On Tuesday morning, a Guatemalan gunboat made its way into Belizean waters near the Sapodilla Cayes. The Belize Coast Guard reported that the naval vessel was spotted near Ragged Caye, just three miles south of Hunting Caye, where coast guard personnel are stationed. After a verbal exchange, the Guatemalan sailors eventually left the area. This incident prompted a strong response from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which announced it would firmly protest this illegal incursion. The ministry is urging Guatemalan authorities to ensure their armed forces do not enter Belizean waters without permission. Earlier today, we spoke with Prime Minister John Briceño to get his take on the situation in Belize’s southern sea space.
Prime Minister John Briceño
Prime Minister John Briceño
“We take any incident serious. Any time the GAF would, the Guatemalan Armed Forces would enter our borders, sometimes they do it innocently, they don’t realize that they are in it and other times they do. But whenever that happens, we take it seriously and we would go and confront them and inform them that they are in Belizean waters. In most instances they would leave without any incidents. Sometimes they would argue but they would leave, and that’s important for us, to be able for them to understand that we are monitoring them, we are watching what they are doing and also, at the same time, I think pretty much in every instance we write to the OAS, we copy it to them, to the Guatemalan government to point out that once again they were infringing in our territory.”
Reporter
“What do you tell Belizeans who feel that we are too passive in these instances?”
Prime Minister John Briceño
“I will be calm, I will be nice. What do they expect us to do, shoot everyone out of the water? There are fifteen, twenty thousand of them, fully equipped. Obviously, we need to be able to be firm but diplomatic in ensuring that, making sure that they understand that they are in our waters and that we will not allow them to come into our waters. As much as we might want to do more, what else can we do? Whatever citizen would say that then I will ask them to advice, I’d like to hear their advice, what would they do?”
Reporter
“Do you acknowledge that there is a lack of respect by the Guatemalan Armed Forces. They were all the way in our waters, they weren’t near the border.”
Prime Minister John Briceño
“I will repeat again, whenever that happens we go to them and we tell them that they are within our waters and they leave. They don’t put up a fight, they leave.”
Developer Michael Feinstein’s claim against the Government of Belize over the compulsory acquisition of about twenty-three acres on Stake Bank is set to be heard in the High Court on Thursday. The Briceño administration has defended the takeover, but Prime Minister Briceño also mentioned that the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) is interested in buying the island to finish the tourism development project. When reporters spoke with the PM this afternoon, they asked who is paying for the high-priced lawyers representing the government.
Reporter
“While the acquisition doesn’t cost the taxpayers, who is paying for the legal bills for the two foreign attorneys and Magali Marin?”
Prime Minister John Briceño
Prime Minister John Briceño
“Well they are suing the government, they are taking the government to court for an action that we think is within our right or our ability to do as a government. So obviously, we will have to defend our position, so then the government will have to pay for that.”
Reporter
“Which means that the taxpayers will pay.”
Prime Minister John Briceño
“Obviously.”
Reporter
“But if the acquisition goes through then the taxpayers are paying for an attorney for land that will eventually belong to a private [land]holder.”
Prime Minister John Briceño “No. I think what you need to do is to start speaking to Mr. Feinstein because he continues to take out lawsuits for everything and we have a responsibility to defend. If we do not put anybody and then we lose the case then what? One: it will set a bad precedence. Secondly: I don’t think he’s right, but he just continues to prolong. So we have to ensure that we put the best possible minds to ensure that we do not set a precedent, that the government can make these decisions to acquire land on the national interest.”
Get ready for another tax-free shopping spree this weekend, just in time for the Christmas holidays! The first GST-free weekend, held a few days ago, provided some valuable lessons for Belize Tax Services. Shoppers raised concerns about noncompliance, such as store owners backdating receipts or telling customers that credit card transactions didn’t qualify for the twelve-point-five percent discount. So, what does Prime Minister Briceño think about this tax holiday? Let’s find out!
Prime Minister John Briceño
Prime Minister John Briceño
“I think that this GST-free weekend, I think has had some other unexpected, I’m trying to find the word, win, for the Belize Tax Department because it allowed them to see who are the ones that are, that it’s questionable, what it is that they are doing with their reporting of the GST. I know some stores they closed down, they didn’t want to participate and you need to ask why. Some of them came with all sorts of excuses, “Oh, it’s already in the price but yet they do not discount it in the invoices. So what that has done is that it has alerted the BTS, they need to go and visit these businesses to see how they are managing their operations, probably do some audits to see if what they are collecting is being reported back. I am not suggesting that they are doing anything wrong, but it makes us question. So from that end, I think it’s something positive came out from it. But most of all, the citizens were excited, that they are saying well, in effect, we’ve gotten a 12.5% discount or if you want to be mathematical and take it from the dollar, take it down from that…the point is they’re getting a huge discount.”
A Brazilian traveler who arrived in Belize with just sixteen dollars in cash was sent back home, even though they had proof of accommodations. This situation raises the question: was the visitor being profiled by immigration officers upon arrival? Prime Minister Briceño addressed this issue earlier today. Here’s what he had to say.
Prime Minister John Briceño
“I’ve asked the CEO to give me a briefing because I knew you would probably ask me that one. Basically what has happened, there is a policy, they’ve set up, certain criteria for when somebody is coming in. We’ve had a number of instances when people from Central and from South America would come to Belize in an attempt to get to the United States. They have seen that our borders are fairly porous with Mexico and so they think [that it’s easier] fly to Belize and then from PGIA to the Mexican border, to the west or the north, it’s an hour and a half, two hours, they’re there. If they land in Guatemala City they have hours of traveling to do, so I think they find it easier to go through. I’m not suggesting that this person wanted to do the same, but based on the past there’s a certain profile that our officers look at. So when the officers saw that profile, the officer brought it up to the port commander, that commander consulted with another port commander and they all came to the conclusion that that person did not meet the criteria, that that person not be allowed to come into Belize. The persons were understanding and we handled it very professionally and the person is welcome to come back once they could satisfy the immigration officers that they are coming here for holiday.”
The Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) is finally speaking out about News Five’s investigation into the operations at Caribi Bleu Casino. This investigation has already prompted responses from the Gaming Control Board, the Central Bank of Belize, the Prime Minister, and a representative of the casino. However, the FIU’s input is crucial, as they are legally tasked with overseeing casinos, which are often hotspots for money laundering. So, what does the FIU have to say about the unauthorized ATM dispensing U.S. currency inside Caribi Bleu Casino, and the source of those funds? News Five’s Paul Lopez brings us the details.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
For over two months, News Five has been digging into the operations at Caribi Bleu Casino in San Pedro Town. Our investigation uncovered an unauthorized ATM dispensing U.S. currency, prompting swift action from multiple law enforcement agencies. Tonight, the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), the supervisory authority for casinos in Belize, is weighing in on our findings. We spoke with FIU Director, Leni Ysaguirre McGann, to get their perspective.
Leni Ysaguirre McGann
Leni Ysaguirre McGann, Director, Financial Intelligence Unit
“Speaking generally to investigative matters and enforcement matters, the FIU to protect theses processes and our investigations are under strict confidentiality obligations. This means that we conduct our work and investigations with the strictest of confidence.”
In other words, the FIU can’t share the specifics of its investigation or findings just yet. They’ll need to wait until charges are filed or the case goes to court, if it even gets that far. Prime Minister John Briceno is in favor of these actions.
Prime Minister John Briceño
Prime Minister John Briceño (File: Dec 9th, 2024)
“All we can do is encourage them to do their investigation and if there is any person that should be found guilty of any wrongdoing, they should be charged to the fullest extent. We need to find out from customs if that was even registered or if they paid to have that atm in Belize.”
Leni Ysaguirre McGann
“There are principal law enforcement agencies sitting on the financial crimes working group, the police department, the department of immigration and border management, the customs department, the tax authority, and so it depends.”
It’s clear that operating an unauthorized ATM, particularly one dispensing U.S. currency, is illegal—especially within a casino. The Central Bank of Belize has confirmed that their investigation into this matter is still ongoing.
Kareem Michael
Kareem Michael, Governor, Central Bank (File: Nov 27th 2024)
“I am sure you will appreciate that I can’t say much on that, because it is a live investigation.”
As the watchdog for casinos, the FIU ensures these establishments follow anti-money laundering rules through on-site inspections and other methods. McGann noted that while the FIU has previously uncovered violations of the Exchange Control Act by various entities, this case stands out because it involves an ATM.
Leni Ysaguirre McGann
“You would of course appreciate that we have to look at the resources we have and how to apply them. So, we take risks into consideration. There are certain risk factors such as size, maybe geographic location and our circumstances must be able to respond to an event, or changes in risk circumstances.”
Paul Lopez
“Is that to say a compliance visit was never done at this establishment because the risks were not there or there were not any justified risk to do that?”
Leni Ysaguirre McGann
“I did not say that. In fact that would be asking me to delve into the specific case at hand which I am limited from doing. That is to say that adverse information or any discovery does change the risk circumstances.”
Interestingly, casinos are required to have an anti-money laundering compliance officer approved by the FIU, as per the Money Laundering and Terrorism Prevention Act. So, how did Caribi Bleu Casino’s compliance officer miss or fail to report this unauthorized ATM? Once again, McGann couldn’t delve into the specifics of the case.
Leni Ysaguirre McGann
“They are not hired nor are they employees of the FIU. In terms of reporting, they are required to respond to request from the FIU for information, or their supervisory authority and they also have an obligation report suspicious transaction report as well as ensure that other aspects of the compliance regime are in place.”
Our investigation also revealed that the name Caribi Bleu Casino is not registered on FIU’s website. So, is this a simple oversight, or is the casino operating under a different name than the one it’s registered with?
Paul Lopez
“Could it be a case where businesses trade under a different name than it is registered?”
Leni Ysaguirre McGann
“So what I will say that in terms of the names published on our website, that is a list of the names currently registered with us. So, if they are not on the website it would be a fact that the registration process is not complete and they have not been finally registered or published on the website are registered.”
One of the major questions in this investigation is: where is the U.S. currency loaded into the ATM coming from? The FIU highlights its strong track record of international cooperation and emphasizes that investigating money laundering falls squarely within its mandate.
Leni Ysaguirre McGann
“We can’t speak to any specifics, however it is obviously within the FIU’s mandate to investigate money laundering as well as financial crimes, as well as in line with that we do have a roll to play in terms of the supervision for anti-money laundering obligations in casinos. So, running from those two mandates of the FIU, naturally we are very concerned in terms of the operation of casinos in Belize.”
As of the end of EpiWeek 50 last week, we’ve seen a total of one thousand, one hundred and sixty-six cases of dengue up to Saturday. Remarkably, there have been no deaths this year, which is a complete turnaround from the high dengue incidences we started with. National Surveillance Officer at the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Myra Fernandez, told News Five that the success in this fight was due to effective interventions.
Myra Fernandez
Myra Fernandez, National Surveillance Officer, MOHW
“We have only seen five cases of severe dengue; forty-three percent of those cases were really cases with no warning signs. We’re seeing that the Toledo, Stann Creek, and Cayo District recorded the highest numbers this far for 2024 with a total of 420 cases for Toledo, 341 for Stann Creek and 208 for the Cayo District. I would say that there is a really good program in place in terms of elimination of these mosquito breeding sites. There is also the chemical controller. We all know the ULV spraying that happens and other interventions that happens around each case that is investigated. Apart from that, there is a really good public health education campaign that happens along with the program. And then there is, of course, that community engagements that happen at the community level. So I would say that the response is very quick in terms of what is being done for dengue. So it’s a permanent program that the ministry has in place and we have the services available really countrywide. And that would probably add to why we did not see the numbers that we expected post Tropical Storm Sara.”
On Tuesday, two Caye Caulker residents wrote to the police to voice their objections to a proposed fuel depot in their area. However, today, a group of tour operators on the island took the opposite stance. The Caye Caulker Tour Operators Association publicly supported the project, led by Petrol Alliance Group Holding Company Limited. The association, which includes several tour companies on the island, issued a brief “No-objection letter.” In it, they stated, “we understand that the company plans to build a fuel station on parcel 957, Block 12, in the Caye Caulker Registration Section, on the northern side of the village. We have no objections to the proposed construction, as it will benefit all residents in the area”.
When Julio Paiz Junior was eighteen, he shot and killed his friend and former co-worker in a shocking act of revenge. After bullying his co-worker’s wife and getting reported, Paiz Junior came back to settle the score, executing his friend in public, right in front of his wife. After spending three years on remand, Paiz Junior claimed he had changed and asked the court for leniency, expressing remorse for his actions. However, this morning, Justice Nigel Pilgrim considered various factors before sentencing Paiz Junior to a fixed life term of thirty years, starting from December sixteenth, 2024. Paiz Junior will be eligible for parole after serving half of his sentence. Justice Pilgrim considered the circumstances of the crime, the offender’s background, and both mitigating and aggravating factors. He noted that while the murder was premeditated and carried out in broad daylight, it did not qualify as the “worst of the worst,” thus avoiding a death sentence. Instead, a fixed term was deemed appropriate. The judge also reflected on the impact of the murder on the victim’s family, reading heart-wrenching statements from Hilberto Cáliz Junior’s mother and brother. Despite Paiz Junior’s young age and claims of remorse, his history of infractions and the heinous nature of the crime led to the thirty-year sentence. Paiz Junior’s sentence will be backdated to December sixteenth, 2021, when he was first remanded. In court, the prosecution was represented by Senior Crown Counsel Sheniza Smith, while Paiz Junior was defended by attorney Emerita Anderson.
On Tuesday, a tragic road accident in Stann Creek District claimed the lives of a man and his dog. The incident occurred in the morning along the Stann Creek Valley Road in Hope Creek Village, near the entrance to Dangriga. A white truck struck the man while he was walking his dog. Police are still investigating and have not yet confirmed the victim’s identity. However, locals believe he is Jose Angel Castillo, a Guatemalan national from Chiquimula, who was known to walk his dog in the area daily. Stay tuned for more details as the story develops.
The countdown to Christmas is almost over! With just one week left until the joyous day, families all over Belize have decorated their trees, wrapped presents, and bought the Christmas ham. However, not everyone gets to enjoy this blissful holiday experience. Many families are struggling to make ends meet, with bills to pay and mouths to feed. For them, a picturesque holiday season wouldn’t be possible without the help of kind-hearted individuals stepping in to ease their financial burden. In this edition of the Five-Point Breakdown, we delve into the hardships some families face and how one act of kindness can change someone’s life. Here’s News Five’s Britney Gordon with the story.
Britney Gordon, Reporting
Inside a modest wooden structure in the Lake Independence Area, there’s no Christmas tree or fairy lights—just a bed in the corner of the room where five residents sleep. It’s a tight squeeze for thirty-six-year-old Devona Pascasio and her four children, but they make do. The space is about to get even smaller, as Devona is nearly nine months pregnant with a baby girl. To make matters worse, six months ago, Devona received the heartbreaking news that her son, Triston, has cancer.
A Family’s Struggle to Make Ends Meet
Devona Pascascio
Devona Pascascio, Mother
“Before he mi get sick, I actually mi di work. Never make a lot, but still try and manage. But then, he gets sick, and I lose my job because he gets sick. I’h mi hard but I mi di get help from my family, they still support me, but I just can’t depend, it’s hard to just depend on family.”
A year ago, Devona noticed a troubling growth on her son’s neck. As it grew larger, their hospital visits became more frequent, and her desperation to help him intensified. These days, Devona spends most of her time at home, unable to work as she cares for Triston. The entire family’s lives were turned upside down as they focused all their attention and resources on his treatment. Everything changed when Devona met Albert Magdaleno, the founder of Ladyville Highlights. Determined to help, Albert stepped in, bringing hope and support to Triston and his family.
Community Assistance Helps Family Find Answers
Devona Pascascio
“I did up and down da doctor and couldn’t figure out da what until mister Albert actually saw my son, and then he brought him home. One day and he contacted me and, that da how I get all the help, I get answers, too. Because I mi deh up and down da doctor and nobody get no way. They test and still nobody get no answers. Until Ladyville Highlights came in and then, and then people saw my story and helped a lot, I get a lot of help through Ladyville Highlights. And that’s why I get to find out that I’m true pediatric. That yeah, that I’m, that it was cancerous.”
Thanks to the power of social media, donations from around the world have poured in to help Devona. For over six years, Albert Magdaleno has used his popular Facebook page to highlight the financial struggles of Belizeans. Despite the demanding nature of the work, Albert and his wife Fiona have devoted their lives to this mission, believing it to be a calling from God.
Answering The Call To Help Others
Albert Magdaleno
Albert Magdaleno, Founder, Ladyville Highlights
“I don’t look for nobody. Everybody find me. They get my phone number, or they know somebody who knows me, and they locate me, and they come with their stories. And we present their stories to the world. We pray about it because it’s not just to just put on Facebook and then shoot out. We pray and say, God, we hope that this person will get the help and then we post it. God move on the hearts of the donors and the magic happens after that.”
Albert used to work as a postman, but a few years ago, he left that job to dedicate himself full-time to running Ladyville Highlights. Now, instead of delivering mail, he delivers gifts and hope to those in need.
Fiona Magdaleno
Fiona Magdaleno, Co-founder, Ladyville Highlights
“We have sleepless nights. We are exhausted. Sometimes we go from morning till night. Sunday to Sunday, we don’t have an eight to five. It’s Sunday to Sunday. Yes, I do have an eight to five, so I work after five with him. Before he did this full-time. He used to do it after five as well. And it’s very rewarding because seeing people and seeing the happiness in people, seeing people be uplifted from what they, where they are to what they are now.”
Ladyville Highlights plays a crucial role in channeling donations to families like Devona’s. However, this life-changing work wouldn’t be possible without the generous donors who see the page and decide to join the NGO’s mission. One such donor is Patricia Fairweather, who recently returned to Belize after decades abroad and has eagerly jumped in to help.
How Generous Donors Help Make the Magic Happen
Patricia Fairweather
Patricia Fairweather, Donor
“ I came from Georgia to visit last year. One of my friends in Florida, Trisha, hi Trisha, she told me about Ladyville Highlights. So she sent me the link and I went on and I said, Oh, I like this. I came, I met the Magdanalenos and I went with them on a run to Double Head Cabbage and a donation run. And I said, Oh my God, this is what I love to do..”
With Devona expecting another baby in January, Magdaleno brought diapers and Christmas gifts to her home on Tuesday. This heartwarming delivery was made possible by long-time donor Jorge Gonzalez, who has generously allowed Albert to use his truck for deliveries since 2017.
Jorge Gonzalez
Jorge Gonzalez, Donor
“ My wife was going through her phone, and she found Ladyville Highlights. At the moment they needed transportation. I had a truck that I wasn’t using, so I let him use it till now.”
Even though the operation to remove the tumor from eleven-year-old Triston’s neck was a success, his journey to recovery is far from over. The cancer has begun to spread to his brain, and doctors are not optimistic about his prognosis. However, his mother remains hopeful. She expresses deep gratitude for every donation and word of encouragement from those who have heard her family’s story.
How Kindness Keeps Faith For A Better Future Alive
Devona Pascascio
“ Since people, people helping me, make it more easier. I know that, they still have good people out there. Even the ones that even, we may have someone who help you financially or that, but just work hard, as in fact, I write, go ahead and go, how Tristan is doing. And everybody, we may pray, that helped me a lot too, because when doctor give up on me. I still never give up.”
She says that as long as her son is alive, she will keep faith in the power of prayer and the kindness of others. Britney Gordon for News Five.
