On Friday, Devin Daly, the People’s United Party’s (P.U.P.) Standard Bearer for Collet, held a press briefing to formally introduce himself to the media and discuss his entry into the political arena. Daly, a proud native of Collet, emphasized his deep roots in the community and his commitment to personally connect with each voter throughout his campaign. Daly’s candidacy is seen as a strategic move by P.U.P. Leader John Briceño, who believes Daly will present a formidable challenge to the United Democratic Party’s (U.D.P.) incumbent, Patrick Faber. Briceño explained that the party took its time in selecting a candidate to ensure they found a strong contender capable of rivaling Faber’s established presence in the constituency.
John Briceño
John Briceño, Leader, People’s United Party
“We wanted to ensure that we have a winnable candidate. We didn’t want to just throw somebody in there to say we have thirty-one candidates. I set the timeline of the thirty-first of August. We’re looking hard to see how we can find somebody and we have a very good candidate. We have a very good candidate. And I think for the first time we have – the representative will have a very hard time now. We have a very good candidate against him.”
Tonight, heartbreak strikes yet another family as they mourn the loss of their loved one in a tragic road traffic accident over the weekend. On Sunday, around eleven p.m., thirty-year-old Nicky Waight was on his motorcycle heading towards the San Ignacio Police Station when he suddenly lost control and crashed near the Low-lying Bridge, resulting in fatal injuries. This devastating incident adds to a series of deadly accidents this month, underscoring the urgent need for improved road safety measures. News Five’s Britney Gordon brings us the story.
Britney Gordon, reporting
Tragically, Belize has lost another life to a road traffic accident. This month alone, it feels like we’ve been reporting on such heartbreaking incidents every week. These aren’t just statistics; they represent real people whose lives have been cut short. The latest victim is thirty-year-old Nicky Waight, a dedicated police officer from the Cayo district. Nicky was on his way to the San Ignacio Police Station when he tragically lost control of his motorcycle and crashed. His mother, Everett Waight, shared with us that Nicky was a hardworking family man, deeply committed to his loved ones and his duty.
Everett Waight
Everett Waight, Mother of the Deceased
“Well he was a person that worked. He is in the department for ten years. He used to live in Belmopan and he used to come here every day come visit me and then because he has a child, eight-year-old, he used to come and stay with her a little while and help out with her homework and then take her house in Santa Familia.”
Everett reminded her son every day to be careful on the road, but that night she did not.
Everett Waight
“Four o’clock he had shift. Every day he had shift four o’clock till twelve. Then he used to come and say bye mom and I tell him bye hijo, take care. Every day I used to tell him take care but unfortunately Sunday night. I didn’t know my son was going to go that Sunday night.”
Nicky had been an officer in the force for over ten years and traveled that route for the past three, without any major incidents.
Everett Waight
“From he married to his wife. About three years he is traveling from San Ignacio to Belmopan.”
Britney Gordon
“So for three years now, it has been the norm for him to go up and down on these roads. Ans this incident is completely out of the norm for him.”
Everett Waight
“Yes.”
Another person was injured during the incident. Jessica Escobar, who was also traveling on a motorcycle, collided with Waight’s fallen cycle after his initial accident. According to police, she is in a stable condition.
“On Sunday police responded to a fatal road traffic accident in Santa Elena at the Low-Lying Bridge. Upon arrival, police two motorcycles on the bridge and the lifeless body of Nicky Waight, The thirty-years Belizean police officer was seen. Also Jessica Escobar with injuries to her arm and shoulder. Investigation revealed that the was driving a motorcycle. He was on duty at the time. He lost control of his motorcycle, so when he fell on the motorcycle, the other female was coming across the bridge and hit the motorcycle and she received injuries.”
The alarming rise in fatal accidents, especially those involving motorcycles, has caught the attention of the Belize Police Department. Commissioner of Police, Chester Williams, noted that while the department has ramped up checkpoints along the highways, their efforts alone can’t guarantee driver safety. He emphasized the importance of motorists taking proactive steps to protect themselves, offering several key safety tips.
Chester Williams
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“I’d liked to say to motorcycle riders, not just because you’re entitled to have a road. You must ride at the middle of the road. Some of them, they ride smack middle of the road. Almost on that yellow line. To the middle of your side of the room would make more sense. Remember, they receive, they know. And bear in mind that we do have drivers who have, who has no regards to motorcycle riders, which should not be.”
The Waight family is still grappling with the reality of Nicky’s death. Everett says that everyone that ever came across her son would describe him as a good man, who took pride in serving his community. And that memory is timeless.
Everett Waight
“He was always a person that liked to help. If you need help, he don’t care who is the person, he will help you. And he was a happy person. He was a friendly person. He was a person that likes to run joke. So I never had a dull moment with him.”
Earlier this month, an Asian grocer was charged with assault after grabbing the shirt of a Price Control Unit Officer on duty. The officer had been investigating the grocery store for not displaying the price of bread, leading to a dispute. Following that incident, Deputy Chairman of the United Democratic Party, Alberto August, was charged with aggravated assault when he spoke unkindly to an officer on duty. In a post made on his social media page, August questioned the discrepancy in the charges. Commissioner of Police, Chester Williams commented on the incident.
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“I saw with his post on social media. I don’t usually agree with him. But I did so this time after reading. That Asian grocer should have been charged with aggravated assault. The law says if you assault any public officer in the execution of his duty, that officer from price control was performing a public duty. And so the grocer will have to be charged with aggravated assault. I don’t know how far that matter is. But if he has not yet pleaded guilty to the common assault.”
Police are investigating an armed robbery that occurred over the weekend on Berry Street. According to reports, deliveryman Henry Myvette, was making his rounds on Berry Street when two armed men on bicycles held him up, making off with the cash he had on him. ACP Hilberto Romero, provided more details on the incident
“On Saturday, the twenty-eighth of September, 2024, police responded to a robbery report on Berry Street in Belize City. Upon the arrival they found Henry Myvett, a helper who was doing deliveries in the area, when he was approached by two male persons on bicycles who were armed with firearms. The person’s proceeded to rob them and stole a disclosed amount of cash and cell phones. They rode off into the street and left the area. They’re seeking two suspects in regards to this robbery.”
A burglary occurred last Tuesday on the remote Chiquibul Road. A group of men reportedly stormed into a couple’s home and proceeded to relieve him and his wife of household appliances, money and two vehicles. Today, ACP Hilberto Romero told reporters that investigators have had no luck tracking down the assailants or the loot and the area has been targeted before.
“On Thursday, San Ignacio Police received a report of an aggravated burglary that occurred on Tuesday, at Mile six on the Chiquibul Road. A male person reported that he was at home along with his wife when he knocks, they opened the door and were held up by several male persons who then tied him up and searched the house for items. Thereafter the male persons left the area. The complainant untied himself at which point he made checks on his properties and found out that two vehicles, a Suburban Outlet and a Jeep Gladiator were stolen from his house along with several electronic items and cash. The male persons fled from the area. So far we have not recovered any items and we have no suspects at this time.”
Reporter
“Is this the only incident that has happened there recently or has there been a trend of burglaries in this area.”
ACP Hilberto Romero
“There have been other aggravated burglaries in the San Ignacio area however, there was a pause for a while and this one happened on Tuesday.”
Reporter
“Do you believe it’s the same suspects conducting all of these?”
ACP Hilberto Romero
“We do not know at this time. We have investigators in the area to ascertain who these persons are. ”
Earlier this month, a man who allegedly pulled an assault rifle on a road works crew on the Coastal Plains Highway and then saw the charges withdrawn in court, may lose his licensed weapons. Today the Commissioner of Police, Chester Williams told reporters that he has instructed the officers who confiscated the guns from businessman, thirty-year-old Efrain Rejon after the incident to not return them. The incident in question happened when, according to a contractor, Rejon threatened him and his fellow workers at a road construction site on the Coastal Plain Highway. The contractor told police that Rejon arrived at the site armed with a high-calibre rifle during an argument over damage that a passing truck had caused. Rejon, the report alleges, pointed the rifle at the workmen. This was one of three weapons that Rejon reportedly has, and while it may raise concern among other civilians how many gun licenses one can hold, Williams says the law allows for it.
Chester Williams
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“I have already written instructed the police not to return any of those weapons to Mr. Rehon. And um, even though the complainants have gone to court and will write to the Firearms and Emergency Control Board and seek their intervention to have the license revoked.”
Reporter
“Mm. You had been the one who issued the licenses in the first place. What was your justification to allow Rehan to have these guns? Again, you’re wrong. I, some of them he got under me and he also got under the previous commissioner.”
Chester Williams
“There’s nothing in law to say that a person cannot have two, three, four, or five guns. I have said to you, there is a man who has 21 licenses. None of them were issued by me, none. You are not making an issue out of that. And even though he had, he has 20, nothing wrong with that. They have a number of persons who have 18, 19, 17, and it’s not an issue because there’s nothing in law. So why, I don’t understand why every time there is an incident where a person has more than one, You have a gun license, you are mechanical of it. There’s nothing in law to prevent any person from having that. A person may have a gun license for hunting, um, sports hunting. They may have one for farming. They may have one for special protection. They may have for different reasons. Some people are gun enthusiasts. Some people are collectors. They have guns for different reasons. So we cannot just look at things at the face of it and then we try to impute improper motive on anybody. Seeing as though this is a second case. The first one was Brandon. What was his name? Brandon Gillett, where he also pulled out a 223 and threatened violence in public. Do you feel that there should be some type of limit since you’re saying, you know, some people have 20, so much guns. There should be some type of limit to the amount of licenses, especially as it relates to these powerful weapons. I would agree with you on that. Maybe Parliament should look at that to put a limit in terms of the amount of license a person can have at any given time. That I think would make sense.”
The Belize Police Department is working towards acquiring facial recognition software to increase public safety. However, the agreement initially signed to bring the technology into the country is currently on hold. According to Commissioner of Police, Chester Williams, there are concerns over the security of private data. Here’s what he had to say.
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“That agreement is currently on hold. There is a need for us to see how we can work it out perhaps if it is that they can develop a software, and then we just get back to them. That software without the exchanging of data where we can keep our data in house, then we may be able to go with that. But even the company itself had also called to say that they could not go through because of some issue with the software that they had developed. So they’re looking to see if they can develop one that the countries we cannot just believe, but the many Caribbean countries that had signed on to it. But we have all decided we’re not going through with it because of the issue with the software, but we’re hoping that when a new one comes, that it’ll be one that we can use in house without having to share data to any outside entity. Particularly for the facial recognition, because that would require that we would have to use the database of persons who have been convicted of crime. So we’d rather host that in house as opposed to share it outside.”
Reporter
“And if in the event, the program cannot work unless you share the data, what happens then?”
Chester Williams
“Then we look at other sources because there are other sources out there that do provide the data without, do provide the software without us having to share the data. .”
Belize made a spectacular showing at the inaugural World Sustainable Travel and Hospitality Awards, held on a beautiful Friday night in Spanish Lookout. The picturesque venue was graced by guests from around the globe, all gathered to celebrate excellence in sustainable travel. Out of the twenty-one winners announced, Belize shone brightly, especially towards the end of the ceremony. In a thrilling moment, Belize was crowned the World’s Leading Sustainable Tourism Destination, one of four prestigious awards bestowed upon Belizean sustainable tourism initiatives. News Five’s Paul Lopez was on the scene to capture the excitement. Here’s his report.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
On Friday night, the Oakridge venue in Spanish Lookout came alive with a celebration worthy of international recognition, as Belize hosted the inaugural World Sustainable Travel and Hospitality Awards. Cultural performances enthralled invited guests, while there was more than enough cultural cuisine to go around.
Justin Cooke
Justin Cooke, Executive Vice President, WSTHA
“It all began in Riyadh in Saudi Arabia. I was lucky enough to be introduced to the Minister of Tourism, Anthony Mahler and he started to tell me about an incredible sustainable financial initiative that Belize was pioneering called the Blue Bond. I suppose it kinda sparked the idea about how do we share these stories. There is all of this good stuff going on in the world.”
That’s Justine Cooke, the Executive Vice President of the international award which highlights’ the tourism industry’s top sustainable initiatives. The award ceremony places the efforts of global leader in net positive tourism on the world stage.
Nicole Solano
Nicole Solano, C.E.O, Ministry of Tourism
“It really has been a wonderful night, recognizing not only those within Belize who were leaders in sustainability, but from around the world and I think that really is the thing that makes tonight so special, that we are able to see where we fit in the global landscape.”
A global landscape indeed, as Green Initiative, known for its restoration projects in Costa Rica, Peru and Brazil received the World’s Leading Sustainable Organization Award. Andy De Silva, the C.E.O of Hotel Emporium, was recognized as the World’s Leading Sustainable Leader of Tomorrow. And, this is just to name a couple of the awardees, as twenty-one winners in total were announced.
Orlando Habet
Orlando Habet, Minister of Sustainable Development
“I think it is wonderful for them to get this first award ceremony to take place in Belize. It is very important, but it showcases and really brings out what Belize has been doing for many years. Now finally we are coming to that time of fruition where Belize is being looked upon really on the larger scale out in the international community.”
And, throughout the course of the night there wasn’t a shortage of awards for Belize-based sustainable tourism initiatives. The first award of the night, the Leading Sustainable Cultural Heritage Project Award, went to Che’il Mayan Chocolate, headed by Julio and Eliadora Saqui in southern Belize.
Julio Saqui
Julio Saqui, Co-Owner, Che’il Mayan Chocolate
“The feeling is great. It is an absolutely great feeling. This is our first international award, but at the same time I feel great that the kind of work we are doing is finally paying off. We try to incorporate our work with culture and sell culture through and selling chocolate through culture.”
Turneffe Atoll Sustainable Association, TASA, was recognized as the World’s Leading Sustainable Marine Conservation Initiative.
Valdemar Andrade
Valdemar Andrade, Executive Director, TASA
“We take a lot of gratitude and pride. We are humbled by this award, because it is a world award. And we competed with, as you saw, thousands of participants around the world. So, we are appreciative of this, and we continue to do the world.”
For its community engagement, the Belize Tourism Industry Association received the Leading Sustainable Community Engagement Program.
Linette Canto
Linette Canto, Executive Director, BTIA
“So, through our festivals, our advocacy work, our training, we have really made an impact on the Belizean community and tourism industry. So, we are very happy and excited to receive this award tonight.”
The final award of the night, the World’s Leading Sustainable Destination Award, went to Belize. Minister of Tourism, Anthony Mahler says the award is a testament to the fact that Belize is a sustainable destination at core.
Anthony Mahler
Anthony Mahler, Minister of Tourism
“That shows that the policies, the belief we have as a people have been working. So, we need to do a lot more protection of our natural environment and cultural assets that we have. This just to showcase to the world that we are a sustainable destination at core.”
Seventy-four years ago, the first political party in British Honduras emerged, challenging colonial leaders on pressing issues of the time. That pioneering organization, the People’s United Party (P.U.P.), celebrated its seventy-fourth anniversary on Saturday in Belize City, under the leadership of Prime Minister John Briceño. As the world has evolved from 1950 to today, so has the P.U.P. However, Briceño emphasized that the party has steadfastly upheld its core values of fighting for social justice, equality, and improving the quality of life for all Belizeans. News Five’s Marion Ali brings us this report.
John Briceño
John Briceño, Leader, People’s United Party
“PUP, PUP, PUP. Que Viva el Partido Unido del Pueblo. God Bless you, thank you so much.”
Marion Ali, Reporting
With its delegates in attendance in Belize City on Saturday, the country’s oldest political party, the People’s United Party, celebrated its seventy-fourth anniversary. Complete with a birthday cake made with the party’s traditional blue and white, the National Party Council passed three resolutions during their meeting. One was in support of the Prime Minister’s State of the Nation address, and of the initiatives and policies outlined in the address. The second was in support of Belize’s celebration of thirty-five years of diplomatic relations with Taiwan and to further the bilateral relations. The third resolution was the endorsement of the party’s thirty-one standard bearers who will contest the next general elections. Unwavering and outstanding P.U.P. delegates with long membership and hailing from various constituencies were also recognized during the event. Deputy Party Leader, Cordel Hyde paid tribute to the awardees, recognizing that the party’s success is because of the service of people like them.
Cordel Hyde
Cordel Hyde, Deputy Party Leader, People’s United Party
“We would not be here without the people dehn weh work hard fi we. We are nothing without our committees, without our campaigners, without our street captains, without the people weh sacrifice dehn families fi walk the streets night and day fi we, soh we have to reward dehn. We have to acknowledge unu. We have to give unu weh unu deserve.”
Hyde spoke of the P.U.P.’s success in turning around the country’s finances since taking office in November 2020, when COVID had buckled the economy and left over sixty thousand people jobless, and the previous government had to borrow a million dollars a day to pay public officers’ salaries. He gave credit to his party leader, Prime Minister John Briceno, for turning thing’s around.
Cordel Hyde
“The IMF came and insisted to the Prime Minister, you have to fire three thousand teachers and public officers and you have to raise GST to nineteen percent. Yoh understand weh ah di tell unu? These were the absolute worst of times. We worked really hard and we did some incredible things because we have a prime minister who is a man to be reckoned with. We have a prime minister who history will record as one of the great ones because. He did not buckle. The man smiled at the first Cabinet Meeting when the Financial Secretary come tell wi that the world di end. He opened up the country in the middle of COVID, opened up the borders when all the experts were saying “You can’t do that.” He renegotiated the Super Bond and put that behind us forever and gave us the Blue Bond. He renegotiated the Petrocaribe Loan, and he raised the minimum wage to five dollars when the experts all around were saying “You can’t do that.”
In his speech, Briceño reminded the audience that the party was founded by giants who left their successors with a philosophy and the purpose of its formation in the first place.
John Briceño, Party Leader, People’s United Party
“We stand on the shoulders of those who left us with a philosophy or a P.U.P. creed that says we must work to build a Belizean society that is rooted in social justice, equality and defend the principle that this P.U.P. belongs to all of us. (applause) Now seventy-four years is not just a measure of time, my friends. It is the formation of the DNA of our party. It is seven decades of struggle, progress, and triumph over our enemies. Seventy-four years ago, a small group of visionaries came together, united by a common cause to chart a better way for the masses of Belizeans.”
At the end of the event, John Briceño, flanked by the thirty-one P.U.P. standard bearers and to the tune of the Happy Birthday song, cut the cake. And thereafter, he told the media that once the P.U.P. does not drift away from its core values and remains united, it should be around for many more years.
John Briceño, Leader, People’s United Party
“Despite [the fact] that we may have our differences, we always remember what the P.U.P. is all about, which is to serve the people, and I’ve been telling people over and over, once we keep that in mind, that’s what drives us to serve the people. I have every confidence that we’ll be able to keep it together and to be able to continue to get the support of the Belizean people.”
Former Belmopan Mayor Sharon Palacio has been identified as a beneficiary of lands in the Innovabel Estate, acquired at significantly reduced prices. During the final days of Palacio’s tenure, numerous parcels within the estate were sold at a staggering ninety-percent discount. In some instances, the discounts soared to an eye-popping ninety-five percent. A leaked document from the council has brought to light the findings of the current administration, detailing the individuals who purchased these parcels and the amounts they paid. This ongoing investigation, spearheaded by Mayor Pablo Cawich and his team, aims to uncover the full extent of these transactions. News Five’s Paul Lopez brings us the latest on this developing story.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
As the Belmopan City Council delves deeper into the controversial Innovabel Estate land transactions overseen by former Mayor Sharon Palacio, a cascade of alarming revelations is emerging. News Five has verified the authenticity of a detailed list that discloses the land costs, authorized prices, and actual amounts paid for forty-three parcels in Innovabel Estate. According to the leaked document, eight parcels went to the former city administrator and his son. The document uncovers a startling discrepancy: although the eight parcels were collectively valued at one hundred and fifty-five thousand dollars, a mere two thousand dollars was actually paid. The list also implicates former Mayor Sharon Palacio, who is noted to have received two parcels in Innovabel Estate. However, the document remains silent on whether she paid anything for these parcels. Adding to the intrigue, Palacio’s children, grandchildren, and brother are also mentioned, each having paid just two thousand dollars for lands appraised at over nineteen thousand dollars. In one instance, Belize All Phase Limited, a company that is reportedly connected to Palacio’s son, received eight parcels of land at five hundred dollars per parcel, a grossly discounted price. The list also includes names such as Stella Kalu, Celina Danladi, Tabe Beson, Juan Caal, Kahlil Enriquez and the council’s former finance director, Melvyn Edenojie. Danladi is the only person named that paid ten thousand dollars. The document also shows that former City Councilor Hope Amadi received six parcels of land, four under Rosyco Integrated Service and two under Amadi Hope. He allegedly paid thirty-five hundred dollars in total for all six parcels. The leaked document reveals a staggering valuation of seven hundred and fifty-eight thousand dollars for the forty-three parcels. Yet, the council’s coffers reflect a mere one hundred thousand dollars from these transactions. Highlighting this discrepancy, current Mayor Pablo Cawich pointed out in a September twentieth press conference that titles have already been distributed for most, if not all, of these parcels. These titles are absolute, and the titleholders are not obligated to make any further payments. He has, however, requested that they visit the council and decide on how to pay the balance out of good conscience.
Pablo Cawich
Pablo Cawich, Mayor, Belmopan
“I can’t say with any surety that everyone has received their tittles. What we do know is that many of them have received titles. Some of them, as I mentioned, the receipts for the councils will show that some of them paid after receiving the titles as well. The stance we have taken with every single recipient is that we are not trying to take away any opportunity. If it is that you have received eight titles, all we are asking you to do is to create a payment plan to ensure you are paying the full value of the land where we would try to rely on is your ethics and morals knowing that a piece of land in Belmopan is not worth two thousand dollars.”
