At 1:13 p.m., Facebook user Pantha Pinkpantha went live on Facebook to share that there had been a traffic-vehicular collision on mile 37 of the George Price Highway. The incident reportedly happened at around 12:15 p.m.
The video shows an extensively damaged blue Ford Escape in the middle of the highway. The white minivan had extensive damage on its front portion.
When Pantha Pinkpantha asks, “Have you called the police?” Woman responds, “Police is not answering. 911 is not answering.”
Two female tourists were seen on the side of the highway.
When a News 5 team arrived on the scene, emergency personnel were clearing the scene of the accident. So far we have learnt that at least one person was confirmed dead. Everyone was taken to the Western Regional Hospital.
Travelling in the white van were the tourists and the driver.
Researchers at the University of Tennessee have received a $120,000 grant to study cacao biodiversity and pollination, focusing on wild cacao trees in Belize, a region renowned for its rare and highly valued fine-flavoured cacao. The project, “Using Genomic Tools to Promote Sustainable Cacao Agroforestry,” is led by graduate student Holly Brabazon, with support from faculty members DeWayne Shoemaker and Meg Staton.
The research will focus on sequencing the genomes of wild cacao trees in Belize. The study aims to explore cacao diversity and the role of pollinators in cacao farms, potentially leading to improved strategies for sustainable farming.
For the next two years, Brabazon and her team will compare genetic diversity and pollinator activity between wild and cultivated cacao trees. Their findings could enhance cacao production while supporting biodiversity and maintaining healthy ecosystems. The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture is committed to providing real-life solutions through its teaching, research, and outreach initiatives.
In a highly anticipated presidential debate held in Philadelphia on Tuesday night, Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump squared off for the first—and potentially last—time. The 90-minute debate proved to be a heated exchange between the two. It presents a stark contrast to the previous June 27 debate between President Biden and Trump.
Harris, a former prosecutor, used her opening statement to launch sharp criticisms at Trump. She accused him of implementing tariffs that would act as a sales tax on the middle class and labelled his presidency as presiding over “the worst attack on American democracy since the Civil War.” Harris also took aim at Trump’s treatment of women on the topic of abortion and his praise of foreign dictators, citing Trump’s intention of implementing Project 2025.
Trump, on the defensive, criticised Harris for moderating her positions since the 2020 Democratic primary, suggesting she had adopted some of his views. He also emphasised issues like inflation and immigration, accusing Harris of being an extension of Biden. “She is Biden,” Trump claimed.
However, Harris chided back to Trump for his 2020 election loss to Joe Biden. She noted, “Donald Trump was fired by 81 million people.”
The debate featured ABC’s David Muir and Linsey Davis interjecting to fact-check the candidates and co-moderating the debate. Including Trump’s claim about Haitian immigrants in Ohio eating dogs and other pets.
“They’re eating the dogs, the people that came in, they’re eating the cats,” Trump declared. “They’re eating the pets of the people that live there, and this is what’s happening in our country, and it’s a shame.”
Muir immediately fact-checked Trump’s claims, saying that the city manager in Springfield, Ohio, told the network there had been no credible reports of pets being harmed, injured, or abused by people in the city’s immigrant community.
Trump later criticised the debate as unfair, claiming it was “three on one.”
Despite Harris’s strong performance, the outcome of the 2024 race remains uncertain. Polls continue to show a tight race.
For Belize, a small Caribbean nation with close ties to the U.S., the outcomes of such debates can have indirect but notable implications. The policies and positions of U.S. presidential candidates can influence international relations, trade agreements, and economic aid, all of which are crucial to Belize.
Belize has received three new electric buses as part of the “Towards Low Carbon Transport” E-Mobility Pilot Project. This initiative, funded by the European Union (EU) and executed in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Belize City Council (BCC), Ministry of Public Utilities, Energy, Logistics, and E-Governance (MPUELE), and the Department of Transport (DoT), marks a significant step in transforming Belize’s public transport system.
The electric buses, aimed at improving inter-district travel, are equipped with air conditioning, seat belts, onboard Wi-Fi, USB charging ports, and a camera monitoring system, providing comfort and safety for 35 passengers. While currently lacking wheelchair accessibility, plans are underway to add attachable lifts to accommodate all passengers.
These buses align with Belize’s commitment to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Low Emission Development Strategy (LEDS), promising zero emissions, reduced noise pollution, and lower maintenance costs.
The buses will be operated by the private sector under a two-year contract, with a Request for Proposal (RFP) issued to select an operator. The goal is to have the e-buses fully operational by December 2024. Private operators interested in managing the buses for the western and northern corridors are invited to submit their proposals by September 11, 2024, at 5 p.m.
Guatemalan Armed Forces (GAF) were found operating within Belizean territory for the second time last week. Reports of the Guatemalan naval ships in Belizean waters first emerged on Saturday morning. One of the ships named Quetzal was spotted off the coast of Barranco Village.
Despite being informed by the BDF that they were outside their jurisdiction and provided with GPS coordinates, the Guatemalan forces refused to leave. The situation was only resolved when the Belize Coast Guard (BCG) intervened. Several hours went by before the Guatemalan vessels departed
Major Roberta Usher, Chief of Staff of the BDF, said that the patrol, which was routine, detected the Guatemalan vessels near their Forward Operating Base (FOB). The vessels, numbering between three and five, were seen moving between Belizean and Guatemalan waters over the weekend. The BDF conducted reconnaissance and collected information, while the Coast Guard mapped the territorial boundaries. Authorities are now awaiting confirmation on whether the Guatemalan vessels were illegally intruding or if there were other issues at play. The BDF is working to gather all necessary information before determining if any breach of sovereignty occurred.
In response to these incidents, the United Democratic Party has criticised the Guatemalan actions as intimidation and is urging the Briceño administration to establish a formal protocol for operations on the Sarstoon River.
Every September 10, Belize celebrates the historic Battle of St. George’s Caye, which took place from September 3 to 10 in 1798. This historic conflict saw British woodcutters, known as Baymen, fend off Spanish forces off the coast of what was then ‘British Honduras.’ The Baymen’s victory led to the establishment of the settlement as a British colony and shaped Belize’s future as an English-speaking nation.
The annual commemoration ceremony was held at Belize City’s House of Culture. Belize City Mayor Bernard Wagner spoke about the historical significance of the battle. He stated, “226 years ago, the baymen, free men, and the enslaved found it important to stand united and firm against a mighty force… They fought to preserve a dream. A dream of a land where we can all live free, where our future would be our own to shape.”
Wagner also emphasised the importance of embracing modern advancements, particularly in artificial intelligence (AI). He highlighted AI’s potential to revolutionise Belize’s future, from improving weather forecasts to enhancing healthcare services. Wagner urged Belizeans to adopt a bold and ambitious approach, using the E-Bus transportation project as a model for progress. “We must be willing to work, especially when it is necessary to carry us forward,” he added.
Francis Fonseca, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade, Education, Culture, Science and Technology, was the ceremony’s keynote speaker, and echoed Wagner’s call for forward-thinking. He urged Belizeans to consider the legacy they wish to leave for future generations, advocating for “unity over division, action over complacency, and hope over despair.” Fonseca called for collective effort to build a stronger, more just, and united Belize, “Let us honour the sacrifices of those who came before us by building a Belize that is stronger, more just, and more united,” Fonseca added.
The ceremony concluded with the official crowning of the New Queen of the Bay, Queen Deanni Laing.
The Ministry of Public Utilities, Energy, Logistics, and E-Governance has rolled out a new initiative aimed at boosting sustainability and supporting the livelihoods of fishermen in Stann Creek. Today, 100 solar kits were distributed to local fishermen in Dangriga Town. This provides them with a reliable, eco-friendly source of energy to improve their operations.
The solar kits, which include high-efficiency solar panels, batteries, and energy-efficient lighting, will enable fishermen to power essential equipment with minimal environmental impact. These kits offer a sustainable alternative to traditional fossil fuels, helping to lower operational costs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
This initiative, funded by the European Union through the Lait Up Belize Technical Assistance Project, aims to improve economic efficiency, cut energy costs, and enhance safety during nighttime fishing activities with solar-powered lighting. Training and support were provided to ensure that fishermen are able to fully utilise the technology.
The Ministry views this as a significant step forward in empowering local communities and promoting sustainable development in Belize. It is expected that this project will positively impact the fishing industry in Stann Creek while also contributing to larger global efforts to combat climate change.
A tragic road accident in the Orange Walk District has claimed the life of 18-year-old Alvin Guardado. Guardado, a labourer from Blue Creek, was reportedly driving in an area between San Felipe and August Pine Ridge, known as “El Rancho,” when he crashed into a cow. He was severely injured, including a large open wound to his forehead.
Guardado was rushed to the Northern Regional Hospital by ambulance. However, despite efforts to save him, he was pronounced dead upon arrival.
The incident happened on Monday night.
Guardado’s father explained that his son was on his way home after visiting his girlfriend.
An AR-15 rifle has been reported missing from the Belize Defence Force (BDF) training hall in the Corozal District. BDF personnel discovered the rifle’s absence during a recent inventory check, although it remains unclear when and how it went missing. According to BDF Chief of Staff Major Roberta Usher, the missing rifle was non-functional and used primarily for ceremonial purposes.
Despite its inoperability, Major Usher says that the BDF is taking the situation seriously and is actively working with law enforcement to locate the weapon and prevent similar incidents in the future. Usher also indicated that further details regarding the circumstances of the disappearance will emerge once the investigation progresses.
This is not the first time a BDF weapon has gone unaccounted for. In August 2023, an M4 commando rifle went missing from Camp Belizario in the Cayo District but was recovered by police ten days later.
A mother and her daughter were shot to death this morning in Corozal Town and the suspected killer, Deysha Hill’s ex-boyfriend, is on the run from police. The incident happened this morning, shortly before eleven o’clock when Edwin Marin reportedly stopped by Hill’s house and wanted to take custody of his daughter. In the process, there was an exchange of words between both parents during which Hill allegedly threatened Hill and her mother, Natasha Clarke. Marin left the residence and is said to have returned as a passenger on a motorcycle a short while later. He entered the home and reportedly opened fire on the mother and daughter, fatally wounding both women. It is a heartbreaking story that has left the community shaken and a manhunt is underway for Edwin Marin. Of note is that Marin is no stranger to the law and has a history as a violent offender. We begin our newscast this evening with an interview that was conducted with Shian White, the sibling of Natasha Clarke.
Shian White
Shian White, Relative of Deceased
“This morning at approximately 10:47 a.m., my sister, Natasha Vanessa Clarke, and my niece, Deysha Monique Hill, were brutally murdered in their home right here in Corozal Town. This is a situation that I wouldn’t want anybody to ever go through. I mean it’s still fresh. It turns out that my niece’s ex-boyfriend who had already threatened to kill here and has a history of domestic violence came earlier in the morning and wanted to take their daughter, their two-year-old daughter. My niece refused to let him take the child and then he said that he would come back and kill them. And at about 10:47, he came back on a motorcycle, as a passenger on a motorcycle. I am not a hundred percent sure, but they claim that the person who was driving the motorcycle is a Corozal run-man and at which point he entered the home and proceeded to shoot my sister and niece, killing both of them. So at this point in time, what we want is to have the authorities do their best effort to apprehend the suspect. His name is Edwin Marin. He has already been charged, I believe, for murder a few years ago and I don’t understand how it is possible that he is out. And there are a lot of families in Belize going through things like this and you never really understand it until supposed to do.”
