2024 - Channel 5 Belize

Two Belize City Men Must Stand Trial for Kidnapping

Tonight, things didn’t go well for two Belizean men in their kidnapping and wounding case. They tried to strike a deal with the crown, hoping to plead guilty to wounding instead of kidnapping a fifteen-year-old back in 2021. But after asking for a sentencing indication, they found out the crown wasn’t having it. So, the case is heading to trial, and they’ll have to take their chances in the High Court. The men in question are thirty-three-year-old Oliver Sutherland and twenty-four-year-old Elvin Smith, a fisherman from East Collet Canal. They were initially charged in 2021 with wounding, kidnapping, and harming a minor. Allegedly, on March twelfth, 2021, they kidnapped the fifteen-year-old and injured him. This morning, their case was called up in the High Court before Justice Derick Sylvester. The duo, represented by attorney Leeroy Banner, entered plea discussions with Crown Counsel Glenford Dennison. However, after some back-and-forth, they couldn’t agree. The men wanted to plead guilty to wounding, hoping for time served and a chance to go home, but the crown insisted on a kidnapping plea. With no agreement in sight, Justice Sylvester set the trial date for January twentieth, 2025. Their attorney then requested bail. Smith got lucky and was granted bail, but Sutherland wasn’t as fortunate. Smith, who had been unable to post his twenty-five-thousand-dollar bail since 2021, was granted bail at ten thousand dollars, with conditions. He must report to the Queen Street Police Station every Friday and attend all court dates. Sutherland, on the other hand, had his bail revoked earlier for violating its terms and remains in prison. The judge explained that Sutherland could file a written application for bail consideration. If convicted of kidnapping, the men face between ten years to life, with time served potentially reducing their sentence to around six years. Sutherland has been on remand for over a year, while Smith has been incarcerated for nearly four years.

Convicted Former Policeman is Out on Bail for Extortion

Tonight, interdicted police officer Jairo Daniel Amador, who was convicted of extortion on October thirty-first, is home with his family after being granted bail pending sentencing. His sentencing was delayed today before Justice Derick Sylvester. The mitigation plea was scheduled for this morning at nine a.m., but Amador’s attorney, Norman Rodriguez, explained to the court that he had trouble contacting character witnesses. Given that the Crown’s submission for sentencing suggested a fine, Justice Sylvester asked if they objected to granting bail to Amador, considering the delay wasn’t his fault. With no objections, Justice Sylvester set bail at five thousand dollars with one surety. Amador’s case is now adjourned for mitigation plea and sentencing on January twenty-fourth, 2025. On October thirty-first, Amador, a former member of the Belize Police Department, was found guilty of extortion by a nine-member jury. He was accused of shaking down a Canadian tourist at a checkpoint in Hattieville, claiming she had no insurance for her rental vehicle and would be jailed until Monday unless she paid a “donation.” Frightened, the tourist handed over a hundred US dollars, which Amador took before letting her and her husband go. Police were informed shortly after, leading to the discovery of the money in Amador’s holster and his subsequent charge of extortion. The jury deliberated for less than four hours before finding him guilty. Amador, who had been out on bail, saw it revoked by Justice Sylvester and had been on remand pending sentencing.

Belize Breaks Ground on Marine Rescue and Educational Center

A new chapter in conservation is unfolding in Belize! This morning, the Clearwater Marine Aquarium kicked off the construction of a cutting-edge facility focused on rescuing and rehabilitating endangered marine life, including the beloved Antillean manatee. The Belize Marine Rescue and Educational Center is being built at Southern Lagoon, Gales Point, an area renowned for its vibrant manatee population. News Five’s Britney Gordon was on the scene for this exciting unveiling.

Britney Gordon, Reporting

Belize boasts the largest population of Antillean manatees in the world and the most manatees in Central America. These gentle giants thrive in Belize’s rivers, which offer abundant vegetation and protection. However, they face daily threats from climate change and human activities. For over twenty years, the Clearwater Marine Aquarium has been dedicated to rescuing and releasing manatees in Belize. Today, they broke ground on a new Marine Rescue and Educational Center in Gales Point Village. Program Coordinator Jamal Galvez shared how this new facility will benefit both Belizeans and the wildlife they cherish.

Jamal Galvez, Coordinator, Belize Manatee Conservation Program

“This area of Gales Point has lacked livelihoods, economic activity for many years due to the road was inaccessible. But now, the pavement of the road. From construction phase, villagers will have jobs. Some of these villagers haven’t had a salary or paycheck for years. So from construction phase to, to the concept and to the development and the final stage when this center is actually completed, it will be one hundred percent Belizean employed. So students from far west, south to north you bring your credentials and we’re open to accommodate you to share that knowledge and to provide that employment. This center will be open for visitors, locally and internationally. So we’re hoping that it will support livelihood, it will help to be a part of ensuring that Belize’s marine ecosystem thrives.”

The center will welcome the public, offering a firsthand look at the efforts to preserve Belize’s precious marine wildlife. Minister of Sustainable Development and Climate Change, Orlando Habet, explained that the ministry will collaborate with Clearwater Marine Aquarium to support the project’s growth.

Orlando Habet, Minister of Sustainable Development

“It is important because of the conservation of the manatees during the studies. Very importantly, it’s not only the part of the handling and managing the manatees, especially when they get hurt and bringing them for rescue, but also the research component, which is absolutely essential, and the educational component where you can bring in students from the different schools and universities. Not only in the region, but regionally and internationally to come and do some research and to do that part of the education process. For the Ministry of Sustainable Development and Climate Change, I think what we have going with them is that we recently signed a co-management agreement with the team, and so we are now looking to await for their proposals.”

The Belize Tourism Board and the Ministry of Tourism are also teaming up on this project, as the new institute is expected to become a popular attraction for visitors.

Anthony Mahler, Minister of Tourism

“ This will give them another attraction to come and visit. I’ve spoken to some of the cruise lines already, they are willing to support and the overnight sector, I’m sure they’re going to come here. And there are similar facilities across the Caribbean, especially in Cayman and other parts. whereby they have a rehabilitation center for turtles. We are doing manatees and all marine creatures.”

The project is slated to take a year to complete and is estimated to cost up to six million dollars. Britney Gordon for News Five.

BREAKING: Bodies of Missing Men Found

The body of missing men, Marvin Cante and John Raymundo, were found earlier this evening. According to reports, the decomposed bodies were found in a shallow grave off Dollar Bank Road in Hattieville.

This is a developing story.

As we have reported, the cousins were reported missing at the end of November. Concerns grew when thirty-two-year-old Raymundo failed to respond to messages from his common-law wife. By the following day, the family of Raymundo and his cousin, thirty-seven-year-old Cante, reported them missing to the police, who promptly launched an investigation.

Shortly after, the vehicle Juan had been driving was discovered abandoned near mile twenty-four on the George Price Highway. Since then, family and friends had been tirelessly searching for any clues regarding their whereabouts.

Haiti Gang Murders Over 110 Elderly Residents Accused of Witchcraft

Over 110 elderly residents have been brutally murdered by gang members in the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince. The violence erupted after a local gang leader’s son fell ill and died, with a voodoo priest blaming elderly locals practicing “witchcraft” for the boy’s illness.

The United Nations reports that gang violence in Haiti has claimed a staggering 5,000 lives this year. 184 people were killed over the weekend in violence orchestrated by a powerful gang leader.

Reports indicate that gang members targeted residents over 60, forcibly removing them from their homes and brutally killing them with knives and machetes. Witnesses described seeing mutilated bodies burned in the streets.

Some younger individuals who tried to protect the elderly were also killed. Local media reported that elderly people believed to practice voodoo were singled out due to the gang leader’s belief that they caused his son’s illness.

Haiti has been plagued by gang violence since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021. Recent attempts by gangs to expand their territory have led to increased violence against ordinary residents.

With gangs controlling an estimated 85% of Port-au-Prince and large parts of the countryside, hundreds of thousands of Haitians have been displaced.

Gang members often use sexual violence to terrorize the population. Meanwhile, the Transitional Presidential Council (TPC), tasked with organizing elections and restoring democratic order, is in disarray. The TPC recently replaced the interim prime minister but has made little progress towards elections. GI-TOC’s Romain Le Cour Grandmaison described the council as “reigning over a mountain of ashes.”

Approaching Cold Front Brings Stormy Weather, Triggers Alerts for Belize

The Belize Meteorological Service has issued multiple weather advisories as an approaching cold front brings moist and unstable conditions across the country.

A Small Craft Caution is in effect due to gusty winds and locally rough seas, particularly near areas of heavy showers and thunderstorms. Operators of small vessels are urged to exercise caution while navigating coastal waters.

A Strong Thunderstorm Warning has been issued for northern and central parts of the country. Intense thunderstorms have already been observed in these areas and are expected to persist throughout the day and into the night.

Residents are advised to stay informed of weather updates and seek shelter if necessary, as the stormy conditions could pose a threat to safety. The Belize Met Service continues to monitor the situation and will provide further updates as needed.

Multidimensional Poverty in Belize Decreases

According to the latest data from the Statistical Institute of Belize (SIB), Belize recorded a decrease of 4.4% in multidimensional poverty. Multidimensional poverty measures deprivation not just in income but across several key areas such as health, education, employment, and living standards. The index considers both the proportion of people affected (incidence) and the severity of their deprivation (intensity).

The SIB reports that the improvements in sanitation, internet access, and dependency ratios have helped reduce poverty levels. Yet, the overall intensity of poverty remained largely unchanged from 38.4% to 38.0%.

Rural poverty dropped significantly from 39.9% in 2023 to 30.9% in 2024. In contrast, urban areas saw a slight increase from 8.3% to 9.7% in poverty.

Toledo remains the hardest hit with 67.9% of its population living in multidimensional poverty. Meanwhile, the Belize District reported the lowest rate at 9.5%.

Households with no formal education face a poverty rate of 36%.

Family size and household composition are also significant factors. Households with more children or elderly members face higher poverty rates. Those who are unemployed face a 50.2% poverty rate, compared to 18.6% for those not in the labour force.

Higher Food and Rent Costs Push Belize’s Inflation

Today, the Statistical Institute of Belize (SIB) reported a 2.1% rise in the country’s overall inflation rate for October 2024. The national Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased to 119.7, up from 117.2 in October 2023. This jump is largely attributed to higher costs for food, restaurant services, and home rental prices. Fuel prices and certain communication equipment saw a decline.

Costs in the ‘Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages’ category increased by 4.7%. This was driven by increases in the prices of fresh vegetables, fruits, and bakery items.“Notable increases were recorded in prices for fresh vegetables and pulses, such as cabbage, lettuce, black beans, and red kidney beans (8.3%),” reported the SIB.

Higher rent and dining-out costs were also recorded. The ‘Restaurants and Accommodation Services’ category saw an increase of 4.9%. Home rental prices contributed to a 1.5% rise in the ‘Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas, and Other Fuels’ category.

However, lower fuel prices contributed to transport prices decreasing by 3%. The cost of diesel dropped by $1.55 per gallon, while both premium and regular gasoline prices fell as well.

Belmopan experienced the highest inflation, reflecting an increase of 5% in prices, while Independence Village had the lowest. It recorded a nearly flat inflation rate of -0.03%.

For the first ten months of 2024, the year-to-date inflation rate stood at 3.5%. While fuel prices and some communication equipment have seen reductions, the higher costs of food, rent, and restaurant services are contributing to the ongoing rise in living expenses for Belizeans.

Family of Leonard Baltazar Speaking Out to News 5

Just two weeks before Christmas, a family in Dangriga is grappling with the sudden death of 22-year-old Leonard Baltazar. Early Wednesday morning, Baltazar was found dead outside a cabana at the Reef’s End Lodge on Tobacco Caye.

Around 3:00 a.m., Dangriga police were alerted after resort workers discovered a man lying face down and unresponsive near a cabana. The workers moved him to a safer location and attempted to revive him, but he showed no signs of life. Reports indicate that two tourists staying at the resort were awakened by noises inside their room. Upon waking, they allegedly found a man rummaging through their personal belongings. A confrontation ensued, leading to a physical struggle. During the altercation, the man was reportedly thrown over the cabana’s balcony and later died.

Baltazar’s uncle, Leo Baltazar, expressed disbelief: “I woke up, surprised, shocked because I just saw him yesterday. Most people saw him yesterday, talking, walking, laughing as usual. So, when my sister came by and told me he had passed away, I was stunned.”

“He’s always laughing, talking, joking around with everyone, popping up to everyone’s birthday party. He lived his life in joy and celebration,” his uncle said.

Known affectionately as “Uzi,” Leonard spent much of his time on the caye, fishing, diving, and harvesting lobster and conch to make a living. “He was doing pretty good,” his uncle noted, reflecting on his nephew’s passion for the sea.

Police investigations continue.

Cayo Residents Demand Road Safety Reforms After Tragic Crash

Belize recorded its deadliest car crash on December 7 on the George Price Highway. The head-on collision claimed 10 lives, including a 4-year-old girl, and left 4 others injured. The crash occurred between miles 71 and 72 near Kontiki Service Station. A Ford Expedition SUV with four occupants collided with a Toyota Corolla carrying nine people, causing the Corolla to burst into flames, killing all inside. A motorcyclist behind the SUV also crashed into it and died on impact. The SUV’s four occupants survived but were injured.

The victims have been identified as Ruduel Parham (driver), Shailer Lopez, Abigail Bradley, Keilin Pinelo, Jaheim Inglesias, Aimie Hernandez, Dennis Williams, Jasmine Rodriguez, Jazelle Rodriguez, and Alessandro Carrillo.

Fundraising efforts to help the victims, including those who survived, have been launched.

Habet welcomed the community’s input, noting that while criticism of government agencies was expected, the dialogue remained respectful. Concerns were raised about the performance of traffic departments in municipalities, the Transport Department, and the Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Housing (MIDH). Issues ranged from a lack of vehicle inspections for tires, brakes, and lights to the need for better-marked roads, more visible road signs, and timely maintenance of faded markings.

One notable concern was the absence of driving schools in Cayo, which residents believe could help young drivers gain proper experience before obtaining a license. Other suggestions included addressing political interference in traffic law enforcement, with calls for an end to instances where politicians allegedly pressure police to release certain individuals from traffic violations. “That has to stop. We cannot continue like that,” Habet stated firmly.

The community also called for spaces where young people can socialise responsibly, with a focus on curbing over-drinking. Habet echoed this sentiment and urged families to take an active role in guiding youth, whom he described as “valuable to our communities and valuable to our country.”

Habet said that he has raised concerns during the construction of the highway from Belmopan to San Ignacio. At the time, he proposed to then-Prime Minister Dean Barrow that the government acquire more land to build a four-lane highway, rather than the existing two-lane design. “From what I hear from the Transport Department, a high percentage of head-on collisions occur because of overtaking, and that’s because we only have two lanes on the road,” he explained. Habet stressed the need to address this issue gradually but decisively as part of a long-term solution to improve road safety in Belize.