The Belize Police Department has issued an official report on the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Howard Ramirez in the Boiton Area of the Cayo District on Wednesday morning.
The department says that officers responded to a call around 8:00 a.m., where they encountered 44-year-old businessman Juan Augustin Gonzalez. Gonzalez told police that while checking on his warehouse, he noticed a young man exiting through a window.
Gonzalez said he attempted to question Ramirez, who then allegedly picked up a piece of wood and moved toward him in an aggressive manner. Fearing for his safety, Gonzalez said he drew his licensed 9mm pistol and fired a single shot, fatally injuring Ramirez.
Ramirez’s body was transported to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Healthcare professionals, parents, and organisations gathered in Belize City for the first conference on premature births to raise awareness about the growing number of preterm births in the country. This event coincides with the delayed observance of World Prematurity Day.
Neroli Williams, Nurse Unit Manager of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH), said that the event was originally scheduled for November 17 in observance of World Prematurity Day but was postponed due to Tropical Storm Sara.
Although there has been a slight 2% decrease in premature births over the past year, Williams stated that it is not a significant change. She said, “But it’s nothing significant. So every year we celebrate the day by bringing back all the babies to the NICU or to KHMH to celebrate and to see how they’re doing.”
Today’s conference addresses early prenatal care, especially for women with rising rates of diabetes and hypertension, which could potentially reduce premature births. Williams stated that many women from rural areas face challenges in accessing healthcare, which may contribute to higher rates of premature births.
Williams said that in Belize, babies born at 28 weeks are considered viable, although countries like the U.S. have a threshold of 24 weeks. “But the risk factors, the developmental milestone might be delayed and we will not know that until the age comes for that milestone,” she added.
These risks can have lasting effects, but efforts are being made to reduce complications and improve outcomes for these vulnerable infants.
Rita Defour has shared a heartfelt message mourning the tragic passing of Howard Ramirez, a 17-year-old she knew well through Cornerstone’s feeding program. Her reflections come after he was fatally shot on Wednesday in the Boiton neighbourhood of San Ignacio Town.
The property owner told police that he encountered Ramirez attempting to burgle his storeroom and claimed self-defence after the teenager allegedly confronted him with a piece of wood. The teen reportedly fled but collapsed and died a short distance away. The Director of Public Prosecutions is expected to review the incident to determine if the use of deadly force meets the criteria for self-defence.
In her message, Defour urged people not to judge the young man and described him as more than the labels others might assign. “He was one of the kindest persons, always offering a helping hand, even when he was going through his own storms,” she wrote. Ramirez, who joined Cornerstone at the age of five, was a regular visitor to Defour’s home, often collecting groceries for his younger sisters.
Defour also shared that Ramirez was actively looking for a job. “These kids are tired of being providers when they are just children,” she said. “Whatever he did I know it was wrong but it was out of desperation. Don’t judge him because many of us would not be able to walk in his shoes.”
Defour said it is important to create safe spaces for children like Ramirez. She said that her annual Christmas dinners for Cornerstone’s kids are an effort to provide moments of joy to those who rarely get to celebrate. “These kids are broken, they don’t have anyone to turn to, they are tired of being providers when they are just a child.”
“The reason I always have a Christmas dinner for these kids is because they don’t celebrate anything, they are trying to survive. They never have a party for their birthdays. They don’t know what it is to experience these things.”
She ended by saying, “Pls don’t judge. You all don’t know these kids story.”
A new report from the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) reported alarming levels of violence faced by Indigenous, Afro-descendant, and other ethnic women and girls in the Americas. PAHO says that while violence against women is widespread across Latin America and the Caribbean, women from certain ethnic backgrounds are disproportionately affected.
In 2022, PAHO conducted a study to examine available data, identify gaps, and determine next steps. The study found that while some countries have improved data collection on violence against women from specific ethnic groups, more efforts are needed in collaboration with Indigenous and Afro-descendant communities.
“Understanding the magnitude of violence against women, as well as its risk factors and consequences, is key to preventing and responding to gender-based violence in our region,” stated Anselm Hennis, Director of Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health at PAHO.
The report calls for a comprehensive approach to violence prevention, including addressing different types of violence, their causes, and their consequences, while also considering the discrimination faced by women and girls from various ethnic groups.
The release of this report coincides with the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence and leads up to International Human Rights Day on December 10.
Belize’s National Women’s Commission (NWC) has been part of this ongoing global effort, especially as the Belize Police Department reported a five percent increase, or 1,250 cases, in 2023 alone.
“We are telling women, Report it, even if you choose then not to take it to court, not to have press charges; report it, report it, report it,” stated Thea Garcia-Ramirez, Chairperson of the NWC. At the launch of the annualSixteen Days of Activism against gender-based violence held in the House of Culture in Belize City on November 22, Garcia-Ramirez explained that reporting helps create a documented history of abuse and becomes crucial for obtaining restraining orders and securing necessary resources.
18-year-old Alex Bainton has tragically passed away after suffering severe brain trauma in a traffic accident last Friday on the Philip Goldson Highway. Bainton, a member of the Ocean Academy Basketball Team, had been in a coma since the crash.
Bainton was remembered as a bright and talented young man—a fisherman, honor student, basketball and volleyball player, and open-water certified diver. His mother, Nikita Marin, had made a heartfelt plea for help just days before his passing.
Meanwhile, Ocean Academy teacher Zane Zuniga remains in critical condition. Zuniga, who was driving one of the vans, sustained severe spinal injuries and is unable to breathe on his own. He is in urgent need of surgery available only in Guatemala, costing up to $50,000 U.S. dollars. His family is appealing for prayers and financial assistance.
The accident occurred when the van Zuniga was driving suffered a blowout and overturned, carrying 12 passengers. A second van, carrying the rest of the team, witnessed the horrifying incident. Another victim, 17-year-old Gilbert Teck, is in an induced coma at the K.H.M.H., suffering from spinal injuries and a broken femur.
The Caye Caulker community, still in shock, has rallied to support the victims and their families. The school had arranged the vans for the team’s journey after their arrival in Belize City by water taxi.
The Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital Authority (KHMHA) announced this morning that its CT scan machine is fully operational once again, following repairs completed last night. The management extended gratitude to their service provider for the swift response and thanked the public for their patience during the downtime.
Earlier this year, the Ministry of Health and Wellness celebrated the installation of the country’s first public CT scanner at KHMH. However, after just eight months of operation, the machine experienced a hardware issue caused by condensation, which disrupted communication between components.
A specialised technician was brought in to address the problem, replace a faulty part, and conduct routine maintenance to prevent future disruptions. Arrangements were made with nearby facilities to ensure continued access to CT scans for patients while the machine was being repaired.
The breakdown over the weekend caused significant inconvenience for patients, including teenagers injured in a road accident near Carmelita Village. With the machine back online, the KHMHA assures the public that the CT scanner will continue to provide reliable and efficient diagnostic services for Belizeans.
