November, 2024 - Channel 5 Belize

Villagers in Waist-deep Water in More Tomorrow

We’ve already shared how the villagers in Roaring Creek are coping with the floodwaters from Tropical Storm Sara. Meanwhile, residents on the other side of the creek in More Tomorrow Village are doing slightly better. Over the weekend, they were wading through waist-deep water, but it has since receded. However, one villager mentioned that they expect the water levels to rise again in the coming days.

Terrence Sutherland, More Tomorrow Resident

“The rain that come the last couple of days mein. It really flood out this area from here gaan right down tha lone water you see and I went to the village this morning and mein it was so rough and I know the people down there tek a liking because of the rain, it was a lot of rain. Down that side it was pretty rough. Like I tell you in some of the house people still have water and some have more water like what I tell you the river is still coming down, so the river nuh reach yet down here.”

Britney Gordon

“How high would you say the water is”

Terrence Sutherland

“Well I would figure about 3 or 4 feet in those people house, and it will get more higher because like I tell you the water still the come down.”

Britney Gordon

“And you said it wasn’t too bad on your farm over here, but like what did you see?”

Terrence Sutherland

“Well when I come out from out of my house. I come out like two and a half feet out in my yard with water.”

Britney Gordon

“And you said you recently to more of the entrance, what was it like when you were living back there?”

Terrence Sutherland

“It was pretty rougher, just like what I tell you. The water reach way in the house. Like when I mih deh deh like a couple of five inches inside the house.”

Britney Gordon

“Would you say that it has gotten worse over the years? Or has it been better? Is there anything to alleviate it?”

Terrence Sutherland

“Well I think with this flood weh the come right now it’s just like a hurricane flood. To me it get the same way or worse. It could be a little worse”

Britney Gordon

“How do you see the villagers coping with it.”

Terrence Sutherland

“Well. Like I tell you I mih live back there already more in the village before I move to my farm and we just have to cope with it. Like an animal on a little hill you know but all ah we just have to stay together.”

Britney Gordon

“So they just go through the water and go where they have to go?”

Terrence Sutherland

“Yeah, they have to come out and do a little shopping, and go back inside and just try to make life back again, but yesterday the little group mih come back here and pass and I think they gave them a little food. The food they gave them is not for no long while but for probably a couple days, about two three days and they wah need food again.”

Britney Gordon

“So how long do you think it will be until this water goes down, you said more is to come but how long does that usually last?”

Terrence Sutherland

“When that water left from San Ignacio, it take like two days and a half to reach down here and down here it will last another two and a half to three days down right in the village.”

Woman Beaten, Kidnapped by Estranged Husband

A mother of three is grateful to be alive tonight after a terrifying ordeal where she was brutally beaten and allegedly kidnapped by her estranged husband early Saturday morning. Released from K.H.M.H. today, she told News Five that she spent the weekend receiving medical care, and a CT scan revealed she’ll need surgery for a broken cheekbone. Sabela Brakeman recounted that she was asleep at her home in the San Pablo area of San Pedro, around one a.m., when her roommate’s screams woke her. She saw her estranged husband attacking her friend with a piece of wood. When she screamed in horror, he turned on her. The assault started in San Pedro but ended in Caye Caulker after he reportedly took her against her will, first on a golf cart and then on a jet ski. News Five’s Marion Ali has the story.

Sabela Brakeman, Kidnap Victim

“He continued whopping me, which he caused injuries to my head, my forehead, my mouth. He kept knocking me, and then he went outside and see if my friend was there. She was not there no more. She managed to get away to seek help and while I was still in there he was still knocking me with that stick, it’s like a two by four. Then he get me out, he pulled me off my bed and carried me outside. He placed me on a golf cart.”

Marion Ali, Reporting

Sabela Brakeman claims that her estranged husband, Kenny Brakeman, broke into her house around one A.M. on Saturday in San Pedro and attacked both her and her roommate. While her roommate managed to escape and get help, Sabella wasn’t as fortunate. She says Kenny dragged her out of the house and onto a golf cart. Terrified of what might happen next, she tried to escape by jumping off, scraping her knee in the process. But she couldn’t get away, and he forced her back onto the cart and continued to drive off. The nightmare didn’t end there. Sabela says Kenny then transferred her from the golf cart to a jet ski and took her all the way to Caye Caulker.

Sabela Brakeman

“When he put me back on the golf cart, he keep driving in the direction where he live, and he say, “Mek I see which a**hole wa come save you now. You nuh want deh with me, if you da nuh fi me, you da nuh fi nobody else. And he grab me, he continue ker me. We reach where he live. He grab me, continue drag me. He place me on the jet ski. He braced me on the jet ski. We drive off maybe 30 minutes. When we drive off now, he said, I think that is Chetumal. This is Corozal and that one, I don’t know which part that one, but if you relax and you don’t say nothing, I will let you go in Corozal, and I gwein across the border because police won’t catch me.”

Unaware that she was now on Caye Caulker, Sabela says she managed to break free by hitting Brakeman. She then jumped into the water and swam to a dock. That’s where she finally escaped from him and found help.

Sabela Brakeman

“He was going offshore. That’s when I knocked him and I managed to escape from him. I reached a dock where I climbed the dock. While I was going that way, I see a sign that mark “POLICE.” That is when I went inside the police station and I told the police what happened to me.”

Today, A.C.P. Hilberto Romero mentioned that this is the first time the police have been informed of any domestic issues between the couple. He also confirmed that Sabella’s report has been officially recorded.

A.C.P. Hilberto Romero, Reg. Cmdr., Eastern Division

“On Saturday, the 16th day of November, 2024, around 2:30am, Caye Caulker police responded to a report at the Caye Caulker Polyclinic, where upon arrival they found Sabela Brakeman with several injuries. She reported that she was in San Pedro, in her bedroom when she was attacked by her ex-husband, Kenny Brakeman, who broke down the door and hit her and a roommate with a piece of stick. Brakeman then placed her on a jet ski and headed towards Caye Caulker. Somewhere near Caye Caulker she managed to jump in the water and she went to seek help. The jet ski was carried over to the police. She was then transported to the K.H.M.H. for treatment where she remains in a stable condition. We’re still looking for Kenny Brakeman, as he has not been found.”

Britney Gordon

“Do we know how he entered her house?”

A.C.P. Hilberto Romero

“He broke down the door and entered her house.”

Sabela shared that she had taken out a restraining order against Brakeman after leaving him due to domestic violence. She initially moved to Toledo for safety but eventually returned to San Pedro to be closer to their three children, who were living with him. She needs surgery to repair a broken cheekbone, her teeth, and a head injury and is asking for your help.

Sabela Brakeman

“The doctors said I need surgery for my gum. This side here is broken. So all this, and all my teeth are soft. I can’t eat and I have one cut here. It start here and goes to here (gesturing). Then I have another one that start here, all the way behind my head. I have another one here. I have my hands, my feet, and all the bruises I get from him.”

Sabela was discharged from the KHMH earlier today. If you would like to help her, you can reach her on 6655083. Marion Ali for New Five

Police Under Investigation for Potential Involvement in Drug Plane Land

On Friday morning, around nine a.m., police responded to a farmer’s report in the Cayo District about a possible drug plane landing in the Frank’s Eddy area. When they arrived, they found a single-engine plane on the side of a dirt road. Upon closer inspection, they discovered that all the passenger seats had been stripped out. While no drugs were found inside, the investigation is still ongoing. Today, Commissioner of Police Chester Williams revealed that a police officer is under investigation for possible involvement in the case.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“We are still trying to ascertain exactly what cargo came on that plane but as usual we suspect that it could be cocaine. We are looking for one individual likewise who we believe may be able to provide some information to us as it relates to that plane landing. And I can also say to you, I don’t want to hide nothing say to you that we had detained a police officer, a female police officer because we believe that she facilitated a person the person who we believe landed that aircraft in, signing in at the police station outside our was stipulated by the court this person is on bail for a previous plane landing and as a condition to his bail he was ordered to report or to sign in to the Belmopan police station every Friday between eight a.m. and five p.m. Surprisingly, the same night the plane landed, he came to sign in at the Belmopan Police Station after twelve midnight. That would be around the same time the plane would be landing. And this female police officer facilitated him to the extent that she took the diary from inside the station and took it outside of the station for him to sign. That for us is an egregious breach. I’m not going to say that she is involved in the plane landing. What are actions in facilitating this individual knowing who he is to have signed in at that particular moment is extremely questionable. And professional standard branch is looking at that matter and we expect that charges will be levied against her for breach of our internal policy.”

Police Ordered to Burn Suspected Drug Plane

The police are still on the hunt for suspects involved in the landing of a suspected drug plane in the Cayo District. They haven’t yet recovered the plane’s contents. To prevent any further illegal activities, the police decided to burn the plane after they found it. Commissioner of Police, Chester Williams, shared more details about why they made that call.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“We have searched the entire area, including using drones, and we have not been able to do the Sibun River is not too far away from the area where the plane landed, so we believe that if there was any cargo on board the aircraft, it may have left the area via the Sibun River.”

Reporter

“Is there plans to upgrade the radar?”

Chester Williams

“That’s a matter that we’re looking at. JIAC would be in a better position to explain why they were unable to provide to us any tracking on that particular night in question, as you would know, we’re not the ones who work or manages JIAC. We would normally be fed with information coming out of JIAC as released to the illicit tracking. And then once we get those informations, then we would then activate our operational teams. to go into different areas that we would anticipate the plane may likely land. But in this case, that did not occur.”

Britney Gordon

“How was this plane disposed of? Because we came to an understanding that it was burnt. Why was this the case?”

Chester Williams

“Yes that’s a directive that the plane be destroyed. Again it’s the trend that we do now. Instead of putting these planes out for action and sold to the highest bidder, It’s a policy now that we destroy them so as not to have these planes reused. We have seen instances before where the planes were actioned off and then next thing we know the planes end up right back in business again with another set of cargo. So to eliminate that from happening, these aircraft are not destroyed on spot.”

Reporter

“Is this the first plane to have landed suspected drug planes Corozon Creek last December?”

Chester Williams

“Yes.”

Reporter

“And that is because the radar usually picks it up and police toward it, right?”

Chester Williams

“Yes. Okay.”

Reporter

“Do you know how much time elapsed between the landing of the plane, approximately, to when the police got the information?”

Chester Williams

“From our best information, the plane may have landed sometime after midnight. Based on our discussion with people in the area having heard the plane around that time. And we got the information around nine in the morning. That’s ten hours, basically. Alright. Nine to 10 hours by the time the cargo could be far gone.”

Police Detain Free Zone Robbers Who Stole Millions

Over the weekend, a group of men pulled off a heist at a warehouse in the Corozal Free Zone, making off with millions of Mexican pesos. The police acted swiftly and managed to detain three suspects, including a security guard. Commissioner of Police, Chester Williams, credited their quick response for the arrests. Here are more details on the story.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“Yesterday, morning before the police were notified of a within the free zone. Based on that information the Corozal police mobilized and went to the area. They conducted searches utilizing drones and they were able to locate two individuals who are suspected to have been a part of that burglary. Police also found a bag containing some pesos, and Mexican pesos, along with a few Belize dollars and a few U.S. currency. The bag of money was taken to the Corozal police station, where it was counted, and it amounted to a total of ten thousand four point something million pesos. I think just over two hundred plus US dollars and a small amount of police currency. The two individuals are currently detained. I’m not aware of the total amount of monies stolen during the burglary. I think we’re still trying to ascertain that that figure, but so far we believe we have two of the suspects in custody. We’re still looking for an additional two more persons. We’re hoping that we’ll be able to find them very shortly. And then we see how we go from there.”

Reporter

“How are they able to conduct the robbery?”

Chester Williams

“It’s not a robbery. It’s a burglary. From what we get out again is that it did so in collusion with The security guard who worked at the the establishment. So that security guard is also in custody as a part of our investigation.”

Reporter

“How are you guys able, the quick response to be able to capture them?”

Chester Williams

“The calls were received and the police responded quickly.”

Reporter

“Are these people, they’re Belizean?”

Chester Williams

“Yes, Belizean, yes.”

Reporter

“And are they known to police?”

Chester Williams

“Yes, they’re from Belize City. “

ComPol Asks Public to Exercise Empathy After Police House Shot up

Last week, police got word that a police corporal’s house in Corozal had been shot at. Around 12:30 a.m. in the Finca Solana area, Officer Martin Marin dashed outside after hearing gunfire. He says he heard a motorcycle speeding away as he stepped out. A jeep belonging to Police Inspector Kimara Lopez was also hit, with two bullet holes found and several spent shells scattered around. Commissioner of Police, Chester Williams, shared more details about the incident.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“We have a basic idea of who are those persons behind it and the police have been going after these individuals and contrary to what I saw on social media and again, I want the Belizean people that we cannot be insensitive to the issues, especially where the potential loss of life existed. And we can’t be too harsh on the police officers who are out there every day making sure that you’re safe. I saw some of the comments where people were saying, it’s not good for the police, or the police are chancey, or the police this, the police that, Those comments are very disgusting. At the end of the day, we, we cannot live in a society where the police is not respected because if the criminals don’t respect the police, then how do you expect as an ordinary citizen, criminals are going to respect you? We have to be careful of what we promote or what we encourage. And again, the police officer in question, whose house was, was shot up, he’s an extremely hard-working police, and I can say a very decent one as well. You don’t hear his name out there involved in any criminal activities, but certainly he goes after criminals and perhaps that’s the reason why he was targeted because he’s extremely tough on those persons in the Corozal district who are hell bent on committing crime. So this is an officer who is out there every day. doing his best going above and beyond to ensure the safety of the people across our town. And I think that he ought to be commended. And in a time like this, where we saw that he was targeted, we need to sympathize with him and at the same time extend whatever support we can to make him feel comfortable in continuing to discharge his duties as a police officer.”

C.E.O. of Lands Under Investigation for Fatal RTA

C.E.O. in the Ministry of Natural Resources, Paul Thompson is currently under investigation after a man was killed in a fatal accident on Friday. Reports are that forty-four-year-old Zacharias Tescecum, was hit while attempting to cross the road somewhere between mile forty-one and forty-two in Cotton Tree Village. Upon arrival, police found Thompson’s grey SUV on the right-hand side of the George Price highway facing East with a damaged front bumper and grill. Tescecum was found motionless under the vehicle with multiple head and body injuries, and a broken right foot. ACP Hilberto Romero gave us more details on the incident.

ACP Hilberto Romero, Regional Commander, Eastern Division

“On Friday the fifteenth day of November, 2020 fourth, there was a road traffic accident between miles forty-one or forty-two at a cotton tree police visit the year where they saw a GMC terrain vehicle with damages. The driver of that vehicle reported that he was driving when suddenly male person crossed his spot and he knocked on the male person and the male person was taken for treatment, where he succumbed to his injuries. He was identified as Zacharias Tescecum and an investigation is ongoing at this time the driver was served with an NIP and samples were taken from him.”

Reporter
“The name of the driver sir?”

Hilberto Romero

“The driver has not been charged so I won’t say the name.”

Reporter

“But we usually report names of drivers who are in attendance even before they’re charged. And especially if they served with an NIP.”

Hilberto Romero

“I’ll get back to that.”

Reporter

“if this person who was crossing, was he crossing at the, at the, some type of pedestrian or was he just crossing the road?”

Hilberto Romero

“He was just crossing the road.”

Reporter

“Okay. Was it dark and then did you ever maybe couldn’t see him?”

Hilberto Romero

“There’s light enough there.”

19-Year-Old Perishes in Motorcycle Accident

Last week, tragedy struck when nineteen-year-old Carlos Romero lost his life after being hit by a ten-wheeler truck while riding his motorcycle. Around 3 p.m. on Thursday, Lo Ammi-Gomez was driving near the intersection of Saint Jude and Saint Peter Streets in the Maya Mopan area when he heard a loud noise outside his vehicle. When he got out to check, he found Romero trapped under the truck’s right rear wheel. ACP Hilberto Romero provided more details on this heartbreaking incident.

A.C.P. Hilberto Romero, Regional Commander, Eastern Division

“On Thursday, the 14th of November 2024, around 3 p.m., police responded to a fatal road traffic Mopan in Belmopan. Upon arrival, they saw a ten-wheeler truck and a motorcycle with damaged. Information received that the motorcycle collided with the truck, causing the driver of the motorcycle to be chopped under the tires of the truck. I don’t know. The person was removed, and he was identified as Carlos Romero. He was taken for treatment where he succumbed to his injuries. An N.I.P has been served on the driver of the truck and an investigation is ongoing and at the end, we will determine if any charges will be levied.”

Reporter

Do police know who was at fault?

A.C.P. Hilberto Romero

“Not at this time. We have an ongoing investigation that will be determined.”

Britney Gordon

“What mile did this happen?”

A.C.P Hilberto Romero

“This happened at my Mopan area in Belmopan.”

Reporter

“Was the driver of the cycle wearing a helmet?”

A.C.P Hilberto Romero

“I’m not sure, I’d have to confirm.”

Reporter

“And urine samples were taken?”

A.C.P Hilberto Romero

“Yes, those were taken.”

Thousands of Dollars Lost in Fire in Valley of Peace

On Friday, a fire in the Cayo District led to the loss of over fifty thousand dollars in cash. Tan’s Store, located in the Valley of Peace area, was already engulfed in flames by the time authorities arrived. The store owner, Jing Pan Tan, reported damages totaling over one hundred and fifty thousand dollars, including property, cash, legal documents, and several licensed guns. ACP Hilberto Romero provided more details on this devastating incident.

ACP Hilberto Romero, Regional Commander, Eastern Division

“The fifteenth of November, 2024, police responded to a house fire in the Valley of Peace. Upon arrival, there is a building completely engulfed in flames. Jing Tan reported that he was at home when he saw smoke in the kitchen area. Thereafter the building caught fire several items are damaged including two firearms. An investigation is being carried out to try and determine the cause of the fire.”

Reporter

“Those firearms were licensed?”

Hilberto Romero

“Yeah, they were licensed firearms.”

Reporter

“Does he have any suspicions of what might have caused it?”

Hilberto Romero

“He saw smoke coming from the kitchen area. And then The fire engulfed the building from there.”

Reporter

“Was he home alone?”

Hilberto Romero

“There were other persons there but he was home at the time.”

Britney Gordon

“Any injuries?”

Hilberto Romero

“No injuries were reported.”

The Honorable Shyne; What Does PM Briceno Think?

The biography of Shyne Barrow, titled ‘The Honorable Shyne,’ premiered today on Hulu. This ‘rags to riches’ documentary dives deep into the life of the former hip hop artist turned politician. It covers his rise in the music industry, his ten-year stint in prison, his deportation to Belize, and his entry into politics. We caught up with Prime Minister John Briceño earlier today to get his thoughts on Shyne’s latest project.

Prime Minister John Briceño

“Unfortunately for him, he is not running in the United States. He is running in Belize and I don’t think he’s getting any kind of coverage, the coverage that he is getting in Belize, let’s put it this way, is not coverage any kind of leader would want to get. But again, timing, it just so happened that P. Diddy has been arrested for a lot of alleged crimes, sexual, drugs, and all kind of stuff and Shyne was a part of that world. I don’t know if he was part of that, but it just so happened that he, according to him, said it back then during that time, that he took the fall for P. Diddy. It’s good marketing for him, he’s taking advantage, when a man is down is stepping on him to try to lift his profile. You don’t usually do that. I can be doing that to him every day, but it’s good theater for him. I am happy for him and he can continue doing that in the United States because that’s the life he wants. He doesn’t want to be here in Belize, he wants to be in the United States of America. The minute he became the Leader of the Opposition, the first thing he did he asked the Black Caucus in Congress is to support him in getting a visa. He’s pretty much more in the US than here and good for him. I have no envy for him, I don’t envy him. I am happy to be in Belize, Belize is my home, it’s the only home I’ve ever had and I don’t plan to go anywhere. Will I see the documentary when it becomes available? Of course, I will, and then see how they have spun things. I am sure that if the producers were to come and interview the people that were praising him back then, I’m sure you’d get a different picture. But they probably know that by now.”