this report.
Marion Ali, Reporting
It may still be a month away, but the planners, organizers, designers and officials of Carnival 2024 are having their busiest time making sure that whatever necessary adjustments are made in time. Owner of senior band, Mother Nature Creations, Carla Flowers, says she has already gotten most of her spaces filled.
Carla Flowers
Carla Flowers, Owner, Mother Nature Creations Carnival Band
“This year looks great for me, so I’m not going through any challenge right now, like I have a platinum sponsor, which is Belize Tourist Board.”
Marion Ali
“Oh, great. Okay, so how many members do you have?”
Carla Flowers
“Well, I’m catering for like one hundred and fifty. I already have one-forty. So maybe only 10 more we are going for.”
Marion Ali
“Three segments? How many?”
Carla Flowers
“Seven segments.”
The overall parade in Belize City is also shaping up to be a great display this year, according to President of the Belize Carnival Association, Patrick Thompson, who said there will be a couple new aspects to the tradition.
Patrick Thompson
Patrick Thompson, President, Belize Carnival Association
“We have been visiting the bands. And we see where the bands have improved a lot. So I must say, yes, the route has changed, yes, but that again is a new thing for Carnival this year. So I can assure you that the hype, regardless of the route, will be the same come September 7th. We have five junior bands and five senior bands this year. Also, we should be seeing a band coming out of Punta Gorda. And we are in dialogue with a band from Corozal and Orange Walk. What we want to do is to make carnival a national carnival, where we want these different municipalities to have their own, and then all the winners from different municipalities come to a national carnival.”
While the general momentum is positive, one junior band suffered a significant misfortune this week. Marina Welcome, who owns Jump Street Posse, told us today that things were also looking good for them, until someone paid an unwelcome visit to their camp.
Marina Welcome
Marina Welcome, Owner, Jump Street Posse
“It was going good until they sabotaged my camp. The other night in the hard rain, I think it was like about three o’clock in the morning, they tried to get in on sabotage. I don’t know if they took pictures or what, but right now they have me – I was doing good. Right now they have me one step behind because I had to do a lot of repairs.”
Marion Ali
“So they damaged some of your stuff?”
Marina Welcome
“Yes, a lot of them. Almost all the head pieces, so I had to take a day and a half and did all that all over again and repair.”
Marion Ali
“How many pieces?”
Marina Welcome
“Sixty.”
Marion Ali
“And the band is made up of how many members?”
Marina Welcome
“I’m catering for sixty.”
Marion Ali
“It’s all of them, and it’s really bad because you know already, sponsorship is bad. How are you coping now, having to repair that and it’s costing more?”
Marina Welcome
“(Sighs) Right now, I’m begging for somebody to at least sponsor my queen costume for me. The total cost of that is only one thousand five hundred dollars. So somebody please, my number is 671-2639. Please help and sponsor and get the kids off the street. “
The Association President also appeals for the assistance from the business community towards an event that a lot of people enjoy watching.
Patrick Thompson
“Without Carnival, there’s no September. So, like I would say to everybody, please come out, support these bands, all the little grocery stores in the different areas that these bands practice. Give them that little support, because like, in Creole we say, “one, one okra full basket” and all the support that these bands get will be gratefully appreciated.”
The countdown for the 2024 National Song Competition has begun and with that comes an announcement of the seven finalists who will be facing off on stage with an original song. The competition is held to celebrate Belize, but all participants are open to submit a song about any theme or topic. Competitors are also able to choose from a variety of genres and this year’s show will feature songs with soca, punta rock, traditional and contemporary brukdown sounds. We spoke with Kim Vasquez, Director of the Institute of Arts for the long-awaited reveal of the finalists.
Kim Vasquez
Kim Vasquez, Director, I.C.A.
“In no particular order, the finalists for the 2024 National Song Competition, Wilson Grinage: Until Forever, Jackie Castillo: Song for Belize, Shadow: In Your Blood, Echo: Remember Them Days, Allan Castillo: We Need Love, Lenox Awardo: Gimme All Belize, and Hubee: Explore Belize.”
Reporter
“So what happens now?”
Kim Vasquez
“So now we the competition is judged in two parts. The adjudicators, they look at the song and they’re looking for again, it’s a very technical competition. They’re looking for things like originality, production, arrangement, the originality of the lyrics, the meaningfulness behind the lyrics and that is judged in the first part of the competition. And then on the sixteenth of August, we come here live at the bliss center at eight p.m. for the performance segment now of the competition and again, very different, very unique format. When they come on stage here, they get an opportunity to warm up. They’re going to perform a song of their choice. It can be something that one of their previous hits, or it can be any cover of any song that is to just warm them up and introduce them to the audience. And then they will come with their song into the song competition.”
Britney Gordon
“And you said there’s a very good reason to come out and support this competition.”
Kim Vasquez
“There is again, what we’re trying to do is this is a way for us to, yes, have new music come out to support artists, to encourage them to improve their craft, but it’s also has to do with now where emancipation day has just taken place. And now we’re going full speed ahead into the September celebrations. And we were working hard this year to bring the competition in the month of August. So that all the songs could be out and they could be played and shared. And this is what we want the public to do, support them.”
Every year, Belizeans across the country look forward to the annual Queen of the Bay pageants. However, this year, residents of San Ignacio and Santa Elena expressed disappointment after the event was cancelled and a queen was appointed with little fanfare. Earl Trapp, Mayor of San Ignacio and Santa Elena, says that he understands the public’s disappointment and anticipates next year’s event.
Earl Trapp, Mayor, San Ignacio & Santa Elena
“The Queen of the West, we had a committee placed from November of last year. Somewhere between November and a month ago after elections in March, everything just eroded. Like I said on the station this morning, I’m not the person that will micromanage. But the candidates decided to fall out and I cannot force people to do what they don’t want. So I expressed my I mean my apologies for that but I can tell you that next year around I have a vibrant committee that will make ensure that we have enough delegates to have the Queen of the West pageant.”
Recently, the San Ignacio and Santa Elena Town Council shared its profit and loss balance sheet for the month of May 2024. Shortly after, the council came under fire after the full document was leaked to the public, revealing that forty-three thousand dollars was allocated for a monthly consultancy. Mayor Earl Trapp maintains that the council has always been completely transparent with its finances.
Earl Trapp
Earl Trapp, Mayor, Santa Elena & San Ignacio
“A profit and loss balance sheet as a responsible town council. We have always posted that on our Facebook page, every month we post that. It’s just a mischievous act, I would say. And I’m sure it’s one of my council members that took a snapshot and right after the meeting, he was in the administrator’s office discussing the issue, and I can tell you that the administrator went through this with me. About two weeks ago, and I said to him, sir, the best person to make clarification is the accountant. And why didn’t he take the time and get the accountant to explain to him if he doesn’t understand? What happened there is that, for example, what was not spent in March and April was spent in there. It’s nothing wrong with that. We have a contract with a company that provides the license. I think that’s basically what they are talking about. That’s what we repeated the forty-three thousand for so many months. But there’s nothing to hide. We have been one, like I said, one of the most transparent council and one of the council in the country of Belize that is more financially stable. It’s just false allegations.”
The People’s Constitution Commission was configured in November 2022 with a mandate to review Belize’s Constitution, to consult with the people of Belize, to make notes of what those consultations reflect, and to present them to the Prime Minister in a report. The work was to have been completed within eighteen months, but unforeseen delays required a six-month extension. The commission had hoped for a budget of seven million dollars to conduct the work, but was only given one point one million to work with. The commission had to eliminate a great part of the plan it had that included media coverage for its consultative process in order to cut costs. It has long invested the money it was allotted for the project and is hoping that another allotment will be granted in order to finish up the next four months of work. Will it be able to get it done in that time that is left? We posed that question to the Chairman of the P.C.C, Anthony Chanona.
Anthony Chanona
Anthony Chanona, Chairman, People’s Constitution Commission
“Having spent over one and a half million dollars to do we cannot just show things together. It has to represent.”
Marion Ali
Is there a need, you think, for another extension?
Anthony Chanona
“I’ve heard that question been asked of me that there’s need for, there might be need for more time. That would take a legislative amendment because the legislative amendment – the legislative law we have said eighteen months, which ended in May, six months which ends in November. I want to believe, Marion, that we have all the information; we have a lot of it, but if we can double down and dedicate these next four months to putting together the information from the commission to the people and back to the commission and work hard into the wee hours in the morning. In October, I’ll be able to give you a straight answer.”
While the Commission has its financial challenges, it still managed to reach a wide cross section of the community, including the ones that do not have access to technology or to the two volumes of the summary of the Constitution that they continue to disseminate. Chanona told News Five that they had originally put aside their public outreach program from June to December of last year, but that it went on for two months beyond that because of the need to reach the remote areas. All in all, he said, the coverage they were able to make was significant. In the coming months, the commission will prepare and present a report that reflects what it captured in the public consultations and outreach.
Anthony Chanona
Anthony Chanona, Chairman, People’s Constitution Commission
“We visited, of the two hundred and six villages, over seventy percent of those villages in Toledo alone where fifty-four villages are. I would say we sensitized one hundred percent because we went directly to thirteen villages and indirectly right over there at the Father Ring Parish Hall, thanks to the efforts of Commissioner Christina Coc. We were able to meet with the Toledo Alcalde’s Association and that is forty-one members. So we distributed these books and we sensitized our nation. We directly engage with over twenty-two thousand persons and we issued over ten thousand survey instruments, over three hundred thousand Digicel text blasts and one hundred and twenty-six thousand smart text blasts. We went all the way into the diaspora, but all that needed to be captured into some format of a tool of education, because when this effort is finished, the legacy that we all aspire to leave as a P.C.C is a tool that would create an agenda. The importance of our Belize Constitution, and the importance of having knowledge. of the way we govern ourselves. And now we’re in the process of trying to match what the people said. To a recommendation and where that effort will lead is what we want to do is develop an interim report. So we will take these next months of June, July, August, September to create the recommendations based on the people’s responses. How do we take all that they said, from the highest percentages of priorities to the lowest, put them into some constitutional format. If it fits, is it a recommendation that will fit in the Constitution? Or is it something that is aspirational? I would like it to fit, but it’s not of a constitutional nature. And then, because we want to be able to call this effort the People’s Constitution of Belize. We are going to release in October what is titled an Interim Report and what the Interim Report will have is basically a summary of all recommendations and we are going to put it back into the twenty-three stakeholders of which the media is one and we’re going to have hopefully truly media public outreach for the people of Belize to be able to see what we saying we heard you say and to see if in fact we documented or heard properly.”
It’s episode six of KTV the Remix Season Six and the competition is as tense as ever. With only three more episodes to go, tonight will see crowd favorites fight for those final spots. KTV Producer Viannie Reyes promises a night of excitement that will keep viewers on the edge of their seats. Here’s more on that.
Viannie Reyes
Viannie Reyes, KTV Producer
“It’s hard to say this, but one of your favorites will be going home tonight. We have been seeing A lot of great performances from all of these contestants and it’s hard to see them leave. Last week was the first battle round. It was very emotional. So we’re hoping that tonight can be a bit smoother. They’re preparing for country or pop tonight. That’s a genre. And after tonight, there will be four more contestants that will be battling it out to stay in the last of KTV and that one person to become the champion.”
Britney Gordon
“So what’s the energy like going into this? How are the contestants faring?”
Viannie Reyes
“They’re very nervous, of course. There’s a lot of emotions behind the scenes, and it’s totally understandable, especially when they’re announced that they made it to the bottom two. Like I said before, the emotions came out behind the scenes, they took it on stage. So that can also be a bit, scary for them, too, because this is where the judges will have their say and they will be deciding out of those two who will be keeping that run for KTV the Remix Season six champion. We’re looking forward to see who is the bottom two. But we’re also asking for you for everybody to come out at the bliss to support them. It’s a different vibe than seeing it on TV. And also you get to participate in a lot of different giveaways. And also the halftime challenge as well to where you get to win a lot of different prizes as well. And like I said, it’s just the ambience, the entertainment and everything at The Bliss is so much better than seeing it online.”
Two men have been arrested and charged in relation to an attack on former Belize City Councillor Deannie Requena. They are 21-year-old Kareem Allen and 30-year-old Burton Clare. Allen was charged with aggravated assault with a firearm and theft, while Clare was charged with use of deadly means of harm and wounding.
The incident occurred sometime before 2:00 p.m. near Hattieville on Sunday. She had sustained stab wounds to her face and neck, and her vehicle was damaged on the roadside near mile fifteen on the George Price Highway. She was found by another motorist, who helped her to the Hattieville Police Station.
In a Facebook post, Requena stated that she is physically okay. She revealed that there were two attackers, both of whom she knew. One stabbed and punched her, while the other robbed her of her iPhone and the money in her purse, cut all the tires on her vehicle, and broke the glass. Requena expressed gratitude for being alive but noted that the attack has left her mentally damaged.
