2024 - Channel 5 Belize

Families of Fallen BDF Soldiers Awarded $760K After Four-Year Legal Battle

Attorney Audrey Matura recently spoke about the conclusion of the case involving two of the four Belize Defence Force (BDF) soldiers who died in a tragic helicopter crash on February 27, 2020. Matura represented the families of Corporals Reinaldo Choco and Yassir Mendez, who had hired her to seek compensation from the government for their wrongful deaths.

Matura recounted that, initially, the government had promised compensation, but after a change in administration, her team had to file a claim within the one-year period stipulated by the Tort Act. According to Matura, the government eventually admitted liability for the deaths in negligence on April 12, 2022, but the issue of damages remained unresolved.

“However, what we could not agree on was the quantum of damages, the quantum of compensation. So from April 2022 to October 2024, there was a lot of filing of documents, but most of it was legal submissions to the court.”

The case passed through the hands of three different judges.

Finally, Justice Tawanda Hondora delivered a detailed ruling in October 2024, awarding the families over $760,000 in combined compensation. The amounts were distributed according to legal dependents and other factors. However, Matura noted that the government retains the right to appeal the decision, with a 21-day window to do so.

“And in essence, what happened, he ruled that, yes, these people are entitled to compensation; uh, combined, the two families get over 700,000 in compensation, but broken down for different parties, different individuals, different, um, dependence according to the law; of course, we can’t just. say that it’s a done deal because the government also has the right to appeal.”

Reflecting on the families’ reactions, Matura said their patience and resilience throughout the four-year ordeal. Both families have endured personal hardships, including financial struggles and emotional trauma. For instance, Mendez’s family, including his two young children, continues to cope with his absence, while Choco’s wife has had to navigate life without the future they had planned together.

“They have been through a lot of personal hardship that they don’t speak of publicly. They’ve been waiting for this ruling. Imagine over four years and you still can’t get it…So of course, they welcome this decision with with much glee, sadness at the same time because the money cannot replace their long one.”

NTUCB Calls for Accountability on Stake Bank Land Acquisition

The National Trade Union Congress of Belize (NTUCB) says it is ‘disappointed’ with the “Government’s effective non-response” about the acquisition of the 24-acre extension of Stake Bank Island. According to NTUCB, in a letter dated September 23, 2024, the Prime Minister cited an ongoing court case involving Michael Feinstein as the reason for not providing answers.

The NTUCB said, “It is the opinion of the NTUCB that this is simply an indirect way of saying, “I don’t want to answer you.”

“Perhaps the Government prefers the NTUCB to bring a judicial review case against the Government or join the ongoing litigation to get the answers it seeks on an issue of public concern.”

The NTUCB criticised the government’s claim that the acquisition being necessary to “rescue” a private project contradicts public interest.

In response, the NTUCB plans to propose a Bill to amend the Land Acquisition (Public Purposes) Act and the Land Acquisition (Promoters) Act for future acquisitions. The Umbrella Union stated that it plans to submit their proposals to the Government in the New Year.

SSB Clarifies “Key Facts” in Police Officer Santiago Ciau’s Invalidity Case

The Social Security Board (SSB) has addressed details concerning the case of former Police Officer Santiago “Santi” Ciau Jr., who passed away at the age of 37 after a prolonged struggle with a debilitating bone illness. Ciau passed away on October 8.

After the government retired him due to medical unfitness stemming from a 2009 workplace injury, he was reportedly faced with repeated denials for invalidity benefits from the SSB.

Today, the SSB said in a statement that Ciau received the maximum entitlement of 234 days of Sickness Benefits. After exhausting these benefits, he submitted an invalidity claim. The SSB noted that Ciau received Sickness Benefits from April 30, 2021, to December 19, 2021, with payments made directly to the Government of Belize as his salary continued, allowing him to receive his full salary. The SSB also noted that Ciau never applied for Employment Injury Benefits.

After exhausting his Sickness Benefits, he was denied further payments from February 1, 2022, to April 30, 2023, for exceeding the allotted days. The SSB explained that a GOB Medical Board later deemed him unfit for work, followed by a Medical Board declaring him “not an invalid” and that “the condition is susceptible to remedy with total hip replacement surgery so that he could return to gainful employment.”

The SSB said that the Appeals Tribunal upheld this decision on December 4, 2023, and Ciau chose not to appeal the decision of the Appeals Tribunal.

Gales Point Residents Demand Public Bus Service Restoration

Nestled between Belize City and Dangriga, Gales Point Village faces a serious transportation crisis. Residents like Kevin Andrewin have been left without access to a public bus service. They continue to struggle to commute since the bus that once connected them to Dangriga and Belize City stopped running after a highway upgrade.

Village Chairman, Jason Altschaft, explained that despite a newly paved Coastal Highway, no bus operator has resumed the route. Although a former operator expressed interest, politics and profitability concerns halted progress. He said, “We had somebody that was doing the bus run when it was a dirt road and he was preparing to do it when it became a paved road, but unfortunately politics changed and therefore he didn’t get the – didn’t get the contract. The man that did it – tried a few days here and there, but he found that it wasn’t going to be profitable for him to drive his bus down there.”

Minister of Transport, Rodwell Ferguson, assured that efforts are underway to find an operator willing to take on the route, though no applications have been submitted yet.

Elmer Nah Murder Trial Update: Video Evidence “Distorted”?

Former police officer Elmer Nah was indicted on September 26 for the triple murder of Jon, David, and Vivian Ramnarace. The trio was targeted while they were at home in Belmopan on December 31, 2022.

Investigators believe Nah was the gunman captured on the victims’ home surveillance camera during the incident.

Nah’s attorney, Godfrey Smith, claims that the evidence video may have been tampered with. According to attorney Smith, the services of a U.S. forensics firm indicated the same. He said, “What they have come back to say is that look, the CD that you have may have been distorted. You need to get the video from the original recording source if there is to be a chance of seeing the face of the shooter.”

In April of this year, Police Commissioner Chester Williams told reporters that some enhancements had been made to the video. He said, “We have solicited the assistance of the U.S. Embassy, and we had sent that video footage abroad, and to some extent it was enhanced. Not as good as we wanted to, but the experts in the U.S. did do what they could do with it for us.”

Nah maintains his innocence.

Eamon Courtenay Says Senate Committee “Needs to Check Itself”

Senior Counsel Eamon Courtenay told reporters today that the Senate Special Select Committee’s investigation into the controversial Definitive Agreement granted to Portico Enterprises Ltd. in October 2020 by the Barrow administration is a waste of public resources.

The committee resumed its inquiry on Wednesday.

The two witnesses, Cabinet Secretary Stuart Leslie and Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance Christopher Coye, appeared with Courtenay as their attorney. Both men read a prepared statement, refused to answer questions from the committee, and walked out.

While Courtenay agreed that both men are “fundamentally answerable for their public actions,” he said that the issue is “being enquired into and whether there is any evidence, relevant evidence, that the cabinet secretary has to give and whether there’s any relevant evidence that Mr. Coye has to give.”

He said, “If the Senate Select Committee believes that the position that they have taken is not the correct one, they know what to do.”

Courtenay added that he believes that the inquiry should come to an end. “I think that the inquiry needs to be brought to an end. It is costing tens of thousands of dollars, taxpayer money, and it is a frolic. Until Mr. Contreras goes before that Senate Select Committee, we are wasting public resources. That is my subtle opinion, personally.”

Following the hearing, the committee voiced frustration, criticising Coye’s remarks as undermining their work and urging both witnesses to reconsider their decision to withhold information. During his statement, Coye said, “The Senate and any Committee thereof must be resolutely sure not to abuse their powers or be manipulated into abusing their powers to serve third-party special interests, including foreign interests, but rather to act reasonably and judiciously in the public interest of Belize and its citizenry alone.”

Courtenay added, “I find it remarkable though that they got an invitation. My clients attended, and then the Senate committee puts out a release that says that we did not participate. It is a lie. It is a lie. So the Senate committee needs to check itself.”

Courtenay, who is also the Senator for Government Business, was asked if there is a conflict of interest with him representing Leslie and Coye. “These two gentlemen were invited to appear before the Senate. They accepted the invitation. They attended. They gave their statements and indicated that they would not have any further evidence to give. And on the basis of my advice, we left.”

Francis Fonseca: Belize Takes “Backseat to No One” on Sarstoon River Ownership

In a letter addressed to the Prime Minister, the Belize Territorial Volunteers (BTV) voiced strong objections to remarks made by Assad Shoman regarding the International Court of Justice (ICJ) proceedings and recent incidents on the Sarstoon River. The BTV accused Shoman of trivialising these encounters and deemed his comments on the uncertainty of the ICJ’s conclusions unacceptable.

When asked about it Foreign Affairs Minister Francis Fonseca stated that no date has yet been set for the ICJ’s oral hearings. He said, “It’s clear that that is in the hands of the court. I think what Assad was saying he was being frank and honest. It’s up to the court.”

Fonseca explained that once a hearing date is received, it may take three to six months, followed by a potential two-year wait for a final resolution, but reiterated, “That’s entirely up to the court.” He emphasised the government’s commitment to defending Belize’s position on the Sarstoon, stating, “We take a backseat to no one, including the territorial volunteers.”

The minister cited the government’s ongoing diplomatic talks with Guatemalan officials, where Belize’s stance on the Sarstoon River has been reiterated at multiple levels of government. “We are very clear and comfortable in terms of our position in terms of the Sarstoon. And we’re very confident about Belize’s position as it relates to ownership of a part of the Sarstoon River,” Fonseca affirmed.

Archdiocese of Los Angeles Agrees to $880M Settlement in Sex Abuse Claims

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles has reached an $880 million settlement with 1,353 individuals who alleged they were sexually abused by priests, marking the largest payout by a U.S. diocese in response to decades-old claims of abuse.

Archbishop José H. Gomez expressed deep sorrow for the victims, stating, “I am sorry for every one of these incidents, from the bottom of my heart.” He also hoped the settlement would offer some healing for those who suffered.

The settlement follows months of negotiations after a California law allowed new lawsuits over past cases of child sexual abuse. Attorneys for the victims described the abuse as horrific, and the settlement concludes 25 years of litigation against the largest U.S. archdiocese. Prior settlements had already cost the Los Angeles Archdiocese $740 million, bringing the total compensation to over $1.5 billion.

Unlike several other dioceses in California, such as San Francisco and San Diego, which have filed for bankruptcy to manage similar claims, the Los Angeles Archdiocese did not declare bankruptcy. Instead, it will cover the payments using cash reserves, investments, loans, and contributions from religious organizations involved in lawsuits.

While no amount of money can undo the harm caused, attorneys on both sides issued a joint statement thanking survivors for coming forward and ensuring that steps are taken to prevent future abuse.

The Catholic Church has been repeatedly shaken by sexual abuse scandals globally, particularly since the Boston Globe’s 2002 investigation into the widespread abuse and cover-up in the Boston diocese, which inspired the Oscar-winning film *Spotlight*. In the U.S. alone, more than 11,000 complaints have been filed against clergy, leading to hundreds of millions of dollars in settlements.

Hamas Leader Yahya Sinwar Killed in Israeli Strike

The Israeli military confirmed the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, the mastermind behind the October 7 massacre in Israel. Sinwar’s body was discovered in the rubble of a building struck by an Israeli tank in Gaza. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) identified his remains through DNA and dental records.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed no hostages were harmed in the mission, though ceasefire talks and hostage negotiations remain stalled. U.S. officials, frustrated by the lack of progress, had speculated Sinwar’s death could break the deadlock in negotiations. While his elimination marks a significant moment in the conflict, it’s uncertain whether this will accelerate peace efforts or prolong the path to resolution.

The killing comes as Israel prepares to retaliate against Iran’s recent ballistic missile attack. Despite this development, a full resolution of the wider Middle East conflict before Election Day on November 5 is not expected, though it may shift the dynamics of both the war and U.S. political landscapes.

Low Chances for Tropical Weather Development

The National Hurricane Centre (NHC) reported this morning that two Caribbean weather systems have low chances of developing into tropical storms.

In the western Caribbean, a low-pressure area is causing showers and thunderstorms. The NHC noted, “Some gradual development is possible over the next couple of days” before it moves inland over Central America, bringing locally heavy rainfall to parts of Central America and southern Mexico through the weekend. The National Meteorological Service of Belize added that this system has a low chance of development in the next 48 hours.

Additionally, a trough of low pressure east of the Leeward Islands is moving westward. Forecasters expect it to approach the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico on Friday, then Hispaniola and the southeastern Bahamas on Saturday. However, “strong upper-level winds should end the chances of development by late in the weekend,” with formation chances at 20% in the next 48 hours and 30% over the week.