“Fuss Ting Da Mawnin” hosts Alfonso Noble and Joe Bradley have been reportedly given “day off indefinitely.” Noble, who is also known as “Fonso,” briefly appeared along with the new hosts to say that he has been “notified that I have been put on pause from doing the morning show.” The long-time host says he’ll take a “side step” until ”matters are fully resolved.” He added that a “decision will be made on MY status.”
Noble, who is a supporter of Tracy Panton, has recently been very vocal against Moses ‘Shyne” Barrow. Noble has criticised Barrow on the show.
This latest development comes after High Court Justice Tawanda Hondora ruled that Panton and her supporters “immediately vacate, surrender, and give up possession” of the UDP headquarters and that Barrow and his supporters “re-enter and take possession, control, and occupation” of the HQ.
Panton says she is the interim leader of the UDP following a convention at CIVIC where delegates voted to recall Moses “Shyne” Barrow. Meanwhile, Barrow says he remains leader of the UDP.
Police have arrested and charged 22-year-old Randell Russell Montero, a Belizean labourer from Independence Village, for the murder of 28-year-old Selvin Humes, a construction worker who was fatally stabbed on November 7, 2024.
The tragic incident occurred on Toucan Street in Independence Village, right in front of a local business, following an altercation between the two men. Humes, known to his family as a peaceful person, was stabbed in the throat and succumbed to his injuries the same night at the Independence Polyclinic. Man Charged with Murder in Independence Village Stabbing
Jeremy Garbutt, Humes’ cousin, shared with News Five that he was devastated by the news, especially since he did not get to see his cousin’s body before it was taken to Dangriga. Garbutt explained that while Humes had been living with his mother, their work schedules often kept them apart.
Humes had recently moved out of his aunt, Ileonie King’s, home after living with her for many years.
Independence Village Chairman Clifton Garbutt also commented on the tragedy, stating that the incident has shocked the entire community.
Humes’ family members are struggling to come to terms with his violent death. They describe him as a quiet, reserved individual who mostly kept to himself.
Dr. Osmond Martinez, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, led a trade and investment mission to London last week. A government press release says the mission, aimed at strengthening Belize’s economic standing through commercial diplomacy, resulted in significant developments for the country.
Martinez held high-level meetings with key stakeholders, including the Commonwealth Secretariat, UK Export Finance, and private investors interested in Belize’s high-potential sectors.
One of the key highlights of the mission was Dr. Martinez’s keynote speech at the Commonwealth Meeting on Sustainable and Regenerative Tourism. He emphasised Belize’s leadership in promoting sustainable tourism, showcasing how the country’s sustainability efforts have positively impacted its development. Following this, an agreement was reached for the Commonwealth Secretariat to provide technical support to enhance the implementation of reforms outlined in Belize’s National Trade Policy, which will strengthen the country’s frameworks for pro-poor development and economic resilience.
Dr. Martinez participated in the UK-Caribbean Trade and Investment Forum. This partnership is expected to help attract inward capital investments for large-scale projects across various sectors in Belize. Dr. Martinez also established connections with private investors interested in areas critical to Belize’s growth, such as renewable energy, port development, tourism, and agro-processing.
San Pedro Police continue to investigate the fatal shooting of 46-year-old Matthew Jonathan Moses. Moses was found lying in a pool of blood on an unoccupied lot near Secret Beach in San Pedro Town on Friday afternoon. He had been shot several times, and, according to the police, his body showed signs of decomposition.
Nearby, a Belizean carer from an adjacent property was also present. Police detained him for questioning and seized a licensed firearm and two magazines found in his possession. The carer was informed of his constitutional rights and cautioned as part of the ongoing investigation.
Preliminary reports suggest that Moses and the caretaker had been involved in an escalating dispute over job-related issues involving a former employer. Moses had allegedly threatened to kill the carer and his family, which then led to the fatal confrontation.
At the scene, police recovered expended shell casings. The caretaker remains in police custody.
The tide has turned in favor of Moses “Shyne” Barrow, as the United Democratic Party’s leadership battle heads to court. Attorney Immanuel Williams from Glenn D. Godfrey and Company LLP, representing Barrow, Michael Peyrefitte, Shary Medina, Albert August, and Hugo Patt, urgently sought court intervention to reclaim the U.D.P. headquarters through an interim injunction. The court granted this request, allowing Barrow and his team to take back the property, although the fixed date claim filed by Williams is still pending. Now, Barrow and his executives have the green light to repossess the U.D.P. building. But the big questions remain: Who is the real leader of the U.D.P., and did Panton and the Alliance for Democracy trespass when they took over the Youth for the Future property? News Five’s Paul Lopez has the details.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
Tracy Taegar-Panton and the Alliance for Democracy made a bold move by storming the UDP headquarters, seizing control of the party’s iconic building on Youth for the Future Drive, along with Wave Radio and The Guardian Newspaper. This dramatic takeover happened just days after Panton and her movement held a national convention to appoint a new UDP leader. Tonight, a High Court Order has swung the pendulum back, granting Leader of the Opposition Moses “Shyne” Barrow and his executive team the authority to reclaim the headquarters and resume their operations.
Immanuel Williams
Immanuel Williams, Attorney-At-Law
“This morning was the hearing of an interparty injunction. Our clients, the applicants, filed an injunction in court last week to remove the respondents from the, to vacate from the, UDP headquarters and for themselves to reenter the premises. So, the court heard that application this morning, considers the evidence before it and the submissions on both sides. The practical effect is that the court order takes effect immediately, therefore the applicants, Mr. Barrow and his colleagues can attend the U.D.P headquarters and repossess the property today.”
A few hours after the High Court’s decision, Tracy Taegar-Panton took to social media to express the disappointment felt by her supporters. She explained that the court granted an interim injunction allowing temporary occupation of the headquarters, emphasizing that this injunction is only provisional.
Immanuel Williams
“The relief extends until the determination of the main claim which, based on the issues there and how it will be resolved in court, may affect this application today and the orders granted.”
In their main claim, the respondents want the court to determine whether Panton or Barrow is the rightful leader of the UDP. They argue that Panton has no authority under a trust to control the UDP Headquarters and that she unlawfully took over Wave Radio and The Guardian Newspaper. These are just three of the many issues the court will start addressing on January fourteenth. We spoke with attorney Sheena Pitts after today’s injunction hearing. Panton appointed her as interim party chair on October twentieth, and she insists that Panton is still the UDP leader based on the recent convention.
Sheena Pitts
Sheena Pitts, Attorney-At-Law
“What happened this morning is an interim injunction relief, temporary, it is not permanent. What was discussed or argued this morning, has nothing as to honorable Panton party leadership. That has not been argued. And so, there is no room for suggestion that anything changes the validity of the October twentieth convention and the results therefrom. So, the interim injunction does not change the fact that honorable Panton is the interim party leader.”
But Williams contends that no one should be declared leader of the United Democratic Party, not Panton nor Barrow, until the court makes its decision on that argument.
Immanuel Williams
“Because it is before the court I would urge to say it is an opportune time to not in fact declare anyone as a party leader since it is before the court, and it has to be addressed, and I appreciate that the media also wants to protect itself in a case like that.”
So, until the High Court hears the full case, Moses “Shyne” Barrow and his executive team can reclaim the headquarters that Panton and her team took over on October twenty-eighth. Meanwhile, the Alliance for Democracy insists that Barrow has been recalled.
Sheena Pitts
“It is important to understand that this injunctive relief does not change the reality that Honorable Shyne Barrow has been recalled. All this temporary relief is saying, before we determine the validity of that convention, we will grant an order to say, allow him to be there, you are still opened to challenge that order to be there, and we will move forward to determining what the real issue is. It is not that we are trespassers, the real issue is that she is the duly elected interim party leader by the majority from that October twentieth, 2024, unity convention.”
This afternoon Panton issued a release under the United Democratic Party’s letter head. The release says “this order is strictly restricted to occupancy of the building and not a declaration by the Court on who is or is not the Leader of the U.D.P. The court will now proceed to case management and subsequently set a date for the actual hearing of the case at which time attorneys for Hon. Panton and Philippa Bailey will be heard”. Interestingly, Panton showed up to today’s hearing without a lawyer. She requested a postponement, but the court turned her down. Attorney Sheena Pitts also tried to step in as a friend of the court, but that request was denied too. Pitts later explained why Panton appeared in court without legal representation.
Sheena Pitts
Sheena Pitts, Attorney at Law
“That is the thing, why we had wanted, why honorable Panton had wanted an extension of time, her representation is outside the jurisdiction and there are certain things that must be done in order to establish being able to be heard by those attorneys in this jurisdiction and that has not been done. So, what happened today is Honorable Panton from her own mouth was able to indicate to the court and advise the court to appreciate that this is not a matter of trespass, this is a matter of the convention. That is why the court was very clear in saying that both parties must participate and assist the court in identifying what the real issue is.”
With case management for the Barrow-Panton court case set for January fourteenth, 2025, it looks like this legal battle could drag on for months. How will this impact their chances in the upcoming general elections, which rumors suggest might be held early? Will the U.D.P. have enough time to mount a strong challenge against the P.U.P. in any constituency? Today, we asked Barrow’s attorney if the urgency of the situation is being considered.
Immanuel Williams
Immanuel Williams, Attorney at Law
“There is a date of January fourteenth 2025 for a hearing of the fixed date claim form, which essentially will be case management hearing.”
Reporter
“So we are looking at a period of months, because that is just case management.”
Immanuel Williams
“Indeed we are looking at a period of months, because after case management you have orders to be complied with and the court directing the parties to see how best we can handle the case and deal with the matters going forward.”
Reporter
“The parties here don’t have all that time to settle this dispute because an election is likely within the next six months. Is there anyway the court can be, or is it in your clients interest to apprise the court of the urgency of the matter?”
Immanuel Williams
“The matter is urgent. The earliest day the court will address the matter is in January and that is the best time given the circumstances. I think it is an opportune time to see how the matter will be addressed, whether in court or otherwise.”
And finally, there’s no indication that Panton and her team won’t hand over the keys to the U.D.P. headquarters. With today’s ruling, Barrow can even request police assistance to enforce the court order. While damages for unlawful possession and conversion of property are among the reliefs sought in the fixed date claim, they weren’t granted today. According to attorney Immanuel Williams, damages alone wouldn’t be enough.
Immanuel Williams, Attorney-at-law
“The UDP Headquarters is a symbolic relic within the UDP, Belize and our clients, the applicants. Therefore, if they were to be paid damages which is monetary compensation instead of repossession that would not fix the problem of not having possession. Our clients are political figures, and they utilize this political infrastructure for political purposes. Therefore, monetary compensation would not suffice. The order takes effect immediately so they can go and ask for the keys or ask police to assist them in enforcing the court order.”
Paul Lopez
“And the consequences if the other side chooses not to?”
Tragedy struck Independence Village on Thursday night when a construction worker was fatally stabbed during a confrontation with another man. The victim, Selvin Humes, was known to his family as a peaceful person, so they were devastated and shocked by the news of his violent death. The incident occurred on Toucan Street, right in front of a local business. News Five’s Marion Ali covered the heartbreaking story in her report.
Jeremy Garbutt
Jeremy Garbutt, Cousin of Selvin Humes
“My auntie call me and da right deh I get the news, then I, hmm. By the time I get down ya, dehn she the body done gone da Griga. I mi really want see the man body and all ah that, never did.”
Marion Ali, Reporting
The family of twenty-eight-year-old Selvin Humes is reeling from shock and grief as they prepare for his funeral. On Thursday night, Humes, a construction worker, was involved in an altercation with another man just before nine. His cousin, Jeremy Garbutt, shared with News Five that Selvin had been living with his mom. Their work schedules often kept them apart, so Jeremy only saw him occasionally while commuting to and from his job site.
Jeremy Garbutt
“I mi deh da Dangriga di work and he mi deh with my mom when I mi deh da Dangriga, he mi di tek care ah my mom fi the meanwhile. He mi di work construction with a contract fi my uncle. I mi di see my cousin here and there, I see he eena the pickup. He wudda she bwai cuz yoh arite. I wudda she yeah cuz, I good, I gwein da work.”
Humes’ aunt, Ileonie King, shared with News Five that Humes moved out of her house about three weeks ago, after having stayed with her for many years. When he did, she grew concerned because she hardly saw him.
Ileonie King
Ileonie King, Aunt of Selvin Humes
“Ih mi deh wa good while with we but sudden one ih pick up ihself and gone and ih seh auntie ah gwein live with mi ma. Fi the longest I neva see he, wa good lee while, from the time ih lef from ya. From last month he left from ya till today I hear bout ah. Ih sad fi know ih gone da kinda way deh.”
Humes was stabbed in the throat and died the same night at the Independence Polyclinic. Police have detained the suspect pending investigations. The tragic incident has left the villagers who knew Humes in a state of shock, as shared by Independence Chairman, Clifton Garbutt.
Via phone: Clifton Garbutt
Via phone: Clifton Garbutt, Chairman, Independence Village
“He’s a young man who has made this village his home. It’s shocking and unsettling in a community where we are familiar with one another. These acts of violence disrupt our peaceful atmosphere. And listening to villagers this morning, there was a sense of disbelief and in my discussion this morning with the police, the young man they have in custody is someone I an personally familiar with since he worked with the council for over a year.”
Humes’s relatives say he was a man who kept to himself, so the news that he was killed during an altercation has left them with many questions.
Jeremy Garbutt
“He nuh wa talk to yoh unless yoh tap he or something cause he distracted wth his headphones eena his own world.”
Ileonie King
“Madaz an he da wa cool person and deh just hurt ah like that. What da the problem why dehn hurt ah. If anybody fast wid ah da then he get ignorant because he da wa cool person and he nuh do nothing outta the way fi seh mek people hurt ah da kinda way. That da weh I know he as.”
A man who had just been released from Belize Central Prison a week ago was found dead in the Riverside area of Dangriga this morning. Guillermo Martinez’s body was discovered floating between two boats in a well-known part of the river, right across from the bustling Dangriga Town Market and just a short distance from where vendors sell their produce and goods. News Five’s Marion Ali spoke with a friend of Guillermo, who mentioned that locals affectionately called him the ‘Fonto King’ and that he had seen him earlier this week. Here’s the full report.
Marion Ali, Reporting
Guillermo Martinez, who was released from Belize Central Prison just last Friday, was tragically found dead this morning. His body was discovered floating in the Riverside area of Dangriga shortly after six. Known to his friends as ‘Fonto King,’ Martinez had spent the past year behind bars for a theft conviction. One of his friends shared with News Five that he last saw Martinez on Monday night in the same area.
Friend of: Guillermo Martinez
Friend of: Guillermo Martinez
“Probably after ten I see the man walking along the riverside and I give the man a lee buzz and that was that. I never see ah again cause Tuesday I went out to the cayes cause I da wa fisherman and we came in last night and then this morning I went to the market very early and by the time I walk eena the market, somebody seh dehn have a body over there. By the time I look cross by the river wa bwai di seh bwai da yoh bally “Fonto King.”
Martinez’s friend said he was known to many as “Fonto King” because he made a living selling tobacco.
Friend of Guillermo Martinez
“I know him as wa vendor weh he and ih whole family sell tobacco, dehn sell fonto, that’s why dehn call the man fonto king. Dehn sell fonto and lee food and what’s not.”
The have not yet released any information on this death. Marion Ali for News Five.
