September, 2024 - Channel 5 Belize

Belize Grants Permanent Residency to Asylum-Seekers in Historic Amnesty Ceremony

Seven asylum-seekers in Belize have been awarded Permanent Residency Cards, officially confirming their legal status in the country. The residency cards were issued during an Amnesty Ceremony on September 2 at the University of Belize Conference Center in Belmopan, Cayo District.

Prime Minister John Briceño, alongside key government and international officials, including Immigration CEO Tanya Santos, Nationality and Passports Department Director Dayna Blades, and Refugees Department Director Nikolai Zelaya, were present at the event. Also attending were Jose Samaniego, UNHCR Regional Director for the Americas, and Jose Egas, UNHCR Representative for Belize and other regional countries.

The Belize Amnesty Programme, which concluded its registration phase in March 2023, offers asylum-seekers and irregular migrants a path to permanent residency. Over 12,765 applications were submitted, including 737 from asylum-seekers. So far, nearly 400 asylum-seekers have been granted permanent residency cards, with the government working to finalize more approvals.

“UNHCR commends Belize for its leadership in providing durable solutions to forced displacement,” said UNHCR’s Samaniego. “With permanent residency, asylum-seekers can now fully integrate into Belizean society.”

UNHCR has supported Belize’s efforts to assist refugees and asylum-seekers since the 1980s. This recent amnesty is a major milestone in securing the rights and safety of vulnerable populations. During their four-day visit, UNHCR officials are scheduled to meet with the Prime Minister and other high-level officials, as well as refugee organizations and UN partners.

Asteroid Disintegrates in Spectacular ‘Fireball’ Over the Philippines

An asteroid, identified as 2024 RW1, safely disintegrated in the Earth’s atmosphere, producing a brilliant “fireball” over the Philippines, NASA confirmed. The small asteroid, about 1 meter (3 feet) wide, was detected by astronomers in Arizona just hours before it broke apart over the western Pacific Ocean near Luzon Island at approximately 16:46 GMT on Wednesday.

This marks only the ninth time an asteroid has been spotted prior to its impact, according to the European Space Agency (ESA). Although asteroids of this size enter Earth’s atmosphere around twice a month, they rarely pose any danger as they typically burn up upon entry.

NASA’s Asteroid Watch had predicted that the impact could result in a visible fireball, leading residents on the east coast of the Philippines to capture and share images of the event on social media.

NASA’s Planetary Defense Coordination Office reported that multiple sensors confirmed the asteroid’s safe breakup. According to the *New Scientist*, the asteroid entered the atmosphere at a speed of 17.6 kilometers (10.9 miles) per second, equivalent to 63,360 kilometers (39,370 miles) per hour.

Alan Fitzsimmons, a professor of asteroid and comet science at Queen’s University Belfast, explained that while such speeds are typical for space rocks, they don’t leave time for the dramatic escapes often portrayed in movies. “You wouldn’t have time to run out and jump into your car,” he said.

The ESA reiterated that while small asteroids like 2024 RW1 are rarely detected before impact, larger asteroids—those capable of causing widespread damage—are much less common. Over 90 percent of these large space rocks have been identified, with none currently posing a threat to Earth.

Belize Faces Rainy Carnival Weekend with Showers and Thunderstorms on the Way

As carnival celebrations take place this weekend, the National Meteorological Service of Belize warns of mostly cloudy conditions with outbreaks of showers, thunderstorms, and periods of rain. An excessive rainfall watch is in effect, with potential impacts over the next few days.

Additionally, the National Hurricane Center also reports on several tropical systems:

Northwest Gulf of Mexico: A trough is bringing widespread disorganised showers and thunderstorms. Heavy rainfall is anticipated along the northern Gulf Coast, with only a 10 percent chance of further development.
Northwestern Atlantic: A low-pressure system east of North Carolina could acquire subtropical characteristics. However, development is unlikely once it encounters cooler waters by late Saturday, with a 20 percent chance of further growth.
Eastern Tropical Atlantic: A broad low-pressure area is producing disorganised activity. Some slow development is possible as it drifts northwest, with a 10 percent chance through the next few days.
Western Caribbean Sea: A tropical wave is increasing shower and thunderstorm activity. While significant development is unlikely before reaching Belize and the Yucatan Peninsula, there is a 30 percent chance of development once it moves into the southwestern Gulf of Mexico.

The National Meteorological Service of Belize will be hosting a press conference this afternoon to provide updates.

Police Commissioner to Deal with Attackers

A video on social media shows three women attacking a young girl last night in Belize City. The incident happened on Fairweather Street. The video shows the women hitting and kicking the girl, who was left unconscious.

Police Commissioner Chester Williams addressed the incident, stating, “This matter will be dealt with by the police. It’s disheartening to witness the growing lawlessness in our society. When women were fighting, the men stood by, watching, recording, and even encouraging the fight to continue until it escalated to a point where one of them could have been killed. Where is the sense of empathy? And yet, we wonder why some of our children today are so violent.

“Nonetheless, we must send a strong message: those involved in the fight will be charged, and those who stood by, filming and encouraging, will be charged with incitement. I hope they will learn a lesson from this.”

Prime Minister Departs the Country on Personal Leave

The Office of the Prime Minister informs that Prime Minister Hon. John Briceño has departed the country on personal leave.

The Prime Minister returns on Sunday, September 8, 2024. During his absence, Hon. Cordel Hyde, Minister of Natural Resources, Petroleum and Mining, will hold over as Prime Minister.

Press Release

Tracy Panton: “We have Not Resigned; We Will Not Resign!”

The Alliance for Democracy, led by four members of the United Democratic Party who were deemed to have resigned, called a press conference today to categorically state that they have not and will not resign as members of the embattled party. Those four politicians are Albert Area Representative, Tracy Taegar-Panton, Collet Area Representative, Patrick Faber, Beverly Williams and John Saldivar. They presented a white paper that puts forward a proposal on how they intend to implement reform within the party. Notably, late this evening, the U.D.P. headquarters issued a press release, stating that the members of the Alliance are no longer U.D.P. and that the application period to fill vacancies for standard bearers in the areas they represent closes on September sixth. Taegar-Panton, who is supported by the Alliance as the party leader of choice, opened the briefing by explaining that they have not and will not resign from the U.D.P., regardless of what the leadership of the party says.

Tracy Taegar-Panton, Area Representative, Albert

“We want to be very clear to all those who are listening. The members who were constructively resigned by fifteen members of the Central Executive Committee would like to say categorically that we have not resigned from the United Democratic Party. We have not resigned. We will not resign, and we will be running for our respective constituencies in the next general election. We also want to reject this narrative that members of this alliance representing sixteen constituencies is on a mission to destroy the party, that we are on a mission to destroy the current party leader of the United Democratic Party. What this alliance seeks to do is to preserve the democracy of the United Democratic Party And by extension, the democracy of Belize.”

Alliance Members Will Call Special Convention in October

Taegar-Panton went on to explain that a special convention will be held on October sixth to recall the leadership of the party and that it will be done based on the support of delegates whose signatures they have garnered.

Tracy Taegar-Panton, Area Representative, Albert

“We therefore wish to denounce the fraudulent and unconstitutional rejection of 232 signatures of duly elected delegates who are the trustees of the United Democratic Party and decision makers. saying that their signatures are not valid for the convening of a national convention. You know the story, but I think it is important that we make it implicitly clear that on the 12th of August, a letter was sent to the chairman with the requisite signatures For an NPC meeting to be convened to discuss, among other things, the breaches and blatant disregard to the party’s constitution. Now let me say that the constitution is the most important institutional tool that we have available to us as members of the United Democratic Party. And should be treated in that regard. This letter of August 12th was the second request we shared with the chairman for an NPC meeting. And these requests have gone unanswered and obviously have fallen on deaf ears. The members of our alliance agreed to engage in a mediation process so we could air our concerns and determine collectively how to move forward in the best interests of the United Democratic Party. A meeting of the mediation team was convened by the national campaign manager on Friday, the 23rd of August. We discussed the issues as it related to the breaching of the party’s constitution, included, but not limited to, the removal of the standard bearer for Port Loyola, the unconstitutional removal of the standard bearer for Caribbean Shores, and the unconstitutional removal of the standard bearer for Port Loyola. For Belize rural south. The Alliance for Democracy has, is making a call, will be making a public call for a special unity UDP convention to be held on October 6th of 2024. This allows us the 30 day notice. That is required by the constitution. The special convention will seek to do a few things. One, to look at the executive appointments to the party. Two to pass a motion on the floor to recall the party leader and also to seek to, to, to, a second motion that will seek to appoint an interim leader of the United Democratic Party until these matters can be straightened out at the subsequent convention to be held.”

Patrick Faber Says Alliance White Paper Pushes for U.D.P. Reform

Collet Area Representative, Patrick Faber said that while the Alliance members want unity in the U.D.P., they want to restore democracy to the party as well. He explained that that is what the white paper proposes to do. He used the scenario of former U.D.P. elected member, Marcel Cardona, who spoke against his party’s budget in the House and was deemed as constructively resigned from the U.D.P. That scenario he said, differs greatly from the present situation.

Patrick Faber, Area Representative, Collet

“It is a comprehensive strategy for reforming the UDP at a time when our party faces unprecedented internal challenges. Challenges that threaten our ability to effectively represent the people of Belize. The Alliance for Democracy recognizes the urgent need for this change, and this document outlines our vision for that change, and it will focus on three main areas. The first is restoring our democratic processes. You’ve listened as the Honorable Panton outlined a number of infractions that have been dealt to members but the wider party as well by the current leader and leadership in general of the party. We’ve heard about the practices having to do with just haphazard decision making. They take something to the central executive. And they put the question, and they determine how they are going to put that question first of all, whether it is in the positive or negative. And then they decide whether they are going to count the people who support or don’t support, or they count those who participate or don’t participate. But it is a total flawed process. We have seen where they have carried decisions at this level. And if we are lucky, we get a shot at it at the National Party Council level, as is the case with the four of us now. That didn’t go anywhere. And for context, I want to, while we talk about these processes, revisit for the benefit of those who may not have known. I noticed that in the letter, the communication that was passed, having to do with the, as they deem it, the constructive resignation of the four of us. They used as precedent the situation with Marcel Cardona. Well, let’s look at that. And, of course, they called my name in that, in that I was the chairman of the party at the time. Well, let’s look at that situation for a minute. Marcel Cardona’s case, first of all, was a decision made by the cabinet. Marcel was a part of the cabinet, and that decision was first discussed and approved by the cabinet. Not that it is national government business, but it is the cabinet’s business. It went to the central executive of the party, and it was carried.”

Faber Speaks of U.D.P. Decisions that He Does Not Agree With

Faber shared a few instances where he thought the party’s mechanism for communicating with its members is less than effective. He referred to WhatsApp chat groups that serve to communicate among them where members are removed if they do not participate within a certain time frame.

Patrick Faber, Area Representative, Collet

“They cannot constructively resign me, and I believe that that is the process, that is the position of my colleagues as well. These committees need to know their roles and their responsibilities, and we need to set clear guidelines as to what will constitute a decision, how many people have to vote on certain things. There are some decisions that are bigger than other decisions, and maybe we need to set thresholds for various different decisions that are needed to be made. Virtual meetings is another thing. We made accommodation for virtual meetings on Zoom and on other platforms for us to use chat groups when we were in COVID and all understand that there is a time when you might have to do a quick, in fact in the traditional business world, you call us are Round Robin. You send out an email and you ask people for their opinion and their views, but this party is run by chat group. And if they don’t like what you’re saying, they kick you out of the chat group.”

Montalvo Family Busted for Cocaine Possession in Corozal

There was a drug bust in Corozal on Tuesday afternoon and a family of seven, including a corporal of police, was arrested and charged for possession of a little over nine kilograms of cocaine. A joint law enforcement operation carried out at the home of fifty-seven-year-old Alicia Montalvo led to the discovery of the tightly wrapped parcels that were individually labeled Dolce & Gabbana. The quantity of drugs was found inside a bedroom that is occupied by Nadiel Montalvo. Prior to the discovery, Montalvo was asked by the officers if he had anything illegal to declare. The twenty-two-year-old reportedly confessed to having eight parcels of cocaine. A search of a black wardrobe inside the bedroom initially revealed two rectangular parcels. The officers continued their search and subsequently came up with six additional parcels. During that process, Corporal Enair Montalvo arrived at the residence and told the officers that the house belongs to his mother, Alicia Montalvo. It was then explained to him that anything illegal found on the property would also include him as the owner of those items. The family was rounded up and brought in to observe the findings, before being informed that they were under arrest for possession of controlled drugs with the intent to supply another. Arrested and charge are Alicia Montalvo, Enair Montalvo, Nadiel Montalvo, Edney Montalvo, Aida Cabanas, Seidy Montalvo and Abiel Montalvo, and a seventeen-year-old female minor.