Every year, internet users flood social media with the legendary quote “It’s October 3rd.” The date has become symbolic due to the 2004 iconic movie “Mean Girls.” If you’re a fan, you’ll totally get it. But, over the last few years, the date has adopted another internet-labelled meaning to it—National Boyfriend Day.
This ‘new’ meaning was established by internet users around 2014. Why October? Love experts don’t know the reason behind the choice. By 2016, the holiday had gained significant traction, leading to thousands of social media posts dedicated to the occasion.
How long have you been in a committed relationship? According to love experts, National Boyfriend Day is an ideal time for boyfriends to receive appreciation.
If you’re wondering when is ‘National Girlfriend Day,’ then you’ll have to wait for next year’s round, on August 1.
Popular ways to celebrate the day:
Special Dates: Plan a recreation of your first date.
Cooking Together: Put those Belizean culinary skills into action and cook any of the many Belizean delicacies.
Love Letters: Bring back the ‘corny’ love letter writing; express your affection.
Couples Massages: Unwind the day’s stress with a massage.
Gift Giving: Who says boyfriends don’t deserve gifts too? Get him a watch, cologne, trimming kit.
Adventure Together: If you’ve been in a long relationship, recruit some spontaneity in the relationship with some adventure.
Social Media Shout-Outs: Share photos and messages of your boyfriend on social media using hashtags such as #NationalBoyfriendDay.
Israel’s Foreign Minister, Israel Katz, announced on Wednesday that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has been denied entry into the country. This decision follows what Israel says is Guterres’s failure to “unequivocally” condemn Iran’s missile attacks on Israel.
On Tuesday, Iran launched over 180 ballistic missiles at Israel, some of which breached its defences. Guterres condemned the widening conflict but did not specifically denounce Iran’s actions.
Katz stated, “Anyone who cannot unequivocally condemn Iran’s heinous attack does not deserve to set foot on Israeli soil,” declaring Guterres “persona non grata.”
Katz affirmed that Israel will defend its citizens “with or without” Guterres.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to retaliate against Iran for its missile attack on Israel, which he called a “big mistake.”
U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller criticised the move as counterproductive to Israel’s global standing. Meanwhile, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric described the ban as a political manoeuvre and noted that the UN does not recognise the concept of persona non grata for its officials.
During a Security Council meeting, Guterres reiterated his condemnation of the Iranian attack and called for an end to the “deadly cycle of tit-for-tat violence” in the Middle East. He also criticised Israel’s military operations in Gaza as “the most deadly and destructive” during his tenure.
The Belize Defence Force (BDF) announced the successful completion of a Mandarin language exchange course for 22 soldiers on Tuesday. Vital communication skills that could enhance military collaboration and strengthen international partnerships.
The BDF emphasised the critical role of language in military operations. The military’s newly gained communication skills are expected to enhance military collaboration and strengthen international partnerships.
This accomplishment aligns Belize’s 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations with Taiwan.
BDF told to Stand Their Ground as “Hostile” Guatemalans Surround Them
On September 7, a group of Belize Defence Force soldiers found themselves surrounded by more than 10 possibly armed and hostile Guatemalans near Machakilha Conservation Post (CP). The last order that the patrol at the CP received from Fairweather Camp before communication was lost was “man your grounds.”
News 5 Digital has obtained a copy of the “Machakilha Patrol Report.”
Soldiers reportedly became on edge after realising that they were being surrounded by possibly armed and hostile Guatemalans that had gathered near the helicopter landing site. Their intent, it is believed, was to retrieve the 5 Guatemalan men who were caught conducting illegal logging activities in the Columbia River Forest Reserve.
The sun had begun to set. Communication with Fairweather Camp in Punta Gorda Town had been lost. It is believed that the BDF soldiers were outnumbered and outgunned.
At around 6:30 p.m., soldiers heard 2 gunshots from a distance.
The patrol commander made the “tactical decision” to release the 5 detainees along with 2 of the 4 chainsaws to “de-escalate the situation, providing a win for both parties involved.” The decision was also made to prevent the loss of lives on both sides.
Due to the change in circumstances, the original mission, which was to destroy two wooden bridges that were illegally built by Guat emalans in the Columbia River Forest Reserve, was abandoned.
On September 28, we tracked down the Minister of National Defence and Border Security, Florencio Marin Jr., at a People’s United Party event in Belize City. We asked him about the incident. He said, “Yes, I’m aware. And I think if you notice that every time our soldiers encounter these things; they take the appropriate action to discourage them, to remove the Guatemalans, whatever it is, but to be able to stop it, you know.”
Guatemalans Caught Illegally Logging in Belize, Again
A BDF patrol departed en route to Machakilha Conservation Post (CP) on September 6. Their mission was to destroy two wooden bridges that had been built by Guatemalans in the same area in the Columbia River Forest Reserve where the previous bridges had been built.
The following day on September 7, the patrol, after an arduous 18-hour trek through the dense jungle, stumbled upon the scene of an illicit timber activity. At around 1 p.m., near the Machakilha Conservation Post, soldiers heard the unmistakable buzz of chainsaws. Their instincts were right—illegal Guatemalan loggers were hard at work. With precision, they closed in on 56-year-old Santiago Gomez and his 17-year-old son, both caught red-handed with piles of valuable timber some 600 meters in Belize. The logs were ready for transport. None could provide an official form of identification. The older Gomez was informed that they are being recorded to protect their human rights and that a search will be conducted for weapons and ammunition. None were found.
But that was just the beginning.
As the patrol pressed on, they intercepted a Guatemalan family in a modified Toyota 4×4 truck—rigged for smuggling logs across the border. The family was intercepted in a “truck-o-pass,” a term used by Guatemalans for the illegally built roads. It basically means where the trucks can pass. The family consisted of 36-year-old Juan Jose Garcia, his wife, 29-year-old Lydia Ramirez, and their two children, ages 4 and 12. Again, they could not produce any official form of identification. They were relocated to the rally point.
The family was part of a larger group involved in this lucrative but illegal operation. Not far away, more Guatemalans were arrested and detained. They were chainsaw operators: 47-year-old Emilio Chun, 29-year-old Oscar Gomez, the son of Santiago Gomez (the first chainsaw operator), and 24-year-old Ariel Garcia.
None of the detainees showed signs of resistance. Juan Jose Garcia was suspected to be the “Boss” on the ground, but the real mastermind—known only as “Salvador”—remains elusive.
During the search, only Ariel Garcia, Santiago Gomez, and Emilio Chun admitted they knew they were in Belize. Chun, speaking in Spanish, said he wasn’t doing anything wrong, explaining that he is poor with no job, land, or resources.
The patrol commander decided to release Lydia Ramirez and her two children. Santiago Gomez gave permission for his son to return with Ramirez. They were escorted to the border.
The five Guatemalan men, including the chainsaw operators and the vehicle driver, who was identified as the “Boss” of the group, were escorted to the CP.
For five years, these loggers have operated fearlessly within Belizean territory, harvesting prized woods like rosewood under Salvador’s command. The groups typically consist of a driver who is regarded as the boss on the ground and 4 to 5 chainsaw operators. It is believed that “Salvador” has more groups illegally operating near the CP.
It is also believed that they are from Las Lajas, a historic town situated in the central-western region of Neuquén Province, within the Department of Picunches. It is one of the oldest towns in the province, with a population of about 4,964 residents, according to the 2010 population census.
Chief of Staff for the B.D.F., Major Roberta Usher, confirmed that the Guatemalans were detained in Belize. She said, “We can confirm that the legal infrastructure, including the bridges, was identified within Belize, and in response, the proper protocols aligned with the confidence-building measures to ensure appropriate actions were taken.”
“Échame La Mano”
When the group of detained Guatemalans were being escorted to the CP, a conversation with leader Juan Jose Garcia was initiated by the patrol commander. During that conversation, Garcia tells him, “Échame la mano.”This means “Help me out.”
News Five Digital has obtained a signed report of the allegation (according to the soldier’s version of events) and a portion of an audio recording of the conversation. The word bribe is not heard in any language.
According to the document, Jose Juan Garcia allegedly attempted to bribe the soldier, who refused multiple attempts. He informed Garcia that he would follow all protocols. During the conversation, Garica disclosed details about the illegal logging operation, which included four sub-bosses working for Salvador. But the real bombshell? According to the report, Garcia confessed to bribing commanders at the CP to continue his illegal activities. He even provided descriptions of those involved.
The report states, “Jose Juan Garcia made mention that he has been operating within the AO (area of operation) for almost 5 years and that he has bribed most of the commanders at the CP. He gave a brief description of the commanders who he had lately bribed and had mentioned… He described an African-descent individual who accepted his bribe and one that did not. He also mentioned about one Spanish-descent commander who was recently at that location and did not accept his bribe.”
The CP commander and the patrol commander are two different individuals.
The patrol commander made the decision to release the detainees. Officially, he is being accused of failing to carry out his duties by not destroying the bridges. Unofficially, he is being accused of taking a bribe. The patrol commander and his team were searched. No money or illegal items were found on their person.
When asked about the bribery allegations, Minister Marin seemed caught off guard. “This is the first I’m hearing of this,” he said, adding that any illegal structures are usually taken down immediately unless the Organization of American States is involved.
If the allegations of bribery are true, it would point to deep-rooted corruption on the ground that allows Guatemalans to operate freely on Belizean soil. Major Usher says they are investigating.
Outdated Communication Equipment?
The September 7 confrontation at Machakilha was compounded by a reported radio malfunction.
The Belize Defence Force uses Harris and VHF radio for communication. The Harris radio, made by L3Harris Technologies, is a secure, rugged communication device used by military and emergency services. It offers encryption, long-range, multi-frequency, and GPS for critical operations. The VHF radio is a powerful and versatile communication device, designed for use in a variety of professional settings. However, on the day of the incident, communication using both radios failed. Communication could not be established on the VHF radio, and the Harris radio eventually “went out of sync.”
The BDF’s Fairweather Camp in Punta Gorda Town was informed that the CP was being surrounded by “potentially hostile” Guatemalans, seemingly intent on retrieving the detained men. The response from Fairweather was “man your grounds.” Communication then failed as the Harris radio lost sync, leaving the patrol without communication. Attempts to restore contact failed.
Another attempt to report the situation via the Harris radio at 9:30 p.m. was unsuccessful, and the patrol harboured for the night, departing the next morning.
We asked Minister Marin if the BDF’s communication equipment is out of date and in need of replacing.
Continued Incursions by Brazen Guatemalans
Belize’s border with Guatemala is porous. This makes it impossible for Belize authorities to guard and monitor the border for continuous periods. Not to mention the lack of resources to do so. Guatemalans, especially those living near the border, know this. They also know that Belize Defence Force soldiers conduct routine patrols in the area with the aim to prevent and stop incursions.
In recent years, there has been an increase in reported incursions by Guatemalan peasants. They’ve gotten bolder. They’ve crept deeper into Belize. In March 2024, the BDF destroyed two wooden bridges constructed by Guatemalans inside the Columbia River Forest Reserve. These bridges were being used to facilitate illegal logging activities. The discovery of the bridges was made in late February. Friends for Conservation and Development (FCD) brought the matter to public attention, saying that Guatemalans had also carved a road through the reserve. This road stretched some two kilometres into Belize. The bridges allowed trucks to access the area for timber extraction, likely involving valuable woods such as rosewood. Aerial surveillance revealed ongoing human activity, with visible timber stacks in the area. Back then, Deputy Commander of the B.D.F., Colonel Anthony Velasquez, told News Five, “We have increased active military presence in the area over this period to ensure that they do not return and continue their legal activities.”
That same month, another illegally built road stretching more than a kilometre into Belize was discovered. This time in the Chiquibul Forest. It was also built by Guatemalans. This road was being used by Guatemalan ranchers to access water for their cattle roaming Belize’s forest. The road, which originates from the Guatemalan side of the border, is believed to have been commissioned by wealthy cattle ranchers. Executive Director for FCD Rafael Manzanero said, “So we see that with heavy machinery, of course, those are more investments, and these are not really done by poor people along the adjacency zone, but more than likely, we believe they are by cattle ranchers in terms of trying to find an area where to get water.” In a separate interview with News Five, Col. Velasquez said, “It’s a road that was cleared by heavy machinery, so it’s a pretty open road.” Col. Velasquez added that patrols were sent to the area to closely monitor any movements and to detain anyone found there.
Raping Belize’s Resources
The Columbia River Forest Reserve is one of the most species-diverse areas in Belize. Previously managed mainly for timber extraction, the reserve is now recognised as a vital component of Belize’s National Protected Areas System. It serves as a crucial ecological haven that faces increasing threats from illegal logging, primarily by individuals crossing the border from Guatemala. This illegal activity not only disrupts ecosystems, endangers wildlife, and contributes to environmental degradation through habitat loss and soil erosion but also threatens the livelihoods of local communities that rely on the forest for sustainable living. The Belize Territorial Volunteers (BTV) have raised alarms after discovering significant illegal timber extraction, urging the Belizean government to increase patrols and collaborate with Guatemalan authorities to address the issue.
We also caught up with Orlando Habet, Minister of Sustainable Development. The Forest Department which manages the Columbia River Forest Reserve, falls under his ministry. According to Minister Habet, a flyover of the reserve showed multiple clearings.
Last week, the United Democratic Party (U.D.P.) marked its fifty-first anniversary, a significant milestone that comes at a crucial juncture in the party’s history. Party Leader Shyne Barrow took the opportunity to honor several loyal supporters who have steadfastly backed the U.D.P. through its highs and lows. Notably absent from his acknowledgments were Collet Area Representative Patrick Faber and Albert Area Representative Tracy Panton. Both politicians were expelled from the U.D.P. after forming the Alliance for Democracy, a faction dedicated to steering the beleaguered party back to its core mission of serving the Belizean people. What does this fifty-first anniversary signify for Faber and the Alliance? Earlier today, we had an exclusive interview with the former party leader, who shared his reflections on this landmark achievement.
Patrick Faber
Patrick Faber, Area Representative, Collet
“The fifty-first birthday of the party happened last week and I think, more than ever, we can say that at least two of those letters in the UDP don’t mean much or aren’t in full effect at this fifty-first birthday, the unity, certainly, and the democracy. And that is, indeed, something very sad. It is the very foundation upon which the UDP Alliance for Democracy is being put into action. Let me say for the record, clearly, first of all, that the UDP Alliance for Democracy is not a political party, in fact, we are very much UDP.”
Isani Cayetano
“Where do you see this going, in terms of the fact that you guys have been effectively expelled from the party and you’re staring down a general elections in 2025?”
Patrick Faber
“Well, it’s interesting that you should say that because we are not expelled from the party. We maintain, in fact, that anybody who would look objectively at the constitution would see that in fact expulsion comes one way through the party and through the constitution and that is by somebody making an allegation against you, sending it to the central executive of the party, the central executive then determining if there is any value to such a claim. Once it is valued, then it is sent to the ethics committee and you go through an entire procedure where one of, I think, four repercussions could come, one of them being expulsion.”
The Alliance for Democracy is gearing up for a significant unity convention on October 20th, extending an invitation to all United Democratic Party (U.D.P.) delegates to join the event at Birds’ Isle. However, the U.D.P. leadership is pushing back with a counter-campaign, asserting that any decisions made by the Alliance are invalid, as the group and its members are no longer recognized as part of the party. What implications does this have for the Alliance’s future? We posed this question to Patrick Faber earlier this evening to gain his insights.
Isani Cayetano
“So, you’re eighteen days away from this Unity Convention. What are we looking at simply because while you guys may be mustering the support ahead of that particular event, there is a counter campaign being run, if I could describe it as such, where this pending activity is being written off as fake and holds no water in the UDP.”
Patrick Faber
Patrick Faber, Area Representative, Collet
“Well, I don’t see how it can be fake, and it can be tested very simply. You look at the constitution says, and you look at what we are doing. We have made every attempt to follow what the constitution says about these matters and if you look at their argument, you can see right through them that they do not follow the constitution. For instance, the constitution says that a third of the national convention membership can sign a petition to trigger a national convention. That was done. Two hundred and thirty-two delegates of the national convention signed a petition, that was dismissed by the chairman. The chairman has no authority. If somebody can find it in the constitution and show me where the chairman is allowed to reject a petition from the national convention, a right that is given to it by the constitution, then I’ll say we’re wrong. No leader, no chairman, no vice chairman, no central executive, no national party council, not even the national convention itself can supersede the constitution of the party. Why the convention is because that is the entity that can change the constitution if it feels the need to do so, as we did in March 2016.”
With General Elections set for 2025, the political landscape is heating up as both major parties prepare for the national vote. Over the weekend, the People’s United Party (P.U.P.) made a strong statement by formally unveiling its slate of thirty-one candidates, led by Prime Minister and party leader John Briceno. In contrast, the United Democratic Party (U.D.P.) is still in the process of filling all its seats for the upcoming election. This raises a critical question: What are the chances of the U.D.P. making significant inroads or even securing a victory under the leadership of Shyne Barrow? The political dynamics are certainly intriguing as we look ahead to the 2025 elections.
Isani Cayetano
“All things considered at this present juncture, what do you believe are the prospects of the U.D.P. going into 2025?”
Patrick Faber
Patrick Faber, Area Representative, Collet
“Our chances would increase tremendously with a new leader. Our chances would increase tremendously if the Honorable Tracy Taegar-Panton is our new leader. I need not tell you the details, I’m sure that as media people you follow these things, but you have seen, of course, the recent poll done by one of the companies of the Ashcroft Group and it is clear, like night and day that the Honorable Tracy Panton enjoys a certain popularity among voters of this country, and the reverse is true for Shyne Barrow. In fact, we didn’t need to make a poll to get that understanding. As I’ve been saying, you go to the market, you go to the gas station, yoh stop da di panades shop, yoh go da church, everywhere you go, people will tell you that the UDP cannot win with Shyne Barrow and that the UDP would tremendously improve its chances of winning, if we get rid of him as the leader. I’m not trying to mislead anybody into believing that the UDP would still not have an uphill battle if Shyne is not the leader, but I believe our chances would be much greater if he is not the leader.”
Devin Daly, a fresh face in the world of electoral politics, made his debut to the constituents of Collet on Friday. His candidacy was officially endorsed by the People’s United Party (P.U.P.) during a national party council meeting the following day. However, the real test lies ahead: How will this political newcomer fare against the well-established and seasoned politician Patrick Faber in his own stronghold? The upcoming contest promises to be an intriguing battle of experience versus new energy.
Isani Cayetano
“Last week, a young man, Devin Daly, came forward offering himself as a standard bearer for the PUP in Collet. How do you view his foray into electoral politics, you being a five-time area representative.”
Patrick Faber
Patrick Faber, Area Representative, Collet
“Well, it’s like I’ve said, somebody has got to run. We are happy to have an opponent and we know who that opponent is. I’m not going to say anything unkind about him at this point. He comes from a UDP family, and a family that has been very supportive of the Patrick Faber camp. I don’t know that there are necessarily any negatives that he can say about me. This is the nature of the game. So, it’s no threat to us. We know that there has to be an opponent and we welcome the new opponent.”
On Saturday morning, the news of a suspected cocaine stash found on a boat owned by Belize Rural South Area Representative Andre Perez spread like wildfire. The Belize Police Department swiftly issued a statement detailing the circumstances of the discovery. Prime Minister John Briceño also addressed the situation, clarifying that although the drugs were found on Perez’s boat, the Minister of Blue Economy was not implicated in their concealment. Despite these assurances, public outcry is mounting, with many criticizing that Perez was let off the hook without a comprehensive criminal investigation.
Isani Cayetano
“What do you make of the news that came out over the weekend where a quantity of suspected cocaine was found inside a vessel belonging to the Belize Rural South Area Rep, the fact that both the police department and essentially the prime minister wrote it off as narcotics that did not necessarily belong to him, without, perhaps, delving into some form of an investigation to prove that so.”
Patrick Faber
Patrick Faber, Area Representative, Collet
“That is a very, very suspicious set of circumstances indeed and to just jump to that conclusion, I think, is dangerous for democracy. I think, as well, as public figures, and we’ve seen this time and time again, they expect us to be held to the greatest scrutiny and if I was in that situation and I knew that I was not a guilty person, I would encourage the authorities to do the necessary investigation because it is what will vindicate you ultimately. You don’t want it ever to seem that you are being given, under those circumstances, any kind of special consideration. And when the authorities, you are right, because as soon as that happened, I heard the Commissioner of Police saying, “Listen, this is his boat but this doesn’t necessarily connect to him. In fact, I don’t even think it was like that. It was more said in a definitive manner that this was not connected to the minister and I don’t know how in such an early part of the game they could have determined that.”
The Belize National Teachers Union has raised a red flag, revealing that over one hundred and thirty teachers have not received their salaries. Alarmingly, some have been without pay for as long as five months. What’s causing this dire situation? Union President Nadia Caliz admits that her team is still seeking answers. Today, she held a press conference, accompanied by several affected teachers, to shed light on their plight and demand urgent action.
Nadia Caliz, National President, BNTU
“This is the agreement that we had with the Ministry of Education that any teacher that needed to be removed off the system, the managing authority had to write the chief, Chief Gongora, and then she would address that up to the last time we checked, and this was like a week before payday, nobody got any notification that they will be removed or anything like that. And so when we learned on Thursday that a number of our teachers were not paid, we were like taken aback. But why is this so? Did the management submit what they needed to on all of that? But you see, as a responsible organization, we needed to do our own research, and that’s very important. Our investigation up to this point has revealed that our one hundred and thirty plus, because the numbers are still growing, you can’t find them any at all in the system. So, in order for those teachers to come off the system, somebody had to manually go in and remove them. So, who gave the other? That is our question. When we had an agreement, who disobeyed the agreement that we made with Minister Fonseca because he was in the meeting with us. Who disagreed? Who did that? Now, when you look at teachers suffering today, let me tell you what happened. And when you all started calling, I said, maybe this is God’s way for us to go. You know, begin to share with the Belizean public what educators are actually going through. A teacher this morning received a notification that her utilities will be disconnected and that spiraled from there. She had a breakdown.”
