The voir dire for the Bladen twelve defendants has finally been completed, after nine months of proceedings before Senior Magistrate Baja Shoman. The twelve defendants are accused of being involved in the landing of a drug plane near Bladen Village on the Southern Highway with twenty-two bales of cocaine, and a cache of high-powered weapons on the night of November fifth, 2021. Today, defense attorney Leeroy Banner told the media what came out of the last two days of court proceedings.
Leeroy Banner, Defense Attorney
“We finally close the evidence as it relates to the voire dire. The three accused persons gave dock statements and they explained to the court what took place on the day they were detained. And they explained to the magistrate what ordeals they had endured. So now we are finished with the evidence taking aspect of the voire dire. Now we have to do written submissions and the court has given us time to prepare our submissions and then we come back to court on the 17th of December, where the learned trial magistrate will give a ruling as to whether or not she would accept the overall statement and the caution statementthat were given by the accused persons.”
Reporter
“And how long have we been in void here?”
Leeroy Banner
“I’ve lost track. It has been months, I would say. We have been here from January this year. So it’s almost eight to nine months we have been in this voire dire. Medical evidence were tendered, medico legal forms were submitted on the Crown’s case, which I believe could assist the court in coming to a conclusion one way or the other.”
Reporter
“So it is your hope that these will not be accepted?”
Leeroy Banner
“No, well, I can’t comment on that, but we have challenged the statements saying that it was not given freely, and that is my instruction that I don’t want to comment on the merits or demerits of that, because that is a life issue before the trial magistrate.”
Tonight, a Belize City resident is living in fear inside his own home after he was allegedly targeted during a raid of his property on Monday night. He claims that he was at his home on Matura Street when he stepped outside to use the bathroom in an adjacent building when he heard the footsteps nearby. He claims that shortly after, he found himself face-to-face with a group of police officers, suited in dark clothing. Fearing for his life, he surrendered, showing he had no weapons on his person. Nonetheless, he alleges that he was shot at several times with rubber bullets and taken to the police station. He says that the event has left him traumatized and concerned for the wellbeing of his newborn child. We spoke with him earlier today for more details of the incident.
Voice of: Belize City Shooting Victim
Voice of: Belize City Shooting Victim
“I come use the lee and thing. And it sound like people di run through the yard and thing. And when I come out back fi go back inna my family house, I run straight into a gun man. And as he see me, he buss wa shot atta me and I run cause I run fo my life. I just got my newborn you understand me? I run fi my life now and when I run, they buss two more shot. And I done surrender. When I surrender, da den they shot me. I end up da hospital. I have to gone check if they damage my ribs or something. They deal with me real stiff. Real stiff. You understand?”
Britney Gordon
“Around what time did this happen?”
Voice of: Belize City Shooting Victim
“About round eleven, twelve soh.”
Britney Gordon
“So you’re unsure of who shot you?”
Voice of: Belize City Shooting Victim
“Mami nobody she nothing. You understand? When I come out, I just see somebody dress inna full black, mask down everything. Then when I come out now da then I get the sense dat da police I just surrender. And as I surrender, they shot me.”
Britney Gordon
“So you were unarmed and you were not making any threats towards them or anything?”
Voice of: Belize City Shooting Victim
“I mi unarmed.. I noh have no firearm or nothing. You understand?”
Britney Gordon
“And did they state a reason for coming to raid your house?”
Voice of: Belize City Shooting Victim
“No ney noh tell me nothing. Ney ker me da hospital and after that, ney ker me straight da cell block. I inna pain da cell block. I had to mi gone da hospital right ya soh gine checkup pan thing. See if they damage part of my inside or something. Da when I done use the bathroom, I come out cuz I hear people di run through the yard. I look fi back upstairs inna my family house go lock up and thing. And right deh as he see mi he buss ah shot atta me and I di run fi my life. I no want dead left my newborn. Left my pikni fatherless.”
Britney Gordon
“Have you made any reports against the officer? Are you seeking legal action?”
Voice of: Belize City Shooting Victim
“Yes ma’am I di seek legal action right now. I di look fi go back da station go mek a report. Cuz I just lee while come from hospital.”
What’s the likelihood of the U.D.P. emerging victorious in the next general elections and how many seats can the embattled party clinch during the upcoming exercise? A recent survey conducted by Viking Strategies sets out to determine the potential of the United Democratic Party based on a recent survey. While the U.D.P. was soundly defeated at the polls in 2020, the results of the survey indicate that the party can expect a national vote share of forty-two to forty-four percent. This was also determined using election data in Belize from 2008, 2012, 2015 and 2020. Here’s News Five’s Isani Cayetano with that story.
Isani Cayetano, Reporting
The United Democratic Party (U.D.P.) is currently navigating through one of the most tumultuous periods in its illustrious history. Internal strife and unprecedented discord have left the party more fractured than ever before. The rift between the Alliance for Democracy and the U.D.P. leadership has deepened, primarily due to conflicting interpretations of the party’s constitution. Amidst this latest wave of disputes, a new analysis has emerged, shedding light on the U.D.P.’s prospects as the 2025 general election approaches. An analysis of all thirty-one constituencies was recently conducted by Viking Strategies, using the results of a survey carried out with Belizean voters. Of the ten seats available in Belize City, only four are likely to go red, including Albert, which is described, based on probability models, as a toss-up. In that division, incumbent area representative Tracy Panton is being challenged by P.U.P. councilor Kaya Cattouse. Since tossing her hat into the political arena, Cattouse has hit the ground running.
Kaya Cattouse
Kaya Cattouse, P.U.P. Standard Bearer, Albert (File: September 19th, 2024)
“The feedback has been very good. I mean, people want a change, they want a young, dynamic leader who is coming in to work for them and coming in from the local government level, they have seen the work that I have been doing, not only in Albert constituency but across the city. And now, to be zoning in only on that one constituency, I mean, it means a lot to them and it means a lot to me.”
Historically, Albert has been a more competitive constituency. In the 2012, 2015 and 2020 general elections, the United Democratic Party has held on to the seat, but the P.U.P. has been making inroads. In 2020, the U.D.P. won by a narrow margin. Going into 2025, with a seemingly formidable opponent, Albert remains a tossup.
Tracy Panton
Tracy Panton, Area Representative, Albert (File: September 11th, 2024)
“I respect the fact that Ms. Cattouse has offered herself as a candidate, it’s good to see young women and women seek political leadership. So I applaud her on that decision. We don’t take any opponent lightly, we’ve never have taken an opponent lightly. We’ve never made broad and sweeping statements against an opponent. We know what our job is and our is to serve the people and when you serve the people, the people support you. That has been my experience and we don’t intend to change our strategy because it has worked and it has worked very well for my campaign and we’ll continue to do so.”
With Panton ousted from the U.D.P., all eyes are on who will step up as the new standard bearer for the opposition. Despite her expulsion, Panton insists she remains a loyal member of the U.D.P. In Port Loyola, the United Democratic Party lost its grip to the P.U.P., who secured the seat with a commanding 57.7% of the vote in the 2020 general election. Recent surveys suggest that while the U.D.P. has a chance to gain ground, the odds still favor the incumbent. Nonetheless, former Area Representative Anthony ‘Boots’ Martinez is once again in the picture.
Anthony ‘Boots’ Martinez
Anthony ‘Boots’ Martinez, U.D.P. Standard Bearer, Port Loyola (File: August 22nd, 2024)
“It’s from the request of the people of Port Loyola who asked me to hold the mantle, at least because they want a good area representative. And so, for me, I am a creature of instruction and as a creature of instruction, you follow the people. I am the candidate, so I am touching back base with the people because one thing yoh could seh yoh opinion about Boots Martinez is another thing, but every man, woman, pickni, dehn dog, dehn cat, know who is Boots Martinez.”
Collet continues to be a bastion for the U.D.P., with Patrick Faber firmly entrenched as the area’s representative. However, recent probability analyses suggest that this stronghold could be tested if national polling trends increasingly favor the P.U.P. Adding to the political intrigue, Devin Daly has thrown his hat into the ring, declaring his candidacy for the People’s United Party. Isani Cayetano for News Five.
The Belize Network of NGOs, in partnership with the Belize Council of Churches and other social partners, including the National Trade Union Congress, has written to the Minister of Health and Wellness requesting information under the Freedom of Information Act. The request has to do with information being sought regarding the purchase of land from businessman Kenny Zheng, for the construction of the University Hospital in Belmopan. Viewers would recall that the Government of Belize purchased fifteen acres of land for a little under seven million dollars in August, after deciding that the land being offered for the construction of the tertiary facility on U.B. land was not suitable. The letter, written by Senator Kevin Herrera, requests information regarding the projected costs, potential impacts on local healthcare services, among other factors. Earlier today, we spoke with Senator Glenfield Dennison.
Glenfield Dennison
Glenfield Dennison, Union Senator
“ The reference to the purchase of the hospital land, that position would have been taken by the social partners early on, but the delay would have been attributed to lack of information and so we thought it necessary to join forces to make the request because, other than that there is strength in numbers. We represent the social partners in the senate and the oversight mechanisms that are existing in the senate may or may not be triggered depending on the management of the issue from the government side. And so, we, as social partners, and I want to be very clear, we are partnering for the development of this country. We think that this is an issue that needs ventilation, that needs clarification from not just a commonsense approach but from the questions being raised by taxpayers.”
Isani Cayetano “Invoking the Freedom of Information Act in an attempt to get government to be as transparent with the information as possible has, over time, proven extremely frustrating for anyone who attempts to go in that direction.”
Glenfield Dennison
“That is so, and the process that would next obtain, especially if we tale the judicial review route requires that you exhaust the other options that are available to you. So whether it is in fact a lesson in futility, it would, in my mind, be a legal route if we are to make a successful claim before the court because the request that will first come, I imagine, would be a request for the disclosure from the government through the court. But it would be incumbent upon us to make the request so that we can, by our evidence, show the court that we have tried that and that it failed.”
The National Trade Union Congress of Belize has received a response from the Office of the Prime Minister regarding the compulsory acquisition of the Stake Bank Island Extension. Prime Minister John Briceño, in his written response, told the umbrella organization that the decision to compulsorily acquire the properties in question was carefully considered. But the N.T.U.C.B. is not entirely convinced. Here’s Union Senator Glenfield Dennison with the N.T.U.C.B.’s position on the matter.
Glenfield Dennison
Glenfield Dennison, Union Senator
“I would say it’s rooted really in the constitutional protection of arbitrary deprivation of property. Inherent in that would be that you can reasonably take away someone’s property. The methodology that the government chose to use is what we are trying to do our part as social partners to highlight to the government. This is not a criticism of the government as such. This is us looking through our lens and saying, hey there are two pieces of legislation on the law books, over seventy-five years old. The acquisition of property exists, to me, at the intersection between the private interest of the Feinsteins, the commercial interests of the receiver and the government in its responsibility to the public. As we’re trying to unpack that, we can see that there definitely will be a lawsuit and I won’t comment about the lawsuit itself, but insofar as the two pieces of legislation that exist for acquiring land, it’s important that they both achieve the same thing, the compulsory acquisition of private lands, but they vest that ownership in two different places. So under the promoters legislation, it would vest the compulsorily acquired land in the private entity, but in the public purposes acquisitions act, it vests the interest in the government.”
The People’s Constitution Commission met here in Belize City today as it begins to finalize its work. Today’s session was closed to the media, but we were able to get a brief interview from Chairman Anthony Chanona for an update. Here’s what he shared with us.
Anthony Chanona, Chair, People’s Constitution Commission
“We have been meeting ever since we finished the public outreach which was back in May 2024, and the process is to review what the people have said and formulating it. So as soon as that was completed and we are at that stage, we will come to the media and we are saying this would probably be around the eighth of October and present what we have done. So it’s an important engagement but I cannot go into any details at this time.”
Isani Cayetano
“I do know that there was somewhat of an extension given for the work of the PCC to accomplish its mandate. Where are we with that in terms of being able to deliver on these respective responsibilities?”
Anthony Chanona
“Well the public outreach today surprised all of us and it enjoyed tremendous success. People in Belize actually showed up at these sessions, participated in the call for papers, responded to the text blast and so we were unable to collate all of that information within the eighteen months. So the law provided for us to apply for a six-month extension and we are now to be finished on the fourteenth of November for a final report. But we will be producing an interim report with the first draft with all stakeholders so that there is some transparency and validation to the process.”
Well-known boxing trainer Henrietta Gill turns ninety-one-years-old this year. She is among the unsung heroes in Belizean sports. Gill’s passion for mentoring young men and molding them into model citizens, even if they were locked up behind prison walls, made her a role model. The athletes she trained were very good and won medals, a testament to her skillfulness. She did all this in the ‘80s and 90’s, at a time when women were not being welcomed into the sport with open arms. In tonight’s episode of Belize on Reel, News Five’s Paul Lopez looks at the contributions of Henrietta Gill to boxing in Belize.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
If one was to travel back in time to the early nineties when Belizeans came out in droves to watch boxing, the Bird’s Isle was the place to be. This is footage from a fight night back then at an event that was filled with spectators and some heavy hitters in boxing. At ringside, among the trainers, stood one woman who brought immense value to the discipline.
Henrietta Gill
Henrietta Gill, Former Boxing Coach
“I want you to jab up and come back down ok. Work the body and the head, you understand what I am telling you. Nuh guh to the back ah man.”
Henrietta Gill is a legendary boxing trainer. She was in her late fifties and aging gracefully when these videos were captured. At the time, Gill was a trainer for the Adolphus and Civic gyms. She was also employed as an officer in Her Majesty’s Prison where she trained prisoners to box. Her program helped prisoners to better reintegrate themselves into society upon their release. Here she was preparing a group of boxers from the prison for the 1993 Belize Games.
Henrietta Gill (File: Aug 3rd, 1993)
“We work everyday from Monday to Friday and we start everyday at two o’clock and we finish the latest at four. It is really hard work. We start with our exercise, going to shadow boxing, skipping, punching of bags, etc., etc. They work really hard and to be frank Marie, I am really prepared for ’93.”
Voice of: Ann Marie Williams, Reporter
“Gill’s boxers are a little different from their competitors in that whether they win lose or draw, they will sulk behind the walls of her majesty’s prison.”
Former Boxer
Former Boxer
“I take part in the first Belize Games. I won a gold medal, and I was quite satisfied. I am hoping I am going out there and doing my best. That is what everybody expects of me, to do my best.”
Ann Marie Williams
“What is it like taking punches in the ring?”
Former Boxer
“Just like giving, you take, and you give, that is the point right.”
Henrietta Gill’s passion for developing prisoners into model citizens extended beyond the boxing ring. Here she is captured participating in a talent show organized by prisoners at Her Majesty’s Prison. In 2022, almost three decades later, News Five caught up with an eighty-nine-year-old Gill in Belize City, still active and very cheerful.
Henrietta Gill
Henrietta Gill (File: Sept 5th, 2022)
“Now the first thing you have to train your boxers is you have to drop in their stance. Anytime you tell your boxer drop in the stance they put their right foot, because they write with their right hand, but no. You see the body is turned. So, you don’t. When you say drop in your stance, it is the left. And this is your position. You can block anything from there. And this is the punch. When the punch comes, it comes… that is the punch…*laughs* I feel great and many nights I would stay and wonder, how did I do so many things? And then I came with one question. I could not have done it without the help of God. He gave me the energy, because at that time I was holding two jobs. I was working with Mr. Tatesfield, that is Debbie Gegg’s daddy, and I was working at the prison.”
In this interview Gill explained that she took up boxing as a trainer in 1981 because her son had a passion for boxing and needed a trainer.
Henrietta Gill
“My biggest challenge in boxing was the American coach that came. He refused for me to stay in the workshop. He partly told me to come out and go. So, Mr. Nicholas came to me and said, Ms. Gill if I were you, I would go home. I said over my dead body. I am determined, especially when I need something, and I know it is good. So, I stood there. He asked questions and I put up my hand and he ignored me. When break time, he went to have lunch with Mr. Adolphus at the prison. At that time, I was already at the prison. When he came back, he was man enough to stand in front of the class and apologize to me for being rude.”
As Gill reflected on her life and her impact in the sport of boxing, she often used the word “blessed” to describe it. Gill now lives in the U.S., an unsung hero who never sought fame and fortune.
Henrietta Gill
“Yesterday when I was coming from church, two boys said hi Ms. Gill. I said how you doing. They said we are fine. I said, have a good day. So I passed again, hi Ms. Gill. I said, you know something, I am not worried. If everybody like you all know me here on earth, in heaven I am well know. That is my assurance.”
We are eight days away from the start of the 2024 CODICADER Games in El Salvador. Belize is sending athletes to compete in five sporting disciplines. These are high school aged athletes that are expected to go up against their counterparts from five Central American countries. Today, the Ministry of Sports and the National Sports Council held a ceremony at the Marion Jones Sporting Complex to hand over jerseys to the athletes. News Five’s Paul Lopez reports.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
Belize is preparing to send a total of one hundred and sixty-five high school athletes, coaches and chaperones to the 2024 CODICADER Games in El Salvador. The games officially begin on October second. Today, the Ministry of Sports through National Sports Council handed over Belize jerseys to the athletes that will be competing.
Gilroy Usher
Gilroy Usher, Minister of State, Ministry of Sports
“First I will begin by saying congratulations to the members of the 2024 CODICADER team who will be receiving their official jersey this morning. Many thanks to the Ministry of Sports through the National Sports Council for its assistance in making the jersey possible as well as all others whose contributions have been this a reality this morning.”
Belize will be competing in five disciplines, football, basketball, volleyball, judo and track and field.
Iris Centeno
Iris Centeno, Director, National Sports Council
“I can recall when he had that meeting with NSSSA, they talked about how demanding the challenges or how challenges come along for them when they have to represent the different sports. They let the deputy and myself know how much they need the assistance. We know, we are athletes, so we know the demands and wanted to give that support. So, this morning we just want to present these jerseys.”
Belize hosted the games in 2023 at a cost of two hundred thousand dollars. This time around, fifty thousand dollars is being invested in the Belize delegation to compete in El Salvador. Minister of Sports, Rodwell Ferguson will be travelling with the delegation as a special invited guest to the games.
Rodwell Ferguson
Rodwell Ferguson, Minister of Sports
“Because we have to make sure we provide for the athletes. Like what Marvin said, we have to make sure that everybody is register and to register one athlete it is sixty dollars U.S. and if you multiply that by one sixty-seven it is over ten thousand U.S. dollars just for registration. We have to buy uniforms and gears for the young people as they travel. It is under-eighteen sports starting the second of October, 2024.”
Paul Lopez
“For you, what do you hope to get from your attendance at these games?”
Rodwell Ferguson
“Well, it is only symbolic, they request that the minister of the different countries attend at least the opening ceremony. So, I will be there at least for the opening ceremony and then I will return back to go to another activity. But, it is symbolic thing for the country of Belize that the minister of sports is there.”
The jerseys were handed over to the coaches and chaperones as the athletes were at school during this time of the day. But assurances were given that they are prepared to compete and represent Belize well. They are scheduled to begin their travels on Monday.
Marvin Ottley
Marvin Ottley, Deputy Director, National Sports Council
“Gwen Lizzaraga High School, Saint Catherine Academy, Kings College, I don’t see anyone from SJC but these are the representing schools from the immediate Belize District. Then we also have the schools outside of Belize district. This one was a bit fast but we believe that from the National Sports Council that it was important to do a presentation from Minister Ferguson, minister Usher, the Director of Sports, the chairman of the board, the board of directors of the NSC. We believe we could have invested a bit more in the athletes by providing the jersey, the alternate jersey for all the team sports and also the polo shirts which is called the walk arounds and also the sweat suits, the travelling sweats.”
Earlier this week, we told you about Belizean basketball phenom Douglas Langford Junior and his scholarship to play basketball at Harvard University. Following the news of his accomplishment, the Ministry of Sports issued a release congratulating Langford and sending him well wishes. Today, the minister reiterated that message issued in the release. We also asked him if Belizeansathletes must leave the country to enjoy that kind of success.
Rodwell Ferguson
Rodwell Ferguson, Minister of Sports
“We did something in black and white about two or three days ago. Douglas, I saw him grow up as a child. He is now seventeen years old. That is a major accomplishment for the country of Belize. So, on behalf of the country of Belize I want to congratulate Douglas Langford and his family in particular, his mom and his dad for pushing him to where he is today. I am hoping that he will become a member of the NBA in the next three or four years.”
Paul Lopez
“Do athletes have to leave the country to become as successful as him?”
Rodwell Ferguson
“Well, to a certain extent because we are very small country, less than four hundred thousand people. Douglas left when he was fourteen years old. His parents are still here, and they pushed him to go there. So, I guess I don’t think so, but that is the protocol I see established for the last couple of years.”
In June, the Ministry of Sports launched an app called Support Sports. The app must now be redone. Support Sports was launched to give everyone at home and abroad a chance to contribute towards that effort for Belize’s athletes. But, according to Minister of Sports Rodwell Ferguson, the app was overtaken by glitches and not accomplishing what the ministry set out to do. With Prime Minister John Briceño’s announcement that businesses contributing to sports will receive business tax credits, Minister Ferguson is hopeful that support will increase with the relaunch of the app.
Rodwell Ferguson, Minister of Sports
“Because, it was not, I don’t know what to say. There were some glitches. So, when we tried to attempt to use it, it did not accomplish what we want. So, we asked somebody to do an app over for us and hopefully by Friday of this week it is going to be completed. So we are going to test it , try it and see how it works.”
Reporter
“What was the feedback to the previous launch?”
Rodwell Ferguson
“The feedback was excellent, especially from the business community. If you notice when the prime minister made his presentation at the last House meeting that there will be a special arrangement for business to contribute and they will get back a return of their contributions. So, we are not going after the business. We are now going after all Belizeans after the app is finished.”
