During Saturday night’s Carnival Road march in Orange Walk Town, a 23-year-old man from the St. Martins Area, Belize City, was fatally stabbed.
According to reports, Alwin Arnold Vasquez was stabbed in the abdomen after reportedly being involved in an altercation with an unknown male.
Vasquez was immediately rushed to the Northern Regional Hospital (NRH) for medical assistance but was pronounced dead shortly after.
Witnesses to the incident were reportedly under the influence of alcohol, and were unable to provide useful statements to the police. The police investigation continues.
Thousands of Belizeans filled the streets of cities, towns, and villages across the nation on Saturday as Belize celebrated 43 years of independence.
In Belmopan, the Prime Minister, John Briceño, and other leaders delivered speeches during the annual ceremony at Independence Hill. In his Independence Day Address, Briceño stated, “We are 400,000 living on some of the most pristine islands, in picturesque villages, in bustling cities and towns, small communities of diverse people whose aspirations are for the creation of one nation. Proud and free.”
Briceño urged Belizeans to look beyond their differences: “A true-born Belizean looks not at another Belizean’s differences, but at what are those things we share in common. We learnt this from our ancestors, who toiled, often against the odds, to build a resilient nation. Despite the odds which subjected them to a cruel colonialism, they left for us a moral compass, suasion, that is today inspired in us. The desire to construct societies that celebrate diversity, appreciate openness and value social justice, liberty, and national happiness. They instill in us the importance of protecting and sharing our natural patrimony.”
Messages of congratulations came from various nations.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasised the shared commitment to democracy and cooperation on issues such as climate change: “September 21 serves not only as an opportunity to recognise Belize’s independence but also to celebrate the strong partnership between the United States and Belize. Our enduring bond is anchored by our shared commitments to democratic values, the rule of law, and respect for human rights for all… Our respective and joint efforts to combat transnational crime and address climate change help ensure future generations of our peoples have a safe, secure, and clean future,” citing the signing of the $125 million Millennium Challenge Corporation Belize Compact.
In a message to the Belizean people, CARICOM Secretary General Dr. Carla Barnett, a Belizean herself, praised Belize for its contributions to regional integration and environmental protection. She stated, “The theme for this year’s celebration, ‘A Nation Proud and Free: Belize@43’ speaks to Belize’s rich heritage and strong foundations.”
Dr. Barnett highlighted Belize’s role as a leader in environmental protection. “The Caribbean Community also recognises the contributions that Belize has made to the regional integration movement as a CARICOM member state, including in justice and governance, for which the country’s prime minister holds responsibility in the CARICOM Quasi-Cabinet,” the Secretary-General said.
She acknowledged Belize’s membership in both CARICOM and the Central American Integration System (SICA) “has proven key to bolstering relations between the Community and Central America.”
As the nation celebrated Independence Day, a group of teachers from the Stann Creek District stood in silent demonstration at BTL Park in Dangriga Town. They demanded fair wages amid rising inflation.
They were joined in support by second-year primary education students.
Images of the demonstration show teachers holding placards that said, “Salaries minus increments plus inflation equal SUFFERING,” and “Bread gone up, egg gone up, cheese gone up… teachers’ salaries gone down.”
A participant told News 5, “Despite the government’s consistent declarations of a rapidly growing economy and historical prosperity, the reality for teachers is that they are still suffering having to survive on 2020 salaries in 2024 while inflation increases consistently.”
“The question still remains: When will teachers receive their 2021 and 2022 increments?” the participant added.
Would you pay more for a property if such a request is made after you have already received the title? The Belmopan City Council is pleading with individuals who purchased a parcel of land in Innovabel Estate at a discounted price under former Mayor Sharon Palacio to visit the council and pay the balance. Those titles were issued before the former mayor demitted office. An investigation conducted by the current council revealed that while the properties were valued at twenty thousand dollars, some individuals paid as little as a hundred dollars and received their titles, while others paid two thousand dollars. The investigation also revealed that former city councilors were in the mix and that some individuals received as much as eight parcels of land at a discounted rate. While no names were mentioned, Mayor Pablo Cawich spoke with reporters today as the council is pleading with these titleholders to visit the office and work out a payment plan to defray the balance, even though they are not legally obligated to. News Five’s Paul Lopez has the story.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
On March eighth, 2024, two days after the municipal elections, former Belmopan Mayor Sharon Palacio held a ceremony where she distributed titles for parcels of land in Innovabel Estate. This would be her swan song before demitting office.
File: Mar 8,2024
Sharon Palacio
Sharon Palacio, Former Mayor, Belmopan
“I must say it was quite a journey to be where we are today and the families are overjoyed to receive their titles. We have many more who are receiving. We have thirty plus more who have paid over fifty percent, and we have some who have just finished paying everything.”
In her interview, she said that the new titleholders paid over fifty percent while others paid in full. The former mayor, however, did not reveal how much they paid. Seven months later, her successor, Mayor Pablo Cawich, says that most of these titleholders paid well below the value of the lands. A release from the Belmopan City Council notes that while the Innovabel parcels were valued at close to twenty thousand dollars each, in some cases titleholders only paid two thousand dollars.
Pablo Cawich
Pablo Cawich, Mayor, Belmopan
“Reviewing the accounts we started looking at the valuation of some of those lands in the Innovabel area and some of the payments that have been received and we had noticed that, and the two thousand is just an example, there were different percentages of discount to different people.”
Just an example, according to Mayor Cawich, as he confirmed that some of the lots sold for as low as one hundred dollars. He also confirmed that a former councilor received as many as eight parcels of land.
Reporter
“And relatives of the former mayor, the were also getting some of these land deals?”
Pablo Cawich
“Most of them was just one, but there are people who did receive a few. There are people who received different ranges. For example, one of the relatives I think that person got around sixteen, eight not sixteen. The entire Innovabel project when it came to the entire land distribution and sales had approximately just under two million dollars lose in revenue.”
Mayor Cawich clarified that many of the properties sold in Innovabel Estate were sold at true value, but at least one hundred were sold at these grossly discounted rates. The council is now working to recoup those losses.
Pablo Cawich
“The stance that we have taken with every single recipient is that we are not attempting to take away anyone’s opportunity. If for example you have received eight parcels all we are asking you to do is to create a payment plan to ensure you are paying the full value of the land.”
We spoke off camera with one titleholder who paid two thousand dollars to receive his title for a parcel of land in the Innovabel Estate. He is a former city council employee who was given his walking papers last Friday because he failed to respond to a letter from the city administrator requesting that he pay an additional seventeen thousand dollars. Similar letters were sent out to every individual that received the discount. In this specific case, the individual is also being accused of facilitating the transactions.
Voice of: Former City Council Employee
Voice of: Former City Council Employee
“As far as their letter written to me, it indicated that the land, which Ms. Palacio sold to me was valued at two thousand dollars. I mean come on, which other minister and other people have not assisted their friends in obtaining a piece of land for far cheaper than that. For us poor people, if it is not for help or intervention, we would never be able to own a piece of land. According to them the transfer paper indicated that it was at a thousand dollars plus. Now was I wrong that I did not read through the paper, maybe. But at this time I trust what the council is doing. I was only asked to sign. I was given the paper. It was folded. I was given and instructed to take it to lands, which I did and a few months later I obtained my tittle. That gives me the right to that parcel. As far as I know, all transactions were done. As far as I know, all transactions were done and the council had no more issues with me and no reason to receive that document and bear in mind I received a receipt of zero balance, meaning that I owe nothing to the council.”
Pablo Cawich
“In a case where some of the employees who had received grossly discounted lands, what we explained to them is that you knowingly and willingly participated in a program that cost a loss of revenue to the council. Loss of assets to any company or organization is a serious offense. We asked these individuals to please justify your participation and explain why we should still have trust in you. Most of them responded except two.”
A second city council employee was also terminated on similar grounds the very same day. Mayor Cawich concedes that none of the titleholders are legally obligated to make any further payments. He says however that he is pleading to their sense of morals and ethics.
Pablo Cawich
“It is a reality that we are aware of, but as mentioned we are hoping that as good citizens and as good Belizeans their ethics and morals will drive them to ensure that they do pay the true value of the lands.”
As we mentioned, the Belmopan City Council terminated two of its employees who received titles to parcels of lands in Innovabel Estate under former Mayor Sharon Palacio. The city administrator wrote to all its employees that received a title at a discounted price. In this specific case, this individual paid two thousand dollars for the property and received his title. A notice of disciplinary action was written to him in which he was accused of facilitating the transfers as a trade license assistant. He refutes such claims. The letter further alleges that he knowingly signed a transfer document that had the property valued at close to twenty thousand dollars when he only paid two thousand dollars. A request was made for him to pay the remainder. When he did not respond, he was terminated for alleged gross misconduct. The same was done with a second employee. They contend that they were wrongfully terminated and have sought the service of an attorney.
Voice of: Former City Council Employee
Voice of: Former City Council Employee
“I am doing it with a clear consciousness. It is not as if I sat down and said you know what, sell me the land for two thousand and I will give you a little thing under the table. It was not anything like that for them to be accusing me of committing fraudulent activity. According to the letter I received from them it states that I should not be working at the city council if I have been accused or have been found guilty of committing some sort of crime against the council, which let me be clear, I have not done. Is it your intention to heed to their request and pay an additional seventeen thousand plus? No, it is not my intention to do so because again, I had no discussion with the current city administrator or mayor. It was the last administration. But it doesn’t matter who comes in or goes out, the deal was done with the city council itself and they agreed t the payment. It was a done deal, a transaction. So, I do not see the need for them to come back and pay the remaining balance.”
Paul Lopez
“Your case is that you were wrongfully terminated, what is your next step from here?”
Voice of: Former City Council Employee
“I have already consulted with my lawyer and we have already forwarded everything to the city administrator and the council itself and we will see how it goes. But my law is ready to defend my constitutional rights to the full extent of the law.”
Pablo Cawich
Pablo Cawich, Mayor, Belmopan
“Those two individuals, we parted ways based on the grounds that they failed to explain why we should trust you. Obviously, if you aren’t even willing to discuss the matter, you cannot have the council’s best interest at heart.”
The import permit that the Government of Belize granted to Goliath Investment Company to import ten thousand cases of Corona Beer from Mexico has been put on hold. Today, C.E.O. in the Ministry of Agriculture, Servulo Baeza, confirmed with News Five that the permit is on pause and that the company has not brought in any of the beer since the permit was granted a couple weeks ago. But who are the principals of Goliath Investment Company? From our research, we discovered that there are at least two shareholders, Jose Aldana and Emily Melissa Waight of a Tenth Street Address in San Ignacio, Cayo. The company, as far as we’re informed, was registered recently and is not a member of the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry. And while the news that Goliath and its investors will not be allowed to act on their permit, Bowen and Bowen and Caribbean International Brewing Limited, brewers of Belikin and Mine beers, respectively, were still up in arms over the decision to grant the permit in the first place. With taxes included, a case of imported beer was estimated to sell at a hundred and thirty-five dollars a case, which calculates to a million, three hundred and fifty thousand dollars at the end of the last sale. But the reason why the two breweries are upset goes beyond the legal importation. They estimate that for every case that is imported legally, there are several more that are contrabanded. Today, Bowen and Bowen’s Corporate Relations Manager, Rosanna Villanueva told us that it goes beyond just the loss of revenue for what is imported legally, but the long-term repercussions to the industry. Similarly, Caribbean International Brewery’s Communications Director, Fortunato Noble told News Five this afternoon that the importation would have affected everybody.
“It will affect the economy. It’s – you’re opening a kind of one that you don’t want to get into that messy situation because if you allow, and let’s say the permit is granted for argument’s sake for ten thousand cases. Who is going to monitor the fact that only ten thousand cases will come in? Because we know our porous borders. We know that you can bring in ten thousand cases and you can bring in, a hundred thousand cases the same way. Who is going to monitor that It’s ten thousand cases that they brought in? So it would affect us, of course, it would affect the beer industry in Belize, both Belikin and Mine, because people – you want something new, ih nuh matter if it costs five dollars, people will go for it and that will take away from our sale, that’s a given. But how does that affect our local industry? We cannot compete with a market from Mexico. And they say, okay, the tariff will be a hundred percent. Yeah, okay, yes, I agree, but who is going to see that that is carried out? We don’t have no problem with it. They say they’ll pay the taxes, but there is the danger that they will abuse it. And we, as it is, the country cannot police the borders properly. We are at least, for the time being, assured from what he said on the media that, hey, we de pull the permit right now, we put it on pause, and I am sure cooler heads will prevail, and sense will prevail, and the person or the company that is being allowed to bring in the Coronas will not get that permit.”
Agriculture C.E.O. Servulo Baeza explained to News Five that Goliath had not met the requirements to proceed with the importation of the beers, and now their permit has been put on pause. He said that the permit was granted because resorts were asking for the availability of Corona beer in Belize.
Via phone: Servulo Baeza, C.E.O., Ministry of Agriculture
“The conditions were that one, each bottle has to have the “Belize Market” and the address of the importer and that they have to pay all the duties. And as far as I know, they have not brought anything in to show that they are meeting the requirements because they would have to show that each bottle is labeled the Belize Market and so forth. I understand that there are bigger setbacks because for that amount of product, no big company wa goh do that, nuh and will take on the expense for going there, because that will be an additional expense for the labeling. So that is why even from the onset, I really thought that this thing wouldn’t fly. But they wanted to try it. The tourism sector is demanding and is always asking us for different things. This is one of the things that some of the resorts are asking us for, so that is how it came about.”
Belize Sugar Industries has clarified that there is no sugar shortage in Belize. As we reported on Thursday, some supermarkets in Belize City have limited the amount of sugar to two pounds at a time per family. This raised the question of whether the country is experiencing a sugar shortage. However, Prime Minister John Briceño explained to News Five that this was not the case. He said that distributors are simply attempting to limit the amount of sugar sold illicitly outside of the country. Today we spoke with B.S.I. Communications Officer, William Neal who reiterated that Belize has more than enough sugar.
William Neal
William Neal, Communications Officer, B.S.I.
“The sugar grinding season ended and we’re now repairing the mill, but we do have stocks that should suffice until we start our next crop in December. Currently, in our warehouse, we have more than eight point one million pounds of white sugar and more than two point five million pounds of brown sugar. Based on what we saw last year, we have made some changes in terms of selling directly to the stores. And so the issue is, there’s no middleman that is diverting the sugar. It’s being sold directly to the stores. The shortages that people are reporting on the shelves is actually controlled directly by the stores themselves. We know that there’s a larger issue of contraband sugar going across the borders, but that’s an enforcement issue and that is beyond our control. We’ve not had massive shifts in terms of demand. We continue to use historical data to supply both plantation white sugar and brown sugar to the stores. So there should be no shortages. As I said, there are no middlemen either, so the stores themselves are accessing sugar directly that we have destined for the local market, the domestic market. So that’s something that we will maintain that there should be no shortages. And we have more than ample supply to make sure that we have sugar available for local consumption going into the next crop in December.”
As we previously clarified, Belize is not currently experiencing a sugar shortage. However, the illicit sale of Belize’s sugar outside of the local market continues to be a detriment to the industry. Distributors have attempted to limit the frequency of sugar contrabanding by limiting the amount that one family is able to purchase at a time. According to the Communications Officer of Belize Sugar Industries, William Neal, producers have also taken steps to prevent the occurrence by eliminating third-party distributors. Neal spoke with News Five to explain that even with the precautions taken by the company, it is in the hands of law enforcement to further control the issue. Here’s more on that.
William Neal
William Neal, Communications Officer, B.S.I.
“Based on what we were seeing the wholesalers were being accused of being the ones who were actually leading the charge when it comes to contraband across the borders. So we made some changes in terms of the way that it’s done. And we thought that would alleviate that situation in terms of making sure that the stores themselves are supplied. And so we did that directly. As the Minister of Agriculture said in his statement, interview. It’s a matter of enforcement now. And they are making some changes that we hope will ensure that the sugar destined for the domestic market is indeed utilized and available by members of the Belizean public. Because that’s what it is designed for, that the domestic sugar be consumed locally. Of course, we’d like to eliminate this smuggling. Belize has a controlled market for sugar. So the prices are lower and that’s the incentive that gives any person, any business person who wants to do an illegal act because it is illegal to contraband it to one of the neighboring countries. We have made some adjustments internally to better manage that, but still and also to reduce some of the areas of grey where there might not be visibility as to what is happening with the sugar. Going directly to the stores themselves, we are hoping that you’ll no longer have that confusion and that the relevant authorities will then do the necessary enforcement to make sure that the sugar that is being purchased for domestic use is made available to customers here in Belize for their consumption and therefore we don’t have any more shortages apparent or otherwise.”
It’s been a tough week for bakers across the country, as they grapple with a flour shortage. In the past few days, several businesses have had to reduce production because they were not able to purchase enough flour to meet their demand. According to the Minister of Agriculture, Jose Abelardo Mai, the shortage was due to issues at the mill, which he says were resolved last week. While the millers work towards producing the next supply of flour, bakers are eagerly awaiting a return to normalcy. We spoke with the Manager of Sunny Side Bakery in Belize City to hear how business has been fairing amidst the shortage. Here’s more on that.
Britney Gordon
“There’s been a flour shortage over the past couple days now. It’s been affecting a few businesses across Belize. How has your company been impacted by this shortage?”
Elony Pitterson
Elony Pitterson, Manager, Sunny Side Bakery
“Currently we can’t supply to most of our customers. Right now it’s a little problem. But we are trying the best we can with what we have. The government told us that we could use substitute flour, so that’s what we are using.”
Britney Gordon
“So you said that you have limited supply would you say that you’ve just been making less items or have you had to stop making non-priority items like not your best sellers. What has that decision been?”
Elony Pitterson
“For sure our main priority is making the buns. But still we are cutting down on bread because our Belizean people prefer the bun over the bread So that is what we are trying.”
Britney Gordon
“So did you guys try that different brand of flour in the meantime, or did you decide to just continue the way how you always knew it with a limited supply?”
Elony Pitterson
“Yes, we tried the flour actually today. Some of the pastries, the powder bun the cinnamon rolls, and even the bread, we tried it and it’s okay. It’s okay so far.”
Britney Gordon
“Yesterday they said that we can, around today is when we can expect production to really pick up back for the flour. Are you guys able to get flour today or is there still a bit of a wait period?”
Elony Pitterson
“Yes, we are trying to get flour. No, we haven’t been getting flour, but it’s the substitute flour. But the government had told us that Monday we should be getting back our usual flour and hopefully we do get it.”
Britney Gordon
“And what’s the reaction been from customers that you guys sell out so fast or they haven’t been able to get their favorite items during this time?”
Elony Pitterson
“Mostly it’s our wholesalers. They are a bit angry. And because we are short on flour we have to close early, and our customers are upset that they can’t get their buns and stuff like that.”
Britney Gordon
“But you’re confident that by Monday, things should be back to normal?”
Elony Pitterson
“Yes, hopefully. Hopefully, we are relying on the government. Hopefully, yes.”
